Louisiana Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
Louisiana's Fault Rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
As of January 1, 2026, Louisiana is a MODIFIED-51 comparative fault state. La. Civ. Code art. 2323, as amended by Acts 2025, No. 15 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026), now bars recovery if the injured person's negligence is "equal to or greater than fifty-one percent." Below 51%, damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant's percentage of fault. IMPORTANT HISTORICAL NOTE: before Jan. 1, 2026, Louisiana was a PURE-COMPARATIVE state (recovery reduced by fault with no bar). Claims arising from injuries before that date may still be governed by the prior pure-comparative rule — date of injury matters. Fault is allocated among all persons contributing to the loss, parties or not; reduction does not apply against an intentional tortfeasor.
Source: La. Civ. Code arts. 2323, 3493.1, 2321; La. R.S. 40:1231.2.
Damage Caps in Louisiana
No cap on general personal-injury (compensatory/pain-and-suffering) damages in ordinary negligence cases. Notable exceptions: medical malpractice is capped at $500,000 total (exclusive of future medical care and related benefits), with each qualified provider liable for max $100,000 and the Patient's Compensation Fund paying the excess (La. R.S. 40:1231.2); claims against the State/public entities are capped at $500,000 (La. R.S. 13:5106). Punitive/exemplary damages are generally unavailable unless a specific statute authorizes them.
Dog-Bite Liability in Louisiana
La. Civ. Code art. 2321(B): "The owner of a dog is strictly liable for damages for injuries to persons or property caused by the dog and which the owner could have prevented and which did not result from the injured person's provocation of the dog." This is true strict liability (no prior-bite/scienter requirement), distinct from the knowledge-based negligence standard for other animals in art. 2321(A). Defenses: the owner could not have prevented the harm, or victim provocation.
Deadline to File a Claim in Louisiana
Louisiana generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 2 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). Two-year liberative prescription for delictual (tort) actions under La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423, eff. July 1, 2024), which replaced the former one-year period in repealed arts. 3492/3493. Prescription commences from the day injury or damage is sustained. Causes of action arising before July 1, 2024 generally remain subject to the prior one-year period. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Statute of limitations (prescription): Louisiana now allows TWO years to file a personal-injury (delictual) suit under La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1, enacted by Acts 2024, No. 423 (effective July 1, 2024), which repealed the former one-year period (old arts. 3492/3493). Injuries before July 1, 2024 may still be subject to the old one-year rule.
- Comparative negligence: effective January 1, 2026, Louisiana switched from pure-comparative to MODIFIED-51 — a claimant 51% or more at fault recovers nothing; otherwise the award is reduced by the claimant's fault percentage (La. Civ. Code art. 2323, Acts 2025, No. 15).
- Dog bites: STRICT liability on the dog owner under La. Civ. Code art. 2321(B) — no need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous; provocation by the victim or inability to prevent the harm are defenses.
- General personal-injury (general/compensatory) damages are NOT capped in Louisiana — no statutory cap on pain-and-suffering in ordinary negligence cases.
- Notable caps: medical malpractice total recovery is capped at $500,000 (plus future medical care) under La. R.S. 40:1231.2, with $100,000 per qualified provider and the Patient's Compensation Fund covering the excess; claims against the State and its agencies are capped at $500,000 under La. R.S. 13:5106. Louisiana generally does not allow punitive (exemplary) damages unless specifically authorized by statute (e.g., art. 2315.4 drunk-driving).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Louisiana 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 Louisiana's modified comparative negligence (51% 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 Louisiana settlement?
Yes. As of January 1, 2026, Louisiana is a MODIFIED-51 comparative fault state. La. Civ. Code art. 2323, as amended by Acts 2025, No. 15 (eff. Jan. 1, 2026), now bars recovery if the injured person's negligence is "equal to or greater than fifty-one percent." Below 51%, damages are reduced in proportion to the claimant's percentage of fault. IMPORTANT HISTORICAL NOTE: before Jan. 1, 2026, Louisiana was a PURE-COMPARATIVE state (recovery reduced by fault with no bar). Claims arising from injuries before that date may still be governed by the prior pure-comparative rule — date of injury matters. Fault is allocated among all persons contributing to the loss, parties or not; reduction does not apply against an intentional tortfeasor.
How long do I have to file in Louisiana?
Generally 2 years from the injury. Two-year liberative prescription for delictual (tort) actions under La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Acts 2024, No. 423, eff. July 1, 2024), which replaced the former one-year period in repealed arts. 3492/3493. Prescription commences from the day injury or damage is sustained. Causes of action arising before July 1, 2024 generally remain subject to the prior one-year period.
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 Louisiana 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.