How do I calculate my settlement?

The simplest way to calculate a reasonable settlement is to add up your economic damages. First, look at medical bills, car repair bills, and other receipts to add up all the money you have paid because of your injury. This can include expenses you might not think of, such as transportation to and from the hospital. If you expect to have ongoing medical expenses related to the injury, these costs should be included as well. Add this to the amount of wages you have lost by taking time off work to recover and the amount of any vacation or sick leave you had to use. The sum is your economic damages.

Next, try to make a realistic assessment of your pain and suffering on a scale of 1 to 5. Multiply the economic damages by this number. This is an estimate of your noneconomic damages. Add your economic and noneconomic damages together for an estimate of your settlement.