North Dakota Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
North Dakota's Fault Rule: modified comparative negligence (50% bar)
N.D. Cent. Code § 32-03.2-02 (modified comparative fault). A claimant's damages are diminished by their percentage of fault, and recovery is BARRED when the claimant's contributing fault is "as great as" the combined fault of all other parties — i.e., barred at 50% or more (the "not as great as" standard). A plaintiff exactly 50% at fault recovers nothing; at 49% they recover 51% of damages. Liability among multiple defendants is several only (each pays its own % share), not joint, except for those who act in concert.
Damage Caps in North Dakota
No cap on general personal-injury damages (economic or noneconomic) in ordinary negligence cases. Notable caps: (1) Medical-malpractice noneconomic damages capped at $500,000 per N.D. Cent. Code § 32-42-02 (this cap was UPHELD by the North Dakota Supreme Court). (2) Exemplary/punitive damages capped at the GREATER of 2x compensatory damages or $250,000 per N.D. Cent. Code § 32-03.2-11(4). (3) Claims against the government are separately capped under N.D. Cent. Code ch. 32-12.1/32-12.2.
Dog-Bite Liability in North Dakota
North Dakota has NO general strict-liability dog-bite statute. Liability is governed by common law under Sendelbach v. Grad, 246 N.W.2d 496 (N.D. 1976): recovery requires proof of the dog's vicious propensity, the owner's knowledge (scienter) of that propensity, AND owner negligence in failing to prevent the injury — scienter alone is not enough. Premises-liability/negligence theory also applies. (Narrow statutory exception: an owner who fails to license/vaccinate/confine against rabies can be automatically liable for a bite victim's rabies-related medical costs.)
Deadline to File a Claim in North Dakota
North Dakota generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 6 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(5): 6 years for injury to the person/rights of another not arising on contract — one of the longest PI SOLs in the U.S. Exceptions: medical malpractice is 2 years from discovery with a 6-year statute of repose; wrongful death is 2 years from death; minors' clock generally tolled until age 18. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- North Dakota is a modified comparative fault (50% bar) state under § 32-03.2-02: a plaintiff 50% or more at fault recovers nothing; otherwise damages are reduced by their fault percentage.
- Unusually long personal-injury statute of limitations: 6 years from the date of injury under § 28-01-16 (vs. the more common 2-3 years).
- Defendant liability is several-only, not joint — each defendant pays only its own percentage of fault (except parties acting in concert), affecting multi-defendant settlement allocation.
- Dog-bite claims are NOT strict liability: under Sendelbach v. Grad the victim must prove the dog's vicious propensity, the owner's knowledge of it, and owner negligence.
- No cap on general PI damages; med-mal noneconomic damages capped at $500,000 (§ 32-42-02, upheld by the ND Supreme Court) and punitive damages at the greater of 2x compensatory or $250,000 (§ 32-03.2-11(4)).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my North Dakota 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 North Dakota'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 North Dakota settlement?
Yes. N.D. Cent. Code § 32-03.2-02 (modified comparative fault). A claimant's damages are diminished by their percentage of fault, and recovery is BARRED when the claimant's contributing fault is "as great as" the combined fault of all other parties — i.e., barred at 50% or more (the "not as great as" standard). A plaintiff exactly 50% at fault recovers nothing; at 49% they recover 51% of damages. Liability among multiple defendants is several only (each pays its own % share), not joint, except for those who act in concert.
How long do I have to file in North Dakota?
Generally 6 years from the injury. N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(5): 6 years for injury to the person/rights of another not arising on contract — one of the longest PI SOLs in the U.S. Exceptions: medical malpractice is 2 years from discovery with a 6-year statute of repose; wrongful death is 2 years from death; minors' clock generally tolled until age 18.
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 North Dakota 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.