What's Your California Injury Case Worth?

California uses two main methods to value pain and suffering: the multiplier method and the per-diem method. Run the numbers below or browse per-injury settlement ranges to see where your case fits.

Past medical bills (paid amount) Howell rule: use insurance-paid amount, not billed Future medical bills (estimated) Past lost wages Future lost wages / earning capacity Injury severity (sets multiplier range)

Your share of fault: 0%

California is a pure comparative fault state — recovery is reduced by your percentage, never barred.

Estimated settlement range

$0 – $0

Economic damages: $0

Non-economic (pain & suffering) range: $0 – $0

Educational estimate only. Real settlement value depends on liability strength, insurance limits, jurisdiction, evidence, and many factors this calculator does not capture.

Calculator estimates are educational. Settlement value in a specific case depends on liability evidence, insurance limits, jurisdiction, plaintiff age and occupation, and many factors the calculator does not capture.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

3 injury types

Whiplash

$5k–$50k

Cervical strain from rear-end collisions. Ranges depend on imaging findings, treatment duration, and whether symptoms became chronic.

Lumbar Strain

$5k–$40k

Lumbar and thoracic strain with no disc involvement. Treatment usually conservative — PT, chiropractic, sometimes injections.

Cervical Strain

$4k–$35k

Non-whiplash cervical strain — twisting injuries, blunt-force neck trauma. Resolution-by-PT outcomes are typical.

Moderate Injuries

7 injury types

Concussion

$15k–$75k

Mild traumatic brain injury — loss of consciousness, dazedness, post-injury symptoms typically resolving in weeks to months.

Broken Nose

$10k–$60k

Nasal fracture, often with cosmetic and breathing implications. Value rises substantially with permanent deformity or surgical repair.

Broken Clavicle

$15k–$80k

Clavicle fractures range from simple non-displaced fractures to comminuted fractures requiring open reduction with hardware.

Broken Wrist

$15k–$80k

Distal radius and scaphoid fractures. Surgical hardware, range-of-motion impact, and the plaintiff's occupation drive value.

Broken Ankle

$20k–$100k

Malleolar and pilon fractures. Surgical fixation common; arthritis risk and ambulation impairment determine long-term value.

Meniscus Tear

$15k–$90k

Cartilage tear from twisting or impact trauma. Treatment range from conservative PT to partial meniscectomy.

Rotator Cuff

$20k–$150k

Shoulder rotator cuff tear — partial or full thickness. MRI evidence, surgical repair, and return-to-work timing drive value.

Significant Injuries

11 injury types

Herniated Disc

$30k–$350k

Disc bulge or herniation with radiculopathy. Conservative-treatment cases sit in the moderate range; surgical fusion cases move significantly higher.

Spinal Fusion

$100k–$750k

Cervical or lumbar fusion to address disc, instability, or fracture. Major surgery with permanent functional changes — settlement value rises accordingly.

ACL Tear

$40k–$200k

Anterior cruciate ligament tear — partial or complete. Surgical reconstruction common with months of rehab and permanent functional changes.

Broken Arm

$25k–$250k

Humerus, radius, or ulna fracture. Severity ranges from simple closed fracture to comminuted fractures requiring multiple surgical procedures.

Broken Leg

$30k–$300k

Tibia and femur fractures. Severity spectrum spans from straightforward closed fractures to comminuted, open fractures with hardware.

Broken Hip

$75k–$500k

Hip fracture, particularly common in elderly plaintiffs. Surgical repair (hemiarthroplasty, total hip replacement) with significant recovery timeline.

Burns

$50k–$2M

Second and third-degree burns. Total body surface area, location (face/hands), grafting requirements, and permanent scarring drive value heavily.

Scarring

$25k–$500k

Permanent scarring or disfigurement — facial scarring carries the highest non-economic value. Visibility, location, and revision-surgery options matter.

PTSD

$25k–$300k

PTSD from a serious accident — flashbacks, sleep disturbance, avoidance behaviors. Diagnosis and ongoing treatment evidence drive value.

Eye / Vision Loss

$30k–$1M

Eye injuries from blunt trauma, penetrating injury, or chemical exposure. Vision loss — partial or total — produces the highest values.

Organ Damage

$75k–$750k

Splenic injury, liver lacerations, kidney damage, pneumothorax. Severity of intervention (observation, drainage, surgery, organ removal) determines value.

Catastrophic Injuries

4 injury types

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