Enter claim details
Fill in the estimated amounts. Use whole numbers or decimals. Commas are allowed.
Scenario comparison
Save results to compare different injuries, limits, or defense setups.
| Date | Gross claim | Insured share | Coverage | Insurer paid | Out-of-pocket | Severity |
|---|
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Example data table
| Scenario | Medical | Wages | Property | Multiplier | Responsibility | Coverage | Estimated insurer paid | Estimated out-of-pocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor slip | $4,500 | $800 | $1,200 | 1.0 | 70% | $100,000 | $7,000 | $0 |
| Dog bite | $15,000 | $3,500 | $0 | 2.0 | 90% | $300,000 | $53,000 | $0 |
| Severe injury | $80,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | 3.0 | 100% | $100,000 | $100,000 | $150,000+ |
Illustrative examples only. Actual outcomes vary by facts and policy wording.
Formula used
- Economic base = current medical + future medical + lost wages + other economic.
- Economic adjusted = Economic base × (1 + growth% × months/12).
- Non‑economic damages = Economic adjusted × multiplier.
- Gross claim = Economic adjusted + non‑economic + property damage + misc damages.
- Insured share = Gross claim × responsibility%.
- Coverage total = liability limit + umbrella limit.
- Payout depends on whether defense costs reduce the limit.
- Out‑of‑pocket = unpaid share + deductible/retention + not covered amount.
How to use this calculator
- Enter medical, wage loss, and property damage amounts.
- Choose a reasonable non‑economic multiplier for severity.
- Set responsibility percentage based on available facts.
- Enter coverage limits and optional umbrella amount.
- Add defense costs and pick the defense rule that fits.
- Press Submit to see results above the form.
- Download CSV/PDF or add scenarios for comparisons.
Claim sizing benchmarks
Industry snapshots help you sanity-check your inputs. In many liability incidents, economic damages commonly form 35–55% of the gross amount, while non-economic items often account for 25–50% depending on injury severity. Property damage is frequently below 20%, but spikes when vehicles, pools, or structural repairs are involved.
Medical and wage drivers
Medical costs usually move the total more than any other line item. A $1 change in medical updates both the economic base and, when a multiplier is used, the non-economic estimate. Wage loss is often underestimated; include missed overtime, reduced duty, and recovery time. A practical cross-check is wages at 10–30% of medical for moderate injuries.
Defense cost impact
Defense spending can be decisive. For smaller disputes, defense costs of 5–15% of the payable share are common; for litigated claims, 20–40% can occur. If your policy treats defense inside limits, the same budget must cover both defense and settlement, increasing out-of-pocket risk when limits are tight.
Limits, umbrellas, and exposure
Total coverage equals the base limit plus any umbrella. A simple signal is the insured share divided by coverage: below 0.50 often indicates comfortable capacity, 0.50–1.00 suggests monitoring, and above 1.00 implies potential personal exposure. Raising limits typically improves protection more than reducing minor deductibles.
Timing and settlement range
Time to resolve affects costs through trend and negotiation. Using a 3% annual growth rate over 12 months adds about 3% to economic damages. Settlement discounts of 5–20% are common when liability is disputed or documentation is incomplete. Keep a low, base, and high range to plan reserves and cash flow.
FAQs
1) What does “responsibility percent” change?
It scales the gross claim into the portion attributed to the insured party. A lower percentage reduces the payable share and may reduce limit pressure.
2) How should I choose the multiplier?
Use 0–1 for minor discomfort, 1–2 for moderate injury, and 2–3+ for severe or long-lasting impacts. Documented treatment usually supports higher values.
3) What if defense costs are outside limits?
Damages still cap at the coverage total, while defense adds on top in this estimate. Out-of-pocket is mainly driven by damages above limits and any exclusions.
4) Why include annual growth and months to settle?
Delays can raise medical prices and wage impacts. The calculator trends economic damages by time, then applies the multiplier to reflect how severity may scale.
5) Does this replace a formal claim evaluation?
No. It is a planning estimate only. Actual outcomes depend on evidence, jurisdiction, policy language, and negotiation dynamics.
6) How do I compare different scenarios?
Submit, then click “Add to comparison table.” Change one variable at a time, like limits or multiplier, and export the table to share or archive.