Settlement Comparison Tool
Compare your insurance offer against 212,000+ real settlement records. Answer three questions to see where your offer ranks — lowball, fair, or strong.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-20
🎯 Real-data-backed. No generic multipliers. State-specific. Free.
Fractures, surgery, 6 months recovery
Compare against real data
Typical Moderate California Settlement Range
Based on 53,535 real settlement records in California, adjusted for moderate injury severity
Low end
$14K
Median
$28K
Average
$141K
High end
$352K
Comparison based on 212,000+ real settlement records, not artificial multipliers. Individual case value varies with specific facts — consult an attorney for claim-specific valuation.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
How the Settlement Comparison Works
Most settlement calculators use generic multipliers — take medical bills, multiply by 1.5-5x, done. That misses the reality that settlement values vary enormously by state (New York averages $397K while Texas averages $280K), by injury severity (catastrophic cases settle for 10x more than minor), and by local venue (Philadelphia CCP returns 2-3x higher verdicts than rural PA counties).
Our tool compares your specific situation against real historical settlement data: 212,000+ verified records from medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, NYC municipal, police misconduct, and federal tort claims data. State averages aren’t guessed — they’re derived from every reported case in our database.
Injury severity multipliers are based on Insurance Research Council (IRC) closed-claim-study tiers: minor injuries settle around 0.3x of state average, moderate at 1.0x, severe at 3.0x, catastrophic at 10.0x. These aren’t arbitrary — they track decades of actual settlement behavior.
Why This Matters
Insurance adjusters use proprietary software (Colossus, ClaimIQ) with 600+ variables to generate initial offers. These offers typically target 30-50% of fair settlement value — adjusters are trained to anchor low, assume plaintiff accepts.
Without independent data, you can’t verify whether an offer is fair. This tool gives you the external benchmark insurers don’t want you to have.
Critical caveats: Individual case value varies with unique facts — liability clarity, policy limits, your own conduct (comparative fault), severity documentation. This tool provides a ballpark benchmark, not a precise valuation. For serious injuries, consult a personal injury attorney before accepting any settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are the range estimates?
State averages are derived from thousands of real cases per state. Severity multipliers are IRC-based. Combined, the ranges approximate where similar cases actually settle — accurate for ballpark benchmarking, not for precise case valuation.
What if my state has unusual factors (damage caps, comparative fault)?
State averages already reflect damage-cap impact (cap states pay 34% less on average). Comparative-fault reductions (if you’re partially at fault) happen on top of range values — reduce your expected by your fault percentage.
My offer says “LOWBALL” — what should I do?
Don’t accept. Counter at the median-to-high range with documented evidence of severity (medical records, specialist treatment, functional limitations, lost wages). If insurer holds firm, consult an attorney — attorney-represented cases settle for 3x higher on average (IRC data).
My offer says “STRONG” — should I accept?
Usually yes, but review with an attorney before signing release. Releases are permanent — once you sign, you can’t reopen for additional injuries discovered later. A 30-minute attorney review ($100-300) protects against million- dollar mistakes.