Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Estimate a personal injury settlement with the multiplier method — economic damages plus pain and suffering — and see a low-to-high range.
How it works
Economic = medical + lost wages + other · Pain & suffering = (medical + other) × multiplier · Settlement = economic + pain & suffering
The multiplier method is the rough-and-ready way insurers and attorneys value an injury claim. You add up the hard, documented losses (economic damages), then multiply the injury-related costs by a factor that reflects how serious and lasting the injury is — typically 1.5 for minor soft-tissue cases and up to 5 for severe or permanent harm. That product estimates the general damages for pain and suffering, which are added on top of the economic losses.
Worked example
With $15,000 in medical bills, $6,000 of lost wages and $1,000 of other costs, economic damages are $22,000. Applying a 3× multiplier to the $16,000 of medical and other costs gives $48,000 of pain and suffering, for a total estimate of about $70,000.
Frequently asked questions
What multiplier should I use?
Lower multipliers (1.5–2) fit minor injuries that heal fully; higher ones (4–5) fit severe, disfiguring or permanent injuries. Insurers push for low multipliers, so the number is a negotiation, not a fixed rule.
Does this include future medical costs?
Only if you include them in the medical-bills field. Serious cases should account for expected future treatment and long-term care, which can dwarf the bills paid so far.
Is the multiplier method the only approach?
No. The per-diem method assigns a daily dollar value to suffering and multiplies by recovery days. Adjusters often cross-check both, so treat this as one estimate among several.
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Educational estimate only — not legal, tax or financial advice. Actual settlements, awards and payoffs depend on the facts, jurisdiction and negotiation. Consult a licensed attorney.