Utah Car Accident Settlement Calculator: What's Your Case Worth?
Understanding settlement values helps you know if an insurance offer is fair. Here's how lawyers calculate case value and what Utah settlements typically look like.
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
Every case is unique. This calculator provides estimates based on typical Utah settlements. Your actual settlement depends on dozens of factors including: injury severity, liability clarity, insurance policy limits, jury appeal, and negotiation skill. Use this as a starting point, not a guarantee.
How Settlement Values Are Calculated
Total Settlement = Economic Damages + Non-Economic Damages
Economic Damages (Hard Costs)
- • Medical Bills: Past and future treatment costs
- • Lost Wages: Income lost due to injury
- • Lost Earning Capacity: If you can't return to your job
- • Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement
- • Out-of-Pocket Costs: Prescriptions, medical equipment, transportation
Example: $15K medical + $5K lost wages + $8K car damage = $28K economic damages
Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)
Calculated using a multiplier method: Economic Damages × Multiplier (1.5 to 5)
Multiplier Factors:
- • 1.5-2×: Minor injuries, full recovery in 3-6 weeks
- • 2-3×: Moderate injuries, 3-6 months recovery
- • 3-4×: Serious injuries, 6-12 months recovery, scarring
- • 4-5×: Severe/permanent injuries, surgeries, disability
Example: $28K economic × 3 multiplier = $84K non-economic = $112K total settlement
Factors That Increase Settlement Value
✓ Clear Liability
Other driver ran red light, was drunk, or admitted fault
✓ Severe Injuries
Broken bones, surgeries, permanent scars
✓ High Medical Bills
$50K+ in treatment = higher multiplier
✓ Significant Lost Wages
Missed months of work or career change
✓ Permanent Disability
Chronic pain, limited mobility, loss of function
✓ Sympathetic Plaintiff
Young children, pregnant women, elderly
✓ Commercial Defendant
Semi-trucks, Uber, company vehicles (higher policy limits)
✓ Good Documentation
Photos, witnesses, consistent medical records
Factors That Decrease Settlement Value
✗ Shared Fault
If you're 20% at fault, settlement reduced 20%
✗ Pre-Existing Injuries
Prior back problems used to deny new claims
✗ Gaps in Treatment
Skipped appointments = "not really hurt"
✗ Low Policy Limits
At-fault driver only has $25K coverage
✗ Delayed Reporting
Didn't see doctor for 2 weeks after accident
✗ Social Media Posts
Photos of you "having fun" after accident
✗ Minor Vehicle Damage
Hard to claim serious injury with $500 damage
✗ No Police Report
Makes proving fault much harder
Average Utah Settlement Amounts by Injury Type
Minor Soft Tissue (Whiplash)
$3K - $15KTypical: Neck/back strain, 4-8 weeks chiropractic, full recovery
Medical Bills: $2K-$5K
Multiplier: 1.5-2×
Moderate Injuries
$15K - $50KTypical: Herniated disc, severe whiplash, broken ribs, 3-6 months recovery
Medical Bills: $10K-$20K
Multiplier: 2-3×
Serious Injuries
$50K - $150KTypical: Broken bones requiring surgery, spinal injuries, significant scarring
Medical Bills: $25K-$50K
Multiplier: 3-4×
Severe/Permanent Injuries
$150K - $500K+Typical: Permanent disability, traumatic brain injury, paralysis, amputations
Medical Bills: $100K+
Multiplier: 4-5× plus future medical costs and lost earning capacity
Wrongful Death
$500K - $2M+Typical: Fatal accidents, drunk driving cases, commercial vehicle crashes
Includes: Funeral costs, lost income (lifetime), loss of companionship, punitive damages
Note: Heavily dependent on decedent's age, income, and dependents
Sample Settlement Calculation
Scenario: Rear-End Collision, Herniated Disc
(Moderate injury with surgery)
After Deductions:
💡 Why You Need a Lawyer for Settlement Valuation
- • Lawyers know what juries award for similar injuries in Utah courts
- • They calculate future medical costs and lost earning capacity
- • They negotiate medical liens down by 40-60% (more money for you)
- • They uncover all insurance policies (umbrella, commercial, UIM)
- • Insurance offers 3-5× more when a lawyer is involved
Example: Insurance offers you $15K. A lawyer calculates true value at $85K, negotiates to $75K, you pay 33% fee ($25K), and keep $50K. That's $35K more than accepting the initial offer.
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