Interactive guide · Legal & Injury

How to Calculate Car Accident Settlement

Estimate what a car accident claim is worth after fault, fees and policy limits.

Open as a plain tool

The formula

How this number is built

net = ((economic + medical × multiplier) × (1 − fault)) − fee − costs

Step by step

Calculating it yourself

Step 1

Add every medical bill you already have, including ambulance, imaging and physical therapy.

Step 2

Add wages you actually lost — pay stubs before and after the crash are the cleanest proof.

Step 3

Add the property figure from the adjuster's vehicle valuation or your own repair estimate.

Step 4

Pick a multiplier: 1.5–2 for soft tissue that resolved, 3–5 for surgery, scarring or permanent limits.

Step 5

Subtract your share of fault, then apply the fee and lien deductions to see what actually reaches you.

Questions

What people ask next

Why does the multiplier swing the number so much?

Pain and suffering is the only unliquidated part of the claim. Everything else has a receipt, so the multiplier is where negotiation actually happens.

Does my own fault really reduce the payout?

In most comparative-fault states, yes, dollar for dollar. In a few states, being over 50% at fault removes recovery entirely.

Should I subtract the attorney fee?

Only if you hire one. Represented claims typically settle higher, so the net can still exceed a self-handled claim after the fee.

Search intent

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Local rules

Where this applies

Houston, Texas→Dallas, Texas→Chicago, Illinois→Atlanta, Georgia→Las Vegas, Nevada→Phoenix, Arizona→Riverside, California→Tallahassee, Florida→Richmond, Virginia→Columbus, Ohio→Miami, Florida→

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Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.