Updated June 17, 2026
Estimate your claim value
Add up medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering in under a minute.
Personal injury settlements vary enormously, but published verdict and settlement data show consistent ranges by injury type: minor soft-tissue injuries typically settle for $5,000 to $25,000; moderate injuries like herniated discs and fractures range from $30,000 to $150,000; and severe or permanently disabling injuries can exceed $500,000. These are estimates only, not predictions for your case.
Settlement ranges by injury category
| Injury type | Typical settlement range | Key drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue (bruising, mild whiplash) | $5,000 to $25,000 | Treatment duration, clear liability |
| Whiplash with ongoing symptoms | $15,000 to $60,000 | Imaging, specialist visits, time off work |
| Herniated disc | $30,000 to $150,000 | Surgery vs. conservative care, permanent symptoms |
| Broken bone (fracture) | $20,000 to $100,000 | Complexity, hardware required, recovery time |
| Knee injury (ligament tear, surgery) | $40,000 to $200,000 | Surgery, ongoing limitations, age |
| Traumatic brain injury (TBI) | $100,000 to $500,000+ | Cognitive impact, lost earning capacity |
| Spinal cord injury | $500,000 to several million | Permanent disability, lifetime care costs |
Why these ranges are starting points, not predictions
Published averages aggregate thousands of cases with very different facts. A herniated disc case with strong liability, documented surgical need, and significant lost wages will settle toward the high end. The same injury with shared fault, limited treatment, and policy limits of $25,000 may settle at the policy limit regardless of the theoretical value.
The role of insurance limits
Policy limits cap most settlements in practice. A claimant with a well-documented $200,000 claim against a driver with a $50,000 policy will often receive $50,000, not $200,000, unless the driver has assets worth pursuing or the claimant has underinsured motorist coverage. Understanding the coverage available is as important as calculating the claim's value.
How to get your own estimate
Use the injury claim calculator to enter your specific medical bills, lost wages, and injury severity. The result is an educational estimate based on standard formulas. For a case-specific assessment, consult a personal injury attorney, most of whom offer free initial consultations.
Estimate your claim value
Add up medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering in under a minute.