Personal Injury Calculator

How the personal injury calculator works

The estimator uses the specials-and-multiplier method — the framework injury negotiations actually start from:

1. Add your economic losses. Medical bills to date, reasonably expected future treatment, and lost income. These are your "specials" — provable, receipt-backed numbers.
2. Estimate pain and suffering. Multiply your medical costs by a severity factor from 1.5 to 5. Brief soft-tissue recovery sits low; surgery, fractures, and permanent limitations sit high.
3. Add property damage. Vehicle repair or replacement is added dollar-for-dollar — it never gets a multiplier.
4. Adjust for reality. Reduce by your comparative-fault share under A.R.S. § 12-2505, then check the result against the at-fault driver's policy limits — Arizona minimums are only 25/50/15 under A.R.S. § 28-4009, which is why underinsured drivers cap more settlements than juries do.

What the calculator cannot see

Four things move real value more than any multiplier, and no form measures them:

• Liability strength. A clear rear-end collision and a disputed left-turn crash with the same bills settle very differently.
• Documentation quality. Consistent treatment, no gaps, and imaging findings support the top of a range; sparse records surrender it.
• Policy limits and defendants. You collect from insurance and assets that exist — finding every policy (including rideshare coverage and your own UM/UIM) is half the job.
• Permanence. Anything that does not fully heal — from lingering whiplash to a brain injury — belongs in front of a lawyer, not a calculator. Arizona sets no cap on those damages (Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 31).

We handle injury cases across the Valley — from Phoenix to Scottsdale, Mesa, and Gilbert — and the two-year clock of A.R.S. § 12-542 runs whether or not you have a number yet.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is a personal injury calculator?

It is a starting range, not a valuation. The multiplier method it uses is the same framework insurers and lawyers start from, but real case value also depends on liability strength, comparative fault, policy limits, venue, and how well the injuries are documented — none of which a form can see. Treat the output as a conversation starter, not a number to accept or demand.

What multiplier should I use for pain and suffering?

Soft-tissue injuries with full recovery usually justify 1.5–2. Injuries needing months of treatment, injections, or physical therapy commonly run 2–3. Fractures, surgery, or permanent limitations run 3–5. The multiplier reflects severity, duration, and permanence — not how upset you are. When in doubt, calculate at two multipliers and treat the answers as a range.

Does this calculator include pain and suffering?

Yes. The estimate equals your economic losses (medical bills, future treatment, lost income, property damage) plus a pain-and-suffering figure computed as your medical costs multiplied by the severity multiplier you set. Arizona places no cap on pain-and-suffering damages in injury cases (Ariz. Const. art. 2, § 31).

What if I was partly at fault for the accident?

Arizona uses pure comparative negligence (A.R.S. § 12-2505): your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault but never eliminated. If the estimate shows $60,000 and you were 20% at fault, the realistic value is $48,000. Insurers overstate fault routinely — their percentage is an opening argument, not a ruling.

Is a personal injury settlement taxable?

Compensation for physical injuries — medical costs, pain and suffering tied to the injury, and most lost-wage components of a personal injury settlement — is generally not taxable federal income under IRC § 104. Punitive damages and interest are taxable. Confirm structure with a tax professional before signing.

How do I get an exact number for my case?

Have a lawyer value it against the facts: liability evidence, treatment records, wage documentation, and every available insurance policy. Hirsch Talcott does this in a free case evaluation, and handles injury cases on contingency — 25% pre-litigation, 30% in litigation, no fee unless we win. Call (602) 903-6000, open 24/7.