Michigan Personal Injury Settlement Calculator

What the Michigan Personal Injury Settlement Calculator Does

The calculator uses real-world personal injury factors to give you a rough settlement estimate — the kind attorneys often use as a starting point. It’s not legal advice, but it’s a practical tool to understand what your claim might be worth.

Here’s what it considers:

• Medical Expenses (Past & Future): All medical costs related to your injuries, including hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, and rehabilitation.
• Lost Wages: The income you’ve lost while unable to work — and any expected future loss if recovery takes time.
• Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement costs and any damaged personal belongings.
• Injury Severity: A multiplier (from 1.5 to 4.5) that estimates the value of pain and suffering based on the seriousness of your injuries.
• Percentage of Fault: How much you were responsible for the accident — crucial under Michigan’s comparative fault law.
• Insurance Policy Limit: The at-fault driver’s insurance coverage cap, which may restrict your final payout.
• Attorney Fees & Costs: Optional factors to estimate your net recovery after legal fees and liens.

How the Calculator Works (In Plain English)

The calculator uses a simple formula inspired by how many Michigan attorneys and adjusters estimate settlements:

Step 1: Add Up Economic Damages

Economic damages include your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage — basically, all the financial losses that can be measured in dollars.

Example:
Medical Expenses: $15,000
Lost Wages: $5,000
Property Damage: $8,000
→ Economic Damages = $28,000

Step 2: Add Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

Non-economic damages are calculated by applying a severity multiplier to your medical and wage losses.

• Minor injuries: 1.5×
• Moderate injuries: 3.0×
• Severe injuries: 4.5×

Using the same example (medical + wages = $20,000):
If the injury was moderate, non-economic damages = $20,000 × 3.0 = $60,000

Step 3: Combine for Total Settlement

Economic ($28,000) + Non-Economic ($60,000) = $88,000 Total Potential Settlement

Step 4: Adjust for Fault

Michigan’s modified comparative fault rule means your damages are reduced by your share of fault.
If you’re 10% at fault, your total is reduced by 10%.

$88,000 × (1 – 0.10) = $79,200

If you’re more than 50% at fault, you can’t recover any damages.

Step 5: Apply Policy Limits

If the at-fault driver’s insurance has a $50,000 policy limit, your recovery is capped at that amount — even if your damages are higher.

Step 6: Subtract Attorney Fees & Case Costs

Finally, the calculator shows your net recovery — the amount that might actually go into your pocket after fees and costs.

Understanding Michigan’s Personal Injury Laws

Michigan has some of the most complex injury laws in the country, combining no-fault insurance with comparative fault principles.

1. Michigan’s Modified Comparative Fault Rule

• You can only recover damages if you’re 50% or less at fault.
• If you’re 51% or more at fault, your recovery is zero.
• Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.

Example: If you were 20% at fault and your damages were $100,000, you could receive $80,000.

2. Michigan’s No-Fault System

In car accidents, Michigan’s no-fault insurance pays for your medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault.
But if your injuries are severe enough, you can step outside the no-fault system and file a third-party claim for pain and suffering.

Why Use a Settlement Calculator?

Here’s what makes this calculator worth using before calling an attorney:

Quick estimate: No waiting for consultations — get a ballpark figure in seconds.
Transparency: See exactly how fault, severity, and costs affect your case value.
Smart planning: Helps you set realistic expectations before starting negotiations.
Attorney readiness: Arrive at your consultation with clear numbers and questions.

It’s a helpful first step, especially if you’re comparing multiple cases or trying to understand how much you could realistically recover.

Example Calculation

Let’s say you were in a car accident and entered these values:

• Fault: 10%
• Medical Expenses: $20,000
• Lost Wages: $8,000
• Property Damage: $5,000
• Injury Severity: Severe (4.5× multiplier)
• Policy Limit: $100,000
• Attorney Fee: 33.3%
• Case Costs: $3,000

Here’s how it breaks down:

• Economic Damages = $33,000
• Non-Economic Damages = ($28,000 × 4.5) = $126,000
• Total = $159,000
• Reduced by 10% fault = $143,100
• Attorney Fee (33.3%) = $47,623
• Case Costs = $3,000
  Your Net Recovery = $92,477

That’s the kind of clear, data-backed insight the calculator provides — instantly.

Important Disclaimer

This calculator gives a general estimate, not a legal opinion. Michigan’s personal injury laws are complex — especially when insurance policies, medical liens, and litigation are involved.

Always consult a licensed Michigan personal injury attorney for a precise evaluation and legal guidance tailored to your case.