Legal Damages Estimator

Economic damages are measurable financial losses directly caused by the injury. They include lost wages (income you could not earn while recovering), past and future medical expenses, costs of ongoing treatment or rehabilitation, and property damage such as a wrecked vehicle. Because these figures can be documented with pay stubs, medical bills, and repair estimates, they are generally easier to calculate and prove in court.

The multiplier method applies a factor — typically between 1.5 and 5 — to the sum of your economic damages to estimate non-economic harm. A minor sprain might use 1.5x, a moderate soft-tissue injury 2x, a serious fracture or surgery 3x, a permanent disability 4x, and a catastrophic, life-altering injury 5x. The exact multiplier depends on the severity of pain, the impact on daily life, and how sympathetically a jury might view the case. Some insurers use a per-diem method instead, but the multiplier approach is widely used for initial estimates.

The standard assumption for a full-time salaried employee is 52 weeks × 5 working days = 260 days per year. Dividing your annual salary by 260 gives your daily wage rate, which is then multiplied by the number of days you were unable to work due to the injury. If you work part-time or have a different schedule, you can adjust the annual salary input to reflect your actual annualized earnings.

Future damages account for costs and losses that have not yet occurred but are reasonably certain to arise from the injury. Future medical costs cover anticipated surgeries, physical therapy, medications, or long-term care. Future lost wages reflect reduced earning capacity if the injury prevents you from working at your previous level. These projections typically require medical expert testimony and vocational assessment in actual litigation.

No. This tool provides an educational estimate for preliminary planning purposes only. Actual damages awarded by courts or agreed upon in settlements depend on jurisdiction-specific laws, contributory or comparative negligence rules, the strength of evidence, insurance policy limits, and skilled negotiation. You should always consult a licensed personal injury attorney for advice specific to your situation.

Start by entering your annual salary and the number of work days you missed due to the accident. Then enter all documented medical bills under "Medical Costs." Select the multiplier that best matches your injury severity — 2x is a common starting point for moderate whiplash or soft-tissue injuries. Add any anticipated future treatment costs and projected future wage losses. The calculator will display your total economic damages separately from pain and suffering, giving you a clearer picture of the full claim value.

No, the estimator assumes full liability by the opposing party. In many jurisdictions, if you are partly at fault (comparative negligence), your awarded damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault in a state with pure comparative negligence, your recovery is reduced by 20%. You will need to factor this reduction manually based on your attorney's assessment of liability.

A settlement is a negotiated agreement between the plaintiff and defendant (or their insurance company) to resolve the claim out of court in exchange for a lump-sum or structured payment. A court award is the amount a judge or jury orders the defendant to pay after a trial. Settlements are far more common because they avoid the cost, time, and uncertainty of trial. This estimator is most useful as a negotiation baseline during the settlement process.