How much is my personal injury case worth in California?

Personal injury case values in California depend on several factors including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Most settlements use a multiplier method where your economic damages (medical bills and lost wages) are multiplied by 1.5x to 5x depending on injury severity. For example, if you have $20,000 in medical bills and lost wages with significant injuries, your case might be worth $60,000-$100,000.

What is the pain and suffering multiplier in California?

The pain and suffering multiplier in California typically ranges from 1.5x for minor soft tissue injuries to 5x or more for catastrophic injuries. Minor injuries with full recovery in weeks use 1.5x, moderate injuries requiring ER visits and months of treatment use 2x, significant injuries requiring surgery use 3x, severe injuries with permanent effects use 4x, and catastrophic injuries like permanent disability or disfigurement use 5x or higher.

What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in California?

In California, you have 2 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. However, claims against government entities have a much shorter deadline of only 6 months. It's important not to delay seeking compensation as evidence becomes harder to gather over time.

Should I hire a lawyer for my California personal injury case?

Studies show that accident victims represented by attorneys receive significantly higher settlements on average, even after attorney fees. You should consider hiring an attorney if your injuries required surgery or extensive treatment, you have permanent injuries or disabilities, liability is disputed, the insurance company is delaying or lowballing, or your case value exceeds $25,000. Most personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning no upfront costs.

Personal Injury Settlement Calculator | California

🏥

Medical Expenses

Past Medical Bills (already incurred)

Future Medical Costs (estimated)

💼

Lost Income

Past Lost Wages (time missed)

Future Lost Earning Capacity (if applicable)

🚗

Property Damage

Vehicle/Property Damage (repair or replacement cost)

⚖️

Injury Severity

Select the severity of your injuries

📋

Insurance Policy Limits (Optional)

At-fault party's policy limit (if known)

💰

Estimated Settlement Value

Range: $0 - $0

📊 Damages Breakdown

Medical Expenses (Past) $0

Medical Expenses (Future) $0

Lost Wages (Past) $0

Lost Earning Capacity (Future) $0

Property Damage $0

Total Economic Damages $0

😔 Pain & Suffering (Non-Economic)

Multiplier Applied 3x

Pain & Suffering Estimate $0

⚠️ Policy Limit Impact

The at-fault party's insurance policy limit is lower than your estimated damages.

Policy Limit $0

Practical Recovery Maximum $0

You may need to pursue your own underinsured motorist coverage or other sources to recover the full amount.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This calculator provides a rough estimate only. Actual settlement values depend on many factors including liability, evidence quality, jurisdiction, insurance coverage, and negotiation skills. Every case is unique. This is not legal advice.

Ready to pursue your claim?

Do I Need a Lawyer? Generate Demand Letter

Understanding Personal Injury Settlement Values

How Settlements Are Calculated

Personal injury settlements typically include two types of damages:

Economic Damages: Quantifiable losses like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage
Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life

The Multiplier Method

Insurance companies and attorneys often use a "multiplier" to calculate pain and suffering. Your economic damages are multiplied by a factor based on injury severity:

1.5x - Minor

Soft tissue injuries, full recovery within weeks, minimal treatment

2x - Moderate

ER visits, physical therapy, recovery in months

3x - Significant

Surgery required, extensive treatment, some lasting effects

4x - Severe

Multiple surgeries, long recovery, permanent limitations

5x+ - Catastrophic

Permanent disability, TBI, spinal cord injury, disfigurement

Factors That Increase Settlement Value

Clear liability (other party obviously at fault)
Well-documented injuries with consistent treatment
Objective evidence (MRIs, X-rays, surgery reports)
Significant impact on daily life and work
High insurance policy limits
Strong attorney representation

Factors That Decrease Settlement Value

Shared fault (California's comparative negligence reduces recovery)
Gaps in medical treatment
Pre-existing conditions
Low policy limits
Inconsistent statements or social media contradicting injury claims

California Statute of Limitations

In California, you have 2 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims against government entities have a much shorter deadline (6 months). Don't delay seeking compensation.

When to Hire an Attorney

Studies show that accident victims represented by attorneys receive significantly higher settlements on average, even after attorney fees. Consider hiring an attorney if:

Your injuries required surgery or extensive treatment
You have permanent injuries or disabilities
Liability is disputed
The insurance company is delaying or lowballing
Your case value exceeds $25,000

Related Demand Letters

Generate a professional demand letter for your personal injury case:

Car Accident Demand Letters - Auto collisions, rear-end accidents, T-bone crashes
Slip and Fall Demand Letters - Premises liability, unsafe conditions
Dog Bite Demand Letters - Animal attack injury claims
Medical Malpractice Letters - Healthcare provider negligence
All Personal Injury Templates - Browse all injury demand letters

Personal Injury Settlement Calculator