California Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a California 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 California 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 California's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
California's Fault Rule: pure comparative negligence
California follows PURE comparative negligence, adopted by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975), which abolished the old all-or-nothing contributory negligence rule. A plaintiff's recovery is reduced in direct proportion to their own percentage of fault, but is NEVER barred — even a plaintiff 99% at fault may recover the remaining 1% of damages. There is no fault-percentage cutoff. (California is NOT in the pure-contributory set, which is only AL, MD, NC, VA, DC.)
Damage Caps in California
No cap on general personal-injury damages (economic or noneconomic) in ordinary negligence/auto/premises/dog-bite cases. The only notable cap is MICRA for medical malpractice (Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.2): noneconomic damages are capped, and under AB 35 (eff. 1/1/2023) the injury cap started at $350,000 and rises $40,000 every January 1 to $750,000 by 2032 (then 2% annual inflation adjustments from 2034); a separate, higher wrongful-death track runs to $1,000,000. As of January 1, 2026 the med-mal noneconomic injury cap is approximately $470,000. Punitive damages are available in PI cases for malice/oppression/fraud (Cal. Civ. Code § 3294) and are not subject to a fixed statutory dollar cap, though they are constrained by due-process ratio limits.
Dog-Bite Liability in California
California Civil Code § 3342 imposes STRICT liability: the owner of any dog is liable for damages to any person bitten while in a public place or lawfully in a private place (including the owner's property), "regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of such viciousness." No prior-bite or "one-bite" knowledge requirement applies. Limited exception for police/military dogs under § 3342 subdivisions. (Bites only; non-bite injuries fall under ordinary negligence.)
Deadline to File a Claim in California
California generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 2 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). The standard personal-injury statute of limitations is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Claims against government entities require a pre-suit administrative claim, generally within 6 months. Medical malpractice uses a separate 3-year / 1-year-from-discovery rule. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- California uses pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975) — recovery is reduced by the plaintiff's fault percentage but is never barred, even at 99% fault.
- The standard personal-injury statute of limitations is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1); medical malpractice uses CCP § 340.5 (3 years from injury or 1 year from discovery, whichever is first).
- Dog-bite liability is strict under Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 — the owner is liable regardless of any prior knowledge of viciousness; no 'one-bite' free pass.
- There is no cap on general personal-injury damages; only medical-malpractice noneconomic damages are capped under MICRA (Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.2), about $470,000 for injury cases as of Jan. 1, 2026.
- Claims against government entities require a pre-suit administrative claim (generally within 6 months) under the California Government Claims Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my California 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 California's pure comparative negligence 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 California settlement?
Yes. California follows PURE comparative negligence, adopted by the California Supreme Court in Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975), which abolished the old all-or-nothing contributory negligence rule. A plaintiff's recovery is reduced in direct proportion to their own percentage of fault, but is NEVER barred — even a plaintiff 99% at fault may recover the remaining 1% of damages. There is no fault-percentage cutoff. (California is NOT in the pure-contributory set, which is only AL, MD, NC, VA, DC.)
How long do I have to file in California?
Generally 2 years from the injury. The standard personal-injury statute of limitations is 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). Claims against government entities require a pre-suit administrative claim, generally within 6 months. Medical malpractice uses a separate 3-year / 1-year-from-discovery rule.
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 California 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.