Car Accident Settlement Estimator
90|Case Details
107| 108|Your Settlement Estimate
170| 171|State Law Adjustments —
196| 197| 198| 199| 200|ESTIMATED PAYOUT
205| 206|Range: –
207|Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney
213|Car accident cases are time-sensitive. Get a free consultation today.
214| 220|Thank you! An attorney will reach out shortly.
221|Statute of Limitations by State
226|Time limits to file a car accident injury lawsuit. Claims must be filed before the deadline or you lose the right to sue.
227|| State | Years |
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Frequently Asked Questions
238|How is a car accident settlement calculated?
240|Settlements are based on economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage) plus non-economic damages (pain and suffering). Insurance adjusters often use a multiplier method — multiplying medical costs by 1.5× to 8× depending on injury severity. Your state's tort laws and fault rules then determine what you can actually recover.
241|What is comparative vs. contributory negligence?
243|Contributory negligence (AL, DC, MD, NC, VA) bars recovery if you are even 1% at fault. Pure comparative reduces your damages by your fault percentage — even if you're 99% at fault you can still recover 1%. Modified comparative allows recovery only if you're less than 50% or 51% at fault (depending on the state), with damages reduced by your fault share.
244|What does "no-fault" insurance mean?
246|In no-fault states, your own insurance (PIP — Personal Injury Protection) pays your medical bills and lost wages up to a set limit, regardless of who caused the accident. You can only sue the other driver if your injuries meet a "serious injury" threshold. No-fault states include FL, MI, NJ, NY, PA, HI, KY, MA, MN, ND, and UT. Kentucky allows drivers to opt out of no-fault.
247|Are there caps on pain and suffering damages?
249|Some states impose statutory caps on non-economic (pain and suffering) damages. For example: Alaska ($400K–$1M), Colorado (~$642K), Idaho (~$500K), Kansas ($250K), Maryland (~$935K), Michigan (~$595K for auto), Ohio ($250K–$500K), Oklahoma ($350K), Oregon ($500K), and Tennessee ($750K). These caps vary and some are adjusted annually for inflation. Several states' caps have been struck down by courts, so consult an attorney for the latest.
250|Should I accept the first settlement offer?
252|Generally no. Initial offers from insurance companies are typically far below the true value of your claim. Insurance adjusters often start with a low offer hoping you'll accept quickly. An experienced personal injury attorney can negotiate a significantly higher settlement — studies show represented plaintiffs recover 3× more on average. Most attorneys work on contingency (no upfront cost, they take ~33% of the settlement).
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