Car accident settlement calculator
Estimate a rough settlement range from your medical bills, vehicle repair, lost wages and a pain-and-suffering multiplier, adjusted for your share of fault. Free, private, and calculated right in your browser — for educational purposes only.
Last updated: 18 June 2026
⚑ Educational estimate — not legal advice
This tool provides an educational estimate only. Settlement values vary enormously by jurisdiction and by the facts of each case. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a licensed personal injury attorney or CPA before making any decision about your claim.
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Estimated net settlement
$0
$0Likely range (±25%)
$0Economic damages
$0Pain & suffering
$0Total before fault
$0Fault reduction
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Talk to a personal injury attorney
Most personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation and work on contingency — they only get paid if you do. An experienced lawyer often negotiates a far larger settlement than an unrepresented claimant.
Estimate a personal injury claim →How the settlement estimate works
Insurers and attorneys often value a claim in two parts: economic damages (your hard, documented costs) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering). This calculator uses a widely-cited rough method:
economic = medical + repair + lost wages
pain & suffering = (medical + lost wages) × multiplier
gross = economic + pain & suffering
net = gross × (1 − fault ÷ 100)
Note that the pain-and-suffering multiplier is applied only to injury-related costs — your medical bills and lost wages. Vehicle repair and property damage are excluded from the multiplier because they are objective, fixed losses with no associated pain. The multiplier (typically 1.5 to 5) reflects injury severity: a sprain that fully heals sits near 1.5, while a permanent or disabling injury can push toward 5 or higher.
Insurers do not actually use a single formula — adjusters weigh medical records, treatment length, liability strength, your policy limits, jury verdicts in your area and the quality of your documentation. The "net" figure here applies a simple comparative negligence reduction: if you are partly at fault, your recovery is cut by that percentage. This is only one of several fault systems used across the United States.
Comparative vs contributory negligence: most states follow pure or modified comparative negligence, which reduces (rather than eliminates) your recovery in proportion to your fault — though modified systems bar recovery once you cross 50% or 51% fault. A small number of jurisdictions still apply contributory negligence, where being even 1% at fault can bar your claim entirely. Because these rules differ so dramatically by state, treat the fault adjustment here as illustrative only.
Frequently asked questions
How is a car accident settlement estimated?
A common rough method adds economic damages (medical bills, vehicle repair or property damage, and lost wages) to a pain-and-suffering figure, then reduces the total by your share of fault. Pain and suffering is often approximated as injury-related costs (medical + lost wages) times a multiplier between 1.5 and 5.
What is the pain-and-suffering multiplier?
It is a rough factor (commonly 1.5 to 5) applied to injury-related economic damages to approximate non-economic harm. Minor injuries with full recovery sit near the low end; severe, permanent or disabling injuries sit near the high end. It is a heuristic, not a legal rule, and real awards vary widely.
How does being partly at fault affect my settlement?
Most U.S. states use comparative negligence, reducing your recovery by your percentage of fault. A few states use contributory negligence, where even 1% fault can bar recovery entirely. Rules vary enormously by state, so the fault adjustment here is illustrative only.
Is this calculator a guarantee of what I will receive?
No. It gives an educational ballpark only. Real settlements depend on liability disputes, insurance policy limits, evidence, jurisdiction and negotiation. Always consult a licensed personal injury attorney about your specific case.
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Sources & further reading
U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov); USA.gov consumer guidance on auto insurance and claims (usa.gov); state comparative- and contributory-negligence statutes vary by jurisdiction. Read our full disclaimer →