Ohio Personal Injury Settlement Calculator

What the Ohio Personal Injury Settlement Calculator Does

This calculator gives you an estimated value of your personal injury claim based on key factors recognized in Ohio law. It doesn’t replace legal advice, but it helps you understand how different variables — like medical bills, lost wages, and fault percentage — affect your possible payout.

In short, it helps you answer:

• How much might my case be worth?
• How does my fault percentage impact my recovery?
• What might I actually take home after attorney fees and costs?

How the Calculator Works

Here’s what happens behind the scenes when you click “Calculate Estimate”:

1. It adds your economic damages:
   These include:
   • Medical expenses (past and future)
   • Lost wages
   • Property damage
   This total represents your financial losses.
2. It applies a multiplier for pain and suffering:
   The calculator uses a severity multiplier (1.5x to 4.5x) to estimate non-economic damages — things like pain, emotional distress, or long-term recovery.
   • Minor injuries (like bruises): 1.5x
   • Moderate injuries (like fractures): 3x
   • Severe injuries (like organ damage or PTSD): 4.5x
3. It checks for Ohio’s legal damage caps:
   Ohio law limits non-economic damages for non-catastrophic injuries to the greater of:
   • $250,000, or
   • 3x your economic damages (up to a max of $350,000).
   If your injuries are marked as “Severe,” the cap doesn’t apply.
4. It adjusts for your share of fault:
   Ohio follows a modified comparative fault rule (called the “51% bar rule”).
   • If you’re 51% or more at fault, you can’t recover damages.
   • If you’re less than 51% at fault, your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
     Example: If you’re 20% at fault and your damages are $100,000, your recovery is reduced by $20,000.
5. It applies any insurance policy limits:
   If the at-fault party’s insurance has a policy cap, your recovery can’t exceed that amount.
6. It subtracts legal fees and case costs:
   The calculator factors in:
   • Standard 33.3% attorney fee (pre-litigation)
   • 40% fee if the case goes to litigation
   • Optional case costs or medical liens you might need to repay
   This step gives you your estimated net recovery — what you might actually receive in your pocket.

What Each Input Field Means

Here’s a quick guide to each field on the form:

Example: How an Estimate Might Look

Let’s take a practical example:

• Fault: 10%
• Medical Expenses: $15,000
• Lost Wages: $5,000
• Property Damage: $8,000
• Severity: Moderate (3x multiplier)
• Policy Limit: $100,000
• Attorney Fee: 33.3%
• Case Costs: $2,500

Here’s the math:

1. Economic damages = $28,000
2. Non-economic damages = ($15,000 + $5,000) × 3 = $60,000
3. Total = $88,000
4. 10% fault reduction = $8,800 → $79,200
5. After attorney fee (33.3%) = -$26,376
6. After costs = -$2,500

Your estimated net recovery: $50,324

Key Legal Notes for Ohio Claims

• Comparative Fault Rule (51% Bar):
  You can only recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault.
• Non-Economic Damage Caps:
  Ohio caps “pain and suffering” damages for non-catastrophic cases.
  • Max $250,000 or 3x your economic damages (up to $350,000).
  • No cap for catastrophic injuries (like severe brain trauma or paralysis).
• Attorney Fees:
  Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis — they only get paid if you win. Typical fees range from 33% to 40% of your settlement.

Why Use This Calculator?

The Ohio Personal Injury Settlement Calculator helps you make sense of your situation — fast.
It’s:

• Simple: No legal jargon or confusing math.
• Accurate: Reflects Ohio’s real-world fault and damage cap laws.
• Informative: Gives you a clear breakdown of what affects your claim.
• Empowering: Helps you approach your lawyer with realistic expectations.

But remember — this is an estimate tool, not a substitute for an attorney’s guidance. Every case is unique, and real settlements depend on factors like liability disputes, insurance negotiations, and evidence strength.

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