How much is my personal injury case worth?

There is no single average

Online "average settlement" figures can be misleading. Two people with the same diagnosis can recover very different amounts depending on their medical costs, recovery, income, the facts of the accident, state law and available insurance. Treat any number you see, including ours, as illustrative.

Economic damages

These are losses with a dollar amount:

• Medical bills, past and expected future treatment.
• Lost wages and reduced ability to earn.
• Property damage, such as vehicle repair or replacement.
• Out-of-pocket costs, like prescriptions and travel to appointments.

Non-economic damages

These cover harm that is real but hard to price: pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and scarring. Insurers and attorneys use different methods to estimate them, and rules of thumb like "multiply medical bills by a number" are rough negotiating tools, not legal formulas.

What can raise or lower a claim

• How serious and lasting the injuries are, and how well they are documented.
• Who was at fault. Many states reduce your recovery by your share of fault, and a few bar recovery above a threshold.
• Insurance limits on the at-fault party's policy, and whether you have underinsured motorist coverage.
• Gaps in treatment or delays seeing a doctor.
• Prior injuries or conditions.

Get a claim reviewed

The most reliable way to understand what your claim may be worth is to have an attorney review your records. Many offer a free consultation.