Arkansas Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a Arkansas personal injury or dog-bite claim might be worth, based on your medical bills and losses. This is an estimate to understand the factors — not a prediction or an offer.
This is a rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
There is no formula that predicts a settlement. This tool uses the common "multiplier method" to show the factors that drive value and a wide range — actual outcomes depend on the facts, insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation. Consult a Arkansas personal-injury attorney about your case.
Enter your medical bills and losses to see an estimated range
The multiplier method (pain-and-suffering as a multiple of your medical bills) is a common starting point, not a guarantee. Most personal-injury cases settle out of court; most attorneys work on a contingency fee (commonly around a third, but the rate is set by your agreement and some states regulate or cap it), and an attorney is the only way to value your specific claim. This tool is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
How the Estimate Works
No tool can predict a settlement — every case is different and the number depends on the facts, the available insurance, the venue, and negotiation. What this calculator does is apply the multiplier method, the rough starting point insurers and attorneys use: it adds up your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), then estimates pain and suffering as a multiple of those damages (about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones), and shows a wide range. It is a way to understand value, not a guarantee.
It then applies Arkansas's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
Arkansas's Fault Rule: modified comparative negligence (50% bar)
Arkansas Code Ann. § 16-64-122 is a modified comparative-fault statute with a 50% bar. Under subsection (b)(1), a claiming party whose fault is "of a lesser degree" than the defendant's recovers damages diminished in proportion to their own fault; but under (b)(2), if the claimant's fault is "equal to or greater in degree" than the fault of the party/parties from whom recovery is sought, the claimant is "not entitled to recover" anything. So recovery is barred at 50% or more (a 50% bar, not 51%). "Fault" is defined broadly to include any act, omission, conduct, risk assumed, breach of warranty, or breach of legal duty that is a proximate cause of damages. Arkansas is NOT a pure-contributory state.
Damage Caps in Arkansas
No cap on general personal-injury damages. Arkansas has no medical-malpractice damages cap — the Arkansas Constitution (art. 5, § 32) bars the legislature from limiting the amount recoverable for injuries/death (outside the employment/workers'-comp context). The statutory punitive-damages cap (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-55-208) was struck down as unconstitutional in Bayer CropScience LP v. Schafer, 2011 Ark. 518 (2011); it remains on the books but is unenforceable. Net: PI compensatory and punitive damages are effectively uncapped in Arkansas.
Dog-Bite Liability in Arkansas
Arkansas has NO statewide civil dog-bite statute. It is a common-law "one-bite"/scienter state: under Arkansas case law, an owner/keeper is liable when the dog had known vicious or dangerous propensities and the owner knew or should have known of them. (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-62-125 is only a criminal misdemeanor for negligently allowing a vicious dog to cause serious injury, not a civil strict-liability basis.) Some local governments impose strict liability by ordinance, so the applicable rule can vary by county/city. CONFIRMED against secondary legal summaries and confirmed absence of any statewide civil statute.
Deadline to File a Claim in Arkansas
Arkansas generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 3 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). General personal-injury SOL is 3 years (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105), generally running from the date of injury. Notable exceptions: intentional torts (e.g., assault/battery) are 1 year under § 16-56-104; most medical-malpractice claims are 2 years from the act/omission under § 16-114-203. Tolling for minors and a discovery rule can apply in some circumstances. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Arkansas is a modified comparative-fault state with a 50% bar: a plaintiff recovers reduced damages only if their share of fault is LESS than the defendant's; at 50% or more fault, recovery is barred (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-64-122(b)).
- General personal-injury lawsuits must be filed within 3 years (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105); intentional torts (assault/battery) are 1 year (§ 16-56-104) and medical malpractice is 2 years (§ 16-114-203).
- Dog bites: no statewide statute. Arkansas follows the common-law one-bite/scienter rule — owner liable if they knew or should have known of the dog's vicious propensities. Some counties/cities impose strict liability by local ordinance.
- Damages are effectively uncapped: the Arkansas Constitution (art. 5, § 32) bars caps on personal-injury/wrongful-death recovery, and the statutory punitive-damages cap (§ 16-55-208) was held unconstitutional in Bayer CropScience LP v. Schafer, 2011 Ark. 518 (2011).
- Because the bar is at 50% (not 51%) and 'fault' is defined broadly by statute, fault apportionment is highly consequential to settlement value in Arkansas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Arkansas injury claim worth?
No one can tell you a number in advance. A rough estimate adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and applies a pain-and-suffering multiplier, then adjusts for fault under Arkansas's modified comparative negligence (50% bar) rule. The real value depends on the facts, the insurance available, and negotiation — an attorney is the only way to value your specific case.
Does my own fault reduce my Arkansas settlement?
Yes. Arkansas Code Ann. § 16-64-122 is a modified comparative-fault statute with a 50% bar. Under subsection (b)(1), a claiming party whose fault is "of a lesser degree" than the defendant's recovers damages diminished in proportion to their own fault; but under (b)(2), if the claimant's fault is "equal to or greater in degree" than the fault of the party/parties from whom recovery is sought, the claimant is "not entitled to recover" anything. So recovery is barred at 50% or more (a 50% bar, not 51%). "Fault" is defined broadly to include any act, omission, conduct, risk assumed, breach of warranty, or breach of legal duty that is a proximate cause of damages. Arkansas is NOT a pure-contributory state.
How long do I have to file in Arkansas?
Generally 3 years from the injury. General personal-injury SOL is 3 years (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105), generally running from the date of injury. Notable exceptions: intentional torts (e.g., assault/battery) are 1 year under § 16-56-104; most medical-malpractice claims are 2 years from the act/omission under § 16-114-203. Tolling for minors and a discovery rule can apply in some circumstances.
Is this calculator accurate?
It is a rough estimate to show the factors that drive value — not a prediction or an offer. Real settlements vary enormously. Treat any number here as a ballpark and consult a Arkansas personal-injury attorney.
Disclaimer
This estimator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a prediction of any outcome. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The value of a personal-injury claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts.