Sum of ER visits, chiropractic, physical therapy, and medications.
$
$
Total income lost due to inability to work.
$
Minor Whiplash (Multiplier 1.5x)
Mild to Moderate (Multiplier 2.0x)
Moderate (Multiplier 3.0x)
Severe (Multiplier 4.0x)
Very Severe/Permanent (Multiplier 5.0x)
Determines "Pain and Suffering" value based on medical treatment duration and intensity.
%
Comparative negligence: 0% if the other driver was fully responsible.
Economic Damages (Special):$0.00
Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering):$0.00
Gross Settlement Value:$0.00
Reduction for Fault (0%):-$0.00
Estimated Net Settlement:$0.00
Understanding Whiplash Settlement Calculations
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries resulting from rear-end car accidents. Determining the value of a whiplash claim involves assessing both tangible financial losses and intangible impacts on your quality of life. This calculator utilizes the "Multiplier Method," a standard formula used by insurance adjusters and personal injury attorneys to estimate potential settlement values.
How the Calculation Works
The settlement value is derived from two primary categories of damages:
Economic Damages (Special Damages): These are exact financial losses that can be proven with receipts and documentation. They include medical bills (past and future), lost wages, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses like rental cars or prescription costs.
Non-Economic Damages (General Damages): This covers "pain and suffering," emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. Since these do not have a price tag, they are calculated by multiplying your medical expenses by a specific number (typically between 1.5 and 5.0).
The Multiplier Factor
The "Multiplier" is a critical variable in the equation. It reflects the severity of the injury:
1.5 – 2.0 (Minor): Soft tissue injuries with quick recovery (a few weeks), minimal medical treatment needed.
3.0 (Moderate): Long-lasting pain, extended physical therapy, regular doctor visits, and some impact on daily activities.
4.0 – 5.0 (Severe): Permanent damage, need for surgery, long-term disability, or significant scarring.
Comparative Negligence
Most jurisdictions operate under comparative negligence laws. This means your settlement is reduced by the percentage you were at fault for the accident. For example, if your total damages are $20,000 but you were 20% at fault (perhaps for a broken taillight), your settlement would be reduced by $4,000, leaving you with $16,000.
Why Medical Records Matter
For a whiplash claim, the "medical expenses" input is the foundation of the calculation. Insurance companies (and their software, like Colossus) look heavily at the frequency and type of treatment. Gaps in treatment or lack of objective medical findings (like MRI results showing disc herniation vs. just muscle strain) can significantly lower the multiplier used by adjusters.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on standard personal injury formulas. It does not constitute legal advice. Actual settlement amounts vary based on jurisdiction, insurance policy limits, specific evidence, and negotiation skills. Consult a personal injury attorney for a precise evaluation of your case.
function calculateSettlement() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var medical = parseFloat(document.getElementById("medicalExpenses").value) || 0;
var futureMed = parseFloat(document.getElementById("futureMedical").value) || 0;
var wages = parseFloat(document.getElementById("lostWages").value) || 0;
var property = parseFloat(document.getElementById("propertyDamage").value) || 0;
var multiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById("painMultiplier").value) || 1.5;
var fault = parseFloat(document.getElementById("userFault").value) || 0;
// 2. Validate Inputs
if (fault 100) fault = 100;
// 3. Calculate Economic Damages (Special Damages)
// Hard costs: Medical + Future Medical + Wages + Property
var economicDamages = medical + futureMed + wages + property;
// 4. Calculate Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
// Usually calculated as (Medical Expenses * Multiplier)
// Note: Some formulas apply multiplier to (Medical + Wages), but standard conservative is Medical only.
// We will apply the multiplier to the total Medical burden (Past + Future) as that reflects injury severity best.
var totalMedicalLoad = medical + futureMed;
var nonEconomicDamages = totalMedicalLoad * multiplier;
// 5. Calculate Gross Settlement
var grossSettlement = economicDamages + nonEconomicDamages;
// 6. Calculate Fault Reduction
var reductionAmount = grossSettlement * (fault / 100);
// 7. Calculate Net Settlement
var netSettlement = grossSettlement – reductionAmount;
// 8. Format Currency Function
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2
});
// 9. Display Results
document.getElementById("displayEconomic").innerText = formatter.format(economicDamages);
document.getElementById("displayNonEconomic").innerText = formatter.format(nonEconomicDamages);
document.getElementById("displayGross").innerText = formatter.format(grossSettlement);
document.getElementById("displayFaultPct").innerText = fault;
document.getElementById("displayReduction").innerText = "-" + formatter.format(reductionAmount);
document.getElementById("displayNet").innerText = formatter.format(netSettlement);
// Show the result container
document.getElementById("result-container").style.display = "block";
}