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Multiplier & Per-Diem Methods · All 50 States

California Injury Settlement Calculator 2026

See what your accident claim could be worth — with the fault rules, damage caps, and filing deadline that apply in your state, and the math shown step by step.

Where it happened

Pure ComparativeRecovery reduced by your exact share of fault

Your Economic Losses

Injury & Claim

You likely have a claim

California (Pure Comparative) leaves your estimate intact at 0% fault.

Estimated settlement (net to you)

$51,423

typical outcome · multiplier 3.25×

Conservative

$43,885

Strong case

$58,960

How we got there

Economic damages$28,000
Pain & suffering (3.25× medical)$48,750
Gross settlement$76,750
Attorney fee (33%)−$25,328
Net to client$51,423

Cross-check: per-diem method

Some insurers price pain & suffering as a daily rate ($150/day × 180 recovery days) instead of a multiplier.

Per-diem net estimate$36,850

Not legal advice. These are guideline estimates. California has a 2-year filing deadline — Med-mal non-economic damages capped ($350K–$750K, rising under AB 35); no general cap. A licensed attorney can evaluate your actual case.

Injury Settlement Calculators by State

Fault rules and damage caps vary sharply by state. Open yours to see how it changes your recovery.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Washington D.C. Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

How Injury Settlements Work in California

Pure Comparative state. Recovery reduced by your exact share of fault. Your recovery scales down with your percentage of fault.

Filing deadline: the general personal-injury statute of limitations in California is about 2 years. Damage caps: Med-mal non-economic damages capped ($350K–$750K, rising under AB 35); no general cap.

The Four Fault Rules, Side by Side

Which one applies to you decides whether a little fault is a discount or a dead end.

Pure Contributory

5 states

Any share of fault can bar recovery entirely.

Pure Comparative

11 states

Recovery reduced by your exact share of fault.

Modified · 50% Bar

7 states

Barred if you are 50% or more at fault.

Modified · 51% Bar

28 states

Barred only when fault exceeds 50%.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are injury settlements calculated in California?

California follows pure comparative rules: recovery reduced by your exact share of fault. Beyond that, the standard multiplier and per-diem methods apply — enter your damages above for an estimate.

Can I still recover in California if I was partly at fault?

Yes. California uses pure comparative negligence, so you can recover even at 99% at fault — though your settlement is reduced by your exact percentage of blame.

How long do I have to file a claim in California?

The general personal-injury statute of limitations in California is about 2 years from the date of injury. Missing it usually bars your case entirely, so speak to an attorney well before the deadline.

Does California cap non-economic damages?

Med-mal non-economic damages capped ($350K–$750K, rising under AB 35); no general cap.
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Keep your case organized before you call a lawyer

The Injury Settlement Calculator app adds an accident journal with photos and witnesses, saved cases, a year-by-year comparison of settlement offers, and PDF export — all on your device, nothing uploaded.

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