Los Angeles Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
LA County Superior Court — largest US trial court system. 6-month Gov Claims Act deadline (FATAL if missed). Privette Doctrine construction. MICRA $350K med-mal cap
How much is a personal injury settlement worth in LA? Minor $15K-$75K. Moderate (surgery, 6+ months recovery) $150K-$500K. Catastrophic $500K-$10M+.
⚖ LA: 6-MONTH Gov Claims Act deadline (FATAL). Privette Doctrine for construction (hirer usually not liable). MICRA $350K med-mal cap (phasing to $750K by 2033).
Su lesión
Su Acuerdo Estimado
$39,000 — $69,000
Dolor y sufrimiento = $15,000 en facturas médicas × multiplicador de gravedad de 3.0. Sus facturas ya están incluidas en esa cifra, por lo que no se suman de nuevo.
What you'd actually take home
- Estimated settlement
- $54,000
- Attorney fee (33–40%)
- −$18,000 to −$21,600
- Roughly yours
- $32,400 – $36,000
Not included: case costs (court filing, expert witnesses, medical records) and any medical liens or health-insurance reimbursement. Those come out of your share too, so treat the figure above as an upper bound.
Keep this estimate — it is gone when you close the tab.
National Car Accident Payout Benchmark — all 50 states
Across all 50 states, this benchmark is based on 60,820 real payments totaling $2.3B from federal and municipal traffic accident claims nationwide.
Average
$39K
Median
$5K
25th %ile
$3K
90th %ile
$35K
Source: U.S. Treasury Judgment Fund, NYC Comptroller and City of Chicago claim records. These are nationwide figures pooled across all 50 states, not figures for any single state — do not read them as a state-level average. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Cómo Se Compara Su Estimación con los Datos de Reclamos de Seguros
Según los reclamos de responsabilidad por lesión corporal reportados a la NAIC en 50 estados (2020–2022):
Promedio Nacional
$29K
Promedio Nacional
$29K
Cambio en 3 Años
+18.4%
Su estimación está en un rango similar al reclamo promedio por lesión corporal a nivel nacional, lo cual es común en casos de lesión moderada.
Source: NAIC Auto Insurance Database Report (2022/2023 edition), 2020-2022 claim years. Figures are average paid bodily-injury liability claims, not total case values.
Revisado Editorialmente — Contenido revisado en cuanto a exactitud utilizando investigación legal publicada, datos gubernamentales y registros judiciales verificados. Vea nuestra metodología
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Los Angeles Personal Injury
LA County Superior Court is the largest US trial court system (36 courthouses). PI cases filed by division nearest accident. Federal claims: Central District of California (CDCA).
Critical deadlines: (1) Private parties: 2 years from injury (CCP §335.1). (2) Government entities (LA City/County/Metro): 6-MONTH Government Claims Act deadline (Gov. Code §905) — FATAL if missed. Most common LA plaintiff error. (3) Medical malpractice: 1 year from discovery or 3 years from injury (earlier of).
Privette Doctrine (Privette v. Superior Court, 1993): hirers of independent contractors presumptively delegate safety — subcontractor employees CANNOT sue hirer. Exceptions: (1) Hooker (retained control + affirmative contribution); (2) Kinsman (concealed hazard); (3) SeaBright (non-delegable statutory duty). MICRA: medical malpractice non-econ cap $350K (2023, AB 35) phasing to $750K by 2033. Pure comparative fault (Li v. Yellow Cab): plaintiff recovers at ANY fault level. LA verdict ranges 2025: minor $15K-$75K; moderate $150K-$500K; catastrophic $500K-$10M+. $15M grocery store spinal cord, $8M med-mal, $4.19M Home Depot premises (Nov 2025), $6.68M Kroger slip (2024).
Los Angeles Personal Injury FAQs
How much is a personal injury settlement worth in LA?
Minor $15K-$75K. Moderate (surgery, 6+ months recovery) $150K-$500K. Catastrophic $500K-$10M+. LA verdicts vary widely — diverse jury pools can cut both ways. Notable 2024-2025: $15M grocery store spinal cord, $8M med-mal, $4.19M Home Depot.
How do I sue the City of LA for a sidewalk injury?
File Government Claims Act claim with City Clerk within 6 months of injury. LA maintains pothole/sidewalk repair request database — prior requests are discoverable evidence. Entity has 45 days to respond; rejection opens 6-month lawsuit window.
What's the SOL for LA personal injury?
2 years (CCP §335.1) for private parties. 6 MONTHS for government entities — under Gov. Code §905 Government Claims Act. Missing the 6-month claim deadline is the #1 fatal error in LA gov cases.
What is the Privette doctrine?
General contractor/property owner who hires independent contractor generally NOT liable for injuries to that contractor's employees. Exceptions: (1) Hooker retained control, (2) Kinsman concealed hazard, (3) SeaBright non-delegable duty. Critical for LA construction PI cases.
Do I need a local LA attorney?
YES. Gov Claims Act deadlines, LA Superior Court local rules, Privette doctrine litigation require local expertise.
How long do LA PI cases take?
Pre-trial settlements: 12-24 months. Trial: 3-5 years. LA Superior Court has heavy dockets.
Why are LA verdicts high?
Diverse plaintiff-sympathetic jury pools, high medical costs, high earning capacity values, NO cap on non-economic damages in non-malpractice PI cases.
Does MICRA cap apply?
ONLY to medical malpractice. For car accidents, products, premises liability: NO cap. MICRA 2023 cap $350K (post-AB 35), phasing to $750K by 2033 + 2% annual CPI thereafter.