Hawaii Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Estimated Settlement & Recovery
Non-Economic Damages: $0.00
What Is the Hawaii Personal Injury Settlement Calculator?
The Hawaii Personal Injury Settlement Calculator is an interactive tool that estimates the value of a personal injury claim.
It considers:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Property damage
- The severity of your injuries
- Your share of fault (if any)
- The at-fault party’s insurance policy limits
- Attorney fees and case costs
By entering these details, you can instantly see an estimated settlement range and a breakdown of what your net recovery (the amount you actually take home) might be after legal fees and expenses.
How the Calculator Works (Step-by-Step)
Here’s how the calculator determines your estimated settlement:
1. Add Up Your Economic Damages
These are your measurable financial losses, including:
- Medical bills: doctor visits, hospital stays, therapy, medication.
- Lost wages: income you missed while recovering.
- Property damage: repair or replacement costs (e.g., your vehicle).
The calculator adds these up to find your economic damages total.
2. Estimate Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
Non-economic damages compensate you for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries.
The calculator uses a multiplier method, applying a factor based on how severe your injuries are:
| Severity | Example | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Cuts, bruises | 1.5× |
| Moderate | Fractures, broken bones | 3.0× |
| Severe | Organ or nerve damage, PTSD | 4.5× |
So, if your medical bills and lost wages total $20,000 and your injury is moderate, the pain and suffering estimate would be:
$20,000 × 3.0 = $60,000.
3. Apply Hawaii’s Damage Cap
Under Hawaii law, non-economic damages (pain and suffering) are capped at $375,000 in most cases.
If your calculated non-economic damages exceed this amount, the calculator automatically limits it.
4. Adjust for Comparative Fault
Hawaii uses a modified comparative fault rule (51% bar).
That means:
- You can still recover damages if you’re 50% or less at fault.
- You can’t recover anything if you’re 51% or more at fault.
If you share part of the blame, your total settlement is reduced by your fault percentage.
For example:
- If you’re 20% at fault and your total damages are $100,000,
you’d recover $80,000 ($100,000 – 20%).
5. Check Insurance Policy Limits
If the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limit is lower than your calculated total, your recovery is capped at that amount.
For instance, if your damages total $150,000 but the at-fault party’s policy only covers $100,000, your settlement can’t exceed $100,000 — unless you pursue the defendant personally.
6. Subtract Attorney Fees and Case Costs
Personal injury attorneys in Hawaii typically charge:
- 33.3% (before litigation), or
- 40% (after a lawsuit begins).
The calculator automatically deducts this fee, plus any case costs or medical liens, to show your net recovery — the amount you actually keep.
Example Calculation
Let’s walk through a sample estimate:
| Input | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | $20,000 |
| Lost Wages | $10,000 |
| Property Damage | $5,000 |
| Severity | Moderate (3×) |
| Fault | 20% |
| Policy Limit | $150,000 |
| Attorney Fee | 33.3% |
| Case Costs | $3,000 |
Result Breakdown
- Economic damages: $35,000
- Non-economic damages: $90,000 (3× multiplier)
- Total damages: $125,000
- Minus 20% fault: −$25,000
- Final settlement: $100,000
- Minus attorney fee (33.3%): −$33,300
- Minus case costs: −$3,000
Net Recovery: $63,700
This example shows why understanding each factor matters — the numbers can change fast based on fault, legal fees, or insurance limits.
Why Hawaii’s Laws Matter
Hawaii has a few unique rules that affect personal injury settlements:
- Comparative Fault (51% Bar Rule):
If you’re more than 50% responsible, you recover nothing. - Non-Economic Damage Cap:
Pain and suffering is capped at $375,000 (with rare exceptions). - Policy Limit Constraints:
Most claims settle within the insurance policy limit, unless the defendant has personal assets.
Knowing these helps you set realistic expectations — and the calculator integrates them automatically.
The Disclaimer (And Why It’s Important)
The calculator is meant to inform, not advise.
It provides a rough estimate, not an official valuation.
Every case is unique — injuries, insurance, medical history, and legal representation all make a difference.
If your injuries are serious or your case involves multiple parties, always speak to a qualified Hawaii personal injury attorney before making any decisions.
Key Takeaways
- The calculator gives you a quick, realistic estimate of your possible settlement.
- Hawaii law reduces compensation if you share fault and caps pain and suffering damages.
- Always check policy limits — they can cap recovery even if your damages are higher.
- The net recovery is what you keep after attorney fees and costs.
- For accurate results, use the calculator as a starting point, not the final word.