This calculator provides an ESTIMATE based on common factors. Consult a legal professional for accurate advice.
Your Estimated Settlement: $0
Understanding Accident Injury Settlements
An accident injury settlement is a financial agreement reached between an injured party (plaintiff) and the party responsible for the injury (defendant), often through their insurance companies. The goal is to compensate the injured party for their losses without going through a lengthy and costly trial. This calculator is designed to provide a rough estimate of a potential settlement value based on several key factors. It is crucial to understand that this is a simplified model and real-world settlements involve complex negotiations, legal arguments, and varying jurisdiction laws.
Factors Influencing Settlement Value
Medical Expenses: This includes all costs related to treating your injuries, such as hospital stays, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and diagnostic tests. These are typically well-documented and form a baseline for calculating damages.
Lost Wages: This category covers income lost due to the inability to work because of your injuries. It can include past lost earnings (time missed from work up to the settlement) and future lost earning capacity (if your injuries permanently affect your ability to earn income).
Pain and Suffering: This is a more subjective component, accounting for the physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life resulting from the injury. It is often calculated using a multiplier applied to the total of medical expenses and lost wages, or on a per diem basis. The multiplier varies significantly based on the severity and duration of the pain and suffering.
Property Damage: If your accident involved damage to your vehicle or other personal property, the cost of repair or replacement is also included in the settlement calculation.
Other Quantifiable Damages: This can include out-of-pocket expenses beyond medical bills, such as transportation costs to medical appointments, home modifications, or assistive devices.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified Model)
This calculator uses a common method for estimating settlement value:
Sum of Economic Damages: It first adds up the quantifiable economic losses: Medical Expenses + Lost Wages + Property Damage + Other Quantifiable Damages.
Calculation of Pain and Suffering: It then calculates an estimated value for pain and suffering. This is done by multiplying the Sum of Medical Expenses and Lost Wages by the Pain and Suffering Multiplier provided by the user. A higher multiplier indicates more severe or prolonged pain and suffering.
Total Estimated Settlement: Finally, it sums up the economic damages and the estimated pain and suffering to arrive at a total estimated settlement range.
Formula: Estimated Settlement = (Medical Expenses + Lost Wages + Property Damage + Other Damages) + ((Medical Expenses + Lost Wages) * Pain and Suffering Multiplier)
Important Disclaimer
This calculator is a tool for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The actual value of an accident injury claim depends on numerous factors not fully captured here, including:
The specific laws of the jurisdiction where the accident occurred.
The clarity of fault and liability.
The quality of evidence and documentation.
The negotiation skills of the parties involved.
The specific insurance policy limits.
The potential for future complications or long-term disability.
For accurate legal guidance and to understand the true value of your claim, it is essential to consult with a qualified personal injury attorney.
function calculateSettlement() {
var medicalExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById("medicalExpenses").value);
var lostWages = parseFloat(document.getElementById("lostWages").value);
var painAndSufferingMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById("painAndSuffering").value);
var propertyDamage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("propertyDamage").value);
var otherDamages = parseFloat(document.getElementById("otherDamages").value);
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result");
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(medicalExpenses) || medicalExpenses < 0 ||
isNaN(lostWages) || lostWages < 0 ||
isNaN(painAndSufferingMultiplier) || painAndSufferingMultiplier 5 ||
isNaN(propertyDamage) || propertyDamage < 0 ||
isNaN(otherDamages) || otherDamages < 0) {
resultElement.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for all fields.";
resultElement.style.color = "#dc3545"; // Red for error
return;
}
var economicDamages = medicalExpenses + lostWages + propertyDamage + otherDamages;
var painAndSufferingValue = (medicalExpenses + lostWages) * painAndSufferingMultiplier;
var estimatedSettlement = economicDamages + painAndSufferingValue;
// Format the result to two decimal places
var formattedSettlement = estimatedSettlement.toFixed(2);
resultElement.innerHTML = "Your Estimated Settlement: $" + formattedSettlement;
resultElement.style.color = "#28a745"; // Green for success
}