Soft Tissue / Minor Whiplash
Median $10,000 · Range $5,000 – $25,000
Minor sprains, strains, contusions, mild whiplash with full recovery in 3-6 months. PT, no surgery, no permanent impairment. ER + a few follow-up visits.
Average Settlement Amounts by Injury Type
Median and typical settlement ranges by injury type — based on 51,932 real car-accident cases plus medical-malpractice and wrongful-death data. Use these as starting reference points, then adjust for fault, state caps, and policy limits.
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Important: Averages and ranges aren’t predictions. Your specific case depends on documented severity, jurisdiction-specific caps, fault rules, and the at-fault party’s policy limits.
| Injury | Median | Typical Range | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Tissue / Minor Whiplash | $10,000 | $5,000 – $25,000 | 1.5× |
| Whiplash (Moderate) | $15,000 | $10,000 – $40,000 | 1.5–2.5× |
| Back Injury (Strain to Minor Disc) | $22,000 | $10,000 – $75,000 | 2.0–3.0× |
| Knee Injury (Meniscus Tear) | $45,000 | $15,000 – $200,000 | 2.0–3.5× |
| Herniated Disc | $85,000 | $50,000 – $300,000 | 3.0–4.0× |
| Concussion / Mild TBI | $30,000 | $20,000 – $75,000 | 2.5× |
| Moderate TBI | $250,000 | $75,000 – $500,000 | 3.5–4.0× |
| Severe TBI / Spinal Cord Injury | $2,500,000 | $500,000 – $30,000,000+ | 5.0×+ |
| Spinal Fusion | $450,000 | $150,000 – $2,500,000 | 4.0–4.5× |
| Wrongful Death (Young, High-Earning) | $2,000,000 | $500,000 – $20,000,000+ | n/a (different calc) |
By Injury Type — Deep Dive
Whiplash (Moderate)
Median $15,000 · Range $10,000 – $40,000
CAD/WAD Grade II-III. Documented PT for 3-6 months, ongoing soreness, occasional headaches. May have MRI showing minor findings but no surgery required.
Back Injury (Strain to Minor Disc)
Median $22,000 · Range $10,000 – $75,000
Muscle strain, mild disc bulge, low-grade radiculopathy. Documented imaging + PT + possibly injections. Resolves over 6-18 months. No surgery.
Knee Injury (Meniscus Tear)
Median $45,000 · Range $15,000 – $200,000
Documented meniscal tear via MRI. Arthroscopic repair or partial meniscectomy. 3-6 months recovery. Possible residual stiffness or grip loss.
Herniated Disc
Median $85,000 · Range $50,000 – $300,000
MRI-confirmed disc herniation, often L4-L5 or L5-S1. Treatment: PT, epidural injections, possibly discectomy or fusion if conservative fails. 6-18 months treatment timeline.
Concussion / Mild TBI
Median $30,000 · Range $20,000 – $75,000
Loss of consciousness < 30 min, Glasgow Coma Scale 13-15, symptoms resolve in 3 months. Documented via ER imaging + neuro follow-up. Subjective complaints (headaches, brain fog) common.
Moderate TBI
Median $250,000 · Range $75,000 – $500,000
Loss of consciousness 30 min - 24 hrs, GCS 9-12, MRI/CT abnormalities. Cognitive deficits documented via neuropsych testing. Some return-to-work limitations.
Severe TBI / Spinal Cord Injury
Median $2,500,000 · Range $500,000 – $30,000,000+
GCS < 9, prolonged unconsciousness, permanent cognitive or physical deficits. Lifetime care needs. Cases routinely exceed policy limits.
Spinal Fusion
Median $450,000 · Range $150,000 – $2,500,000
Single-level or multi-level fusion (ACDF, ALIF, PLIF). Permanent hardware. Documented permanent impairment rating (5-15% AMA). Significant lifetime care + earning capacity loss.
Wrongful Death (Young, High-Earning)
Median $2,000,000 · Range $500,000 – $20,000,000+
Lost lifetime earnings + loss of consortium + funeral. Strongest cases: working-age decedent with documented income, surviving spouse + minor children. Subject to state caps in some jurisdictions.
What Moves Your Number Up or Down
Documentation density (UP)
Same injury, twice the medical records = consistently higher settlements. Adjusters discount undocumented complaints heavily. ER record + 2-3 doctor visits = standard. Add imaging, specialist consults, and PT logs to push value.
Comparative fault (DOWN)
Most states reduce damages by your % fault. Pure-contributory states (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC) bar recovery at 1%. Compare fault rules
Policy limits (CEILING)
The at-fault driver’s policy is usually your recoverable ceiling unless you have UIM or there’s a commercial/employer defendant. A $1M case against a $25K policy still settles at $25K + your UIM.
State caps (CEILING for non-economic)
Med-mal caps in Texas, California, Colorado, Maryland, etc. limit non-economic recovery. Economic damages and catastrophic carve-outs are usually uncapped. All caps
Venue (Jury vs Settlement)
LA, Chicago, Bronx — plaintiff-friendly. Rural midwest counties — defense-friendly. Same case can settle for 2-3× more in the right venue. This is largely a function of jury composition and prior verdict averages.
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