Massachusetts Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
Massachusetts's Fault Rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
G.L. c. 231 §85 provides that contributory negligence does not bar recovery "if such negligence was not greater than the total amount of negligence attributable to the person or persons against whom recovery is sought." Because the plaintiff is only barred when their fault is GREATER THAN the defendants' combined fault, a plaintiff who is exactly 50% at fault (a 50/50 split) may still recover; recovery is barred only at 51% or more. This is a modified-comparative, 51% bar. Recoverable damages are reduced in proportion to the plaintiff's share of fault.
Damage Caps in Massachusetts
No cap on general personal-injury (negligence) damages — economic and noneconomic damages are uncapped in ordinary PI cases. Notable exceptions: (1) Medical malpractice — G.L. c. 231 §60H caps NONECONOMIC damages at $500,000 unless the jury finds substantial/permanent loss or impairment of a bodily function, substantial disfigurement, or other special circumstances warranting a higher award; economic damages remain uncapped. (2) Charitable/nonprofit defendants — G.L. c. 231 §85K caps tort liability at $20,000 (raised to $100,000 for med-mal against nonprofit health-care providers) when the tort occurs in furtherance of the charitable purpose; the cap does not protect individual employees. Massachusetts does not have a separate punitive-damages cap; common-law punitive damages are generally unavailable absent statutory authorization (e.g., wrongful death).
Dog-Bite Liability in Massachusetts
G.L. c. 140 §155 imposes strict liability: if a dog causes damage to the body or property of any person, the owner or keeper (or a minor's parent/guardian) is liable WITHOUT proof of negligence or prior viciousness. The only statutory defenses are that the injured person was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. If the injured minor was under seven years old, it is presumed they were not doing any of those things, shifting the burden to the defendant.
Deadline to File a Claim in Massachusetts
Massachusetts generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 3 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). G.L. c. 260 §2A: tort and personal-injury actions must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues. The discovery rule can delay accrual until the plaintiff knew or should have known of the injury and its cause. Tolling applies for minors (clock runs from age 18) and during a defendant's absence from the state. Medical-malpractice claims have a separate statute of repose (G.L. c. 260 §4) of 7 years (no repose limit in foreign-object cases). Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Massachusetts is a modified-comparative (51% bar) state: a plaintiff recovers reduced damages so long as their fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants, so a 50/50 split still allows recovery but 51%+ fault bars it entirely (G.L. c. 231 §85).
- The standard personal-injury statute of limitations is 3 years from accrual (G.L. c. 260 §2A), subject to the discovery rule and tolling for minors and absent defendants.
- Dog-owner liability is strict under G.L. c. 140 §155 — no need to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous; defenses are limited to trespass/tort by the victim or teasing/tormenting/abusing the dog.
- General personal-injury damages are uncapped; the main statutory limits are the $500,000 med-mal noneconomic cap (with serious-injury exceptions) and the $20,000/$100,000 charitable-organization cap.
- Massachusetts does not allow common-law punitive damages in ordinary PI cases — punitive damages require specific statutory authorization (such as the wrongful-death statute).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts settlement?
Yes. G.L. c. 231 §85 provides that contributory negligence does not bar recovery "if such negligence was not greater than the total amount of negligence attributable to the person or persons against whom recovery is sought." Because the plaintiff is only barred when their fault is GREATER THAN the defendants' combined fault, a plaintiff who is exactly 50% at fault (a 50/50 split) may still recover; recovery is barred only at 51% or more. This is a modified-comparative, 51% bar. Recoverable damages are reduced in proportion to the plaintiff's share of fault.
How long do I have to file in Massachusetts?
Generally 3 years from the injury. G.L. c. 260 §2A: tort and personal-injury actions must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues. The discovery rule can delay accrual until the plaintiff knew or should have known of the injury and its cause. Tolling applies for minors (clock runs from age 18) and during a defendant's absence from the state. Medical-malpractice claims have a separate statute of repose (G.L. c. 260 §4) of 7 years (no repose limit in foreign-object cases).
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 Massachusetts 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.