Dealing with the aftermath of a personal injury can be overwhelming. Medical bills are piling up, you're missing work, and the emotional stress only makes a tough situation even harder. Knowing how much your personal injury claim might be worth is a crucial step toward recovery. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we're here to help you navigate this complex process.

We've created our own Personal Injury Settlement Calculator to help you estimate the value of your claim.

Personal Injury Settlement Calculator

How to Calculate Your Personal Injury Claim Value

Estimating your claim involves adding up all your damages:

• Add Up Economic Damages: Total all medical bills and future medical costs, lost wages (including future lost income), and property damage.
• Calculate Non-Economic Damages: This is often done by multiplying your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of your pain and suffering.

Example: If your economic damages are $50,000 and you choose a multiplier of 3 for severe pain and suffering, your non-economic damages would be $150,000.

How Accurate is a Personal Injury Settlement Calculator?

A personal injury calculator is designed to give a rough estimate of the compensation you could receive for an injury. It considers both economic and non-economic damages. While the calculator provides an estimate, the actual settlement may vary based on several factors, including the severity of the injury, liability, and specific circumstances of the case. Here's how it works:

• Medical Expenses – This includes costs for hospital visits, surgeries, medications, therapy, and any future medical care required.
• Lost Wages – If your injury forced you to miss work, you're entitled to compensation for the income you lost during recovery.
• Property Damage – In cases such as car accidents, damage to your vehicle or other personal property may be considered in the calculation.
• Pain and Suffering – These are non-economic damages designed to compensate for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injury.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life – If your injury has impacted your ability to enjoy hobbies or daily activities, this factor can increase the settlement amount.

Factors Affecting Your Personal Injury Settlement

While a settlement calculator can offer a rough estimate, the actual compensation amount depends on numerous factors that are unique to each case. Here are some critical factors that will affect the personal injury settlement:

Severity of the Injury

The severity of your injury plays a significant role in determining your compensation. More severe injuries, such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or fractures, generally lead to higher settlements due to the extensive medical care and long-term rehabilitation required. Additionally, permanent disabilities or disfigurements are factors that could increase the settlement amount significantly.

Medical Treatment and Costs

The total cost of your medical treatment, both current and future, directly affects the settlement. If you need ongoing medical care or long-term physical therapy, this can increase your potential compensation. It's important to keep all medical bills, doctor notes, and treatment records to substantiate your claim.

Loss of Income and Earning Capacity

If your injury forces you to miss work, you may be compensated for lost wages. More importantly, if the injury has diminished your ability to earn income in the future, you can also receive compensation for lost earning capacity. For example, if you're unable to return to the same job or if you must take a lower-paying position due to your physical limitations, your compensation will reflect this long-term financial impact.

Liability and Fault

The question of who was at fault plays a big role in determining the settlement amount. In some states, if you're found partially responsible for the accident, your compensation may be reduced based on the percentage of your fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault for a car accident, your settlement could be reduced by 20%. This is known as comparative negligence.

Emotional and Psychological Impact

Non-economic damages like pain and suffering and emotional distress are more subjective but often contribute significantly to the overall settlement. These damages aim to compensate you for the psychological toll an injury may take, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD. In cases where the injury drastically changes your quality of life, such as limiting your ability to engage in personal relationships or enjoy hobbies, the compensation for this emotional damage can be substantial.

Legal Fees: What You'll Pay Your Lawyer After Settlement

Understanding legal fees helps you know what to expect after your settlement. At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we only work on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement ensures that clients pay zero out-of-pocket costs, making world-class legal representation accessible to a wider range of injured individuals without any upfront fees.

Contingency Fee Basis

• No Upfront Costs: You pay nothing unless you win your case.
• Percentage of Settlement: Typically, legal fees range from 33% to 40% of your settlement.
• Example: If your adjusted settlement is $144,000 and the contingency fee is 33%, legal fees would be approximately $47,520.

Additional Costs

• Court Fees: Filing fees and other court-related expenses.
• Expert Witnesses: Costs for specialists who testify on your behalf.
• Administrative Expenses: Charges for copies, postage, and other necessary services.

Note: At West Coast Trial Lawyers, we clarify all fees upfront and deduct costs transparently.

Contact WCTL for a Free Consultation

Estimating your personal injury settlement is a complex process that goes beyond calculators and formulas. Let the experts at West Coast Trial Lawyers guide you through every step. With over $1.6 billion secured in settlements for our clients and numerous accolades recognizing our world-class legal expertise, we are committed to delivering exceptional results.

Ready to pursue the compensation you deserve?

Disclaimer: The Settlement Calculator provided on this website is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The calculations and results generated are estimates based on the information you provide and do not guarantee any specific outcome for your case. Using this calculator does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and West Coast Trial Lawyers or any of its attorneys. For personalized legal advice tailored to your specific situation, we strongly recommend consulting directly with a qualified attorney.