Personal Injury Compensation Estimator
Estimate potential personal injury compensation based on medical expenses, lost income, injury severity, and other factors. This tool provides a general estimate and does not constitute legal advice.
Comparative negligence reduces your award proportionally.
Formula & Methodology
Step 1 — Economic (Special) Damages:
Special Damages = Medical Expenses + Future Medical + Lost Wages + Future Lost Wages + Property Damage
Step 2 — Pain & Suffering (Multiplier Method):
Base P&S = (Medical Expenses + Future Medical) × Severity Multiplier Duration Bonus = min((Recovery Months − 3) × 2%, 60%) [if recovery > 3 months] Pain & Suffering = Base P&S × (1 + Duration Bonus)
Severity Multipliers: Minor = 1.5×, Moderate = 2.5×, Serious = 4.0×, Severe = 6.0×, Catastrophic = 9.0×
Step 3 — Loss of Enjoyment / Emotional Distress:
Loss of Enjoyment = Pain & Suffering × 15% [for moderate severity and above]
Step 4 — Punitive Damages (if applicable):
Punitive Damages = (Special + Non-Economic) × 2.0
Step 5 — Comparative Negligence Reduction:
Final Compensation = Gross Total × (1 − Fault% / 100)
Step 6 — Net After Attorney Fees:
Net = Final Compensation × (1 − 0.33)
Assumptions & References
- The multiplier method is the most widely used approach by U.S. insurance adjusters and attorneys to calculate pain and suffering damages (Nolo Legal Encyclopedia).
- Severity multipliers (1.5× – 9.0×) are based on industry norms; catastrophic injuries can exceed 10× in jury verdicts.
- The duration bonus reflects that longer recovery periods increase pain and suffering awards proportionally.
- Comparative negligence rules apply in most U.S. states; pure contributory negligence states (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC) may bar recovery entirely if any fault is found.
- Punitive damages are awarded only in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct; the 2× estimate is conservative — courts have awarded up to 9× (BMW of North America v. Gore, 517 U.S. 559).
- Attorney contingency fees typically range from 25%–40%; 33% is the standard estimate (American Bar Association).
- Future damages are not discounted to present value in this estimator; a full economic analysis would apply a discount rate.
- This tool does not account for state damage caps (e.g., many states cap non-economic damages at $250,000–$750,000 for medical malpractice).
- References: Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 903–906; 42 U.S.C. § 1981a; RAND Institute for Civil Justice — "Compensation for Accidental Injuries in the United States" (1991).