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Car Accident Settlement Calculator

Crash injury settlement estimate with fees backed out.

Details

Medical expenses ($)

Vehicle/property damage ($)

Lost wages ($)

Injury severity

Using an attorney?

Results

Estimated settlement -

Economic damages -

Pain & suffering -

Attorney fee -

Net to you -

Rough estimate only. Not legal advice - consult an attorney.

By Priya Raman, Contributing Writer, Policy & Regulation
Updated July 2, 2026

How the payout adds up

This tool totals your medical treatment, vehicle repair or replacement cost, and missed wages, then adds a pain and suffering figure built by multiplying your medical bills by a severity factor. A typical 33% contingency fee is subtracted at the end so the number on screen is closer to what actually lands in your account.

Policy limits matter: the at-fault driver's insurance ceiling can cap the real payout no matter what your damages add up to.

Severity tier	Multiplier applied to medical bills
Minor	1.5×
Moderate	2.5×
Serious	3.5×
Severe	4.5×
Catastrophic	5×

These are the same severity bands used across this site's calculators; see the multiplier method write-up for where the range comes from.

Car accident specifics that move the number

A rear-end collision at a stoplight reads very differently to an insurer than a highway crash involving an ambulance ride. Whiplash and soft-tissue strains, the most common crash injuries, sit at the bottom of the severity range. A fracture, a surgery, or any injury with lasting restrictions pushes the multiplier up quickly, sometimes past what the raw medical bill total would suggest. Property damage photos and the police report both help establish that the collision itself was serious enough to justify the injury being claimed.

Blind spots in this estimate

Fault and policy limits usually set the real ceiling on a crash claim, and neither shows up in the math above. If the at-fault driver carries a minimum-coverage policy, that dollar figure, not your calculated damages, is often the actual limit on what you can collect. Comparative negligence rules in most states also mean that if you contributed to the crash, your own percentage of fault gets subtracted from the total. Treat this tool as a starting point for the conversation with an adjuster or attorney, not the final word.

Run the numbers a different way

Try the broader claim tool or check how a slip and fall is scored instead.

Total up a full injury claim

Where to go next

Good to know

FAQs

How are car accident settlements calculated?

Add up medical bills, vehicle repair cost and lost wages, then add a pain and suffering figure built from a severity multiplier on the medical total. Subtract a contingency fee if you're using an attorney and you have a net estimate.

Does the other driver's insurance limit cap my payout?

Often, yes. Many drivers carry state-minimum liability coverage, sometimes as low as $25,000 to $30,000 per person, and that number can cap the practical recovery even when your damages are higher, unless you have underinsured motorist coverage of your own.

What happens if I was partly at fault for the crash?

Most states apply comparative negligence, which reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault. A few states bar recovery entirely if you're found 50% or more at fault, so an early fault assessment matters.

Should I accept the insurance adjuster's first offer?

Rarely. First offers from an insurer are usually anchored low and assume you won't push back. Compare it against this calculator's estimate and your actual bills before responding.

Is this tool legal advice?

No. It applies a general formula to the numbers you enter. Talk to a personal injury attorney about your specific facts before accepting any settlement.