Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate a possible settlement range for a car accident claim using the two methods insurers and lawyers commonly reference — the multiplier method and the per diem method — adjusted for shared fault.
How is a car accident settlement estimated?
Insurance adjusters and personal injury lawyers commonly start from one of two simple formulas to put a number on "pain and suffering" — the non-economic part of your claim that medical bills alone don't cover.
The multiplier method
Add up your "special damages" — medical bills plus lost wages — then multiply that total by a number between 1.5 and 5 based on how serious the injury is.
Minor soft-tissue injuries usually sit near the low end (1.5-2x), while permanent or catastrophic injuries can justify a multiplier of 5 or higher.
The per diem method
Instead of a multiplier, this method assigns a daily dollar value to your pain and suffering — often based on your actual daily income — and multiplies it by the number of days you were affected.
This method tends to work better for injuries with a clear, limited recovery period rather than long-term or permanent damage.
Comparative negligence
If you were partly at fault for the accident, most jurisdictions reduce your settlement by that percentage. Someone found 20% at fault would typically see their total estimate reduced by 20% before any final number is agreed on.
What this calculator doesn't account for
- Insurance policy limits, which can cap what you actually receive
- State-specific negligence rules (some states bar recovery above 50% fault)
- Punitive damages in cases of extreme negligence
- Negotiation dynamics with the insurance adjuster