Vermont Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate your potential settlement based on Vermont guidelines.
Estimated Settlement Range
Economic Damages: $0
Non-Economic Damages: $0
Total Property Damage: $0
Est. Total (Before Fault): $0
Fault Reduction (0%): $0
Est. Final Payout: $0
Disclaimer: This is a simplified estimate for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. The final payout is capped by the at-fault driver’s insurance limits. Vermont is an “at-fault” state. Under Vermont’s “Modified Comparative Negligence” (51% Bar) law, you are barred from *any* recovery from the at-fault driver if your fault is 51% or greater.
What Is the Vermont Car Accident Settlement Calculator?
This free online tool estimates your potential settlement amount based on:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Vehicle damage
- Injury severity
- Percentage of fault
- Insurance limits
- And other relevant legal factors
The calculator reflects Vermont’s laws, specifically the Modified Comparative Negligence Rule. In simple terms:
If you’re 51% or more at fault, you get nothing.
So accuracy matters. This isn’t guesswork—it’s a logic-based engine designed to give you a reasonable range you can actually use.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator uses a mix of economic and non-economic damages to estimate the total payout.
1. Economic Damages
These are straightforward:
- Medical Bills (past and expected future care)
- Lost Wages (missed work due to injuries)
- Vehicle Value (based on pre-accident condition and severity of damage)
2. Non-Economic Damages
This includes pain, suffering, and trauma. The calculator multiplies your medical costs by a factor (called a multiplier) based on how serious your injuries are. Here’s how it works:
| Injury Type | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Minor (e.g. whiplash) | 1.5x |
| Moderate (e.g. broken bone) | 2.5x |
| Significant (e.g. surgery) | 3.5x |
| Severe (e.g. spinal injury) | 5.0x |
Additional factors like DUI, commercial vehicles, or hiring an attorney can increase this multiplier.
Key Factors That Affect Your Settlement
These inputs influence the final number:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Medical Costs | Larger bills = higher compensation |
| Time Off Work | Wage losses are added to damages |
| Injury Severity | More pain = higher non-economic payout |
| Vehicle Damage | Totaled car? That’s a bigger claim |
| Your Fault % | Higher fault = lower payout |
| Insurance Limits | The at-fault driver’s policy caps your max payout |
| Extras (e.g., DUI, police report) | Boost credibility or severity of your claim |
For example, if the at-fault driver was drunk or you hired a lawyer, the system adjusts your multiplier to reflect that.
Vermont’s 51% Rule: Why It’s a Big Deal
Here’s the deal with Modified Comparative Negligence in Vermont:
If you’re 51% or more at fault, you get $0—period.
Even if your medical bills are sky-high or your car is totaled, fault wipes out your claim if you cross that 51% threshold. The calculator takes this into account automatically. If you enter 51% or higher, it won’t spit out false hope—it tells you exactly how Vermont law works.
What the Final Result Looks Like
Once you click “Calculate,” you get a breakdown like this:
- Economic Damages: Dollars for bills and lost work
- Non-Economic Damages: Dollars for pain and suffering
- Property Damage: Based on how bad the car was hit
- Fault Reduction: The percentage deducted based on your fault
- Final Estimated Settlement: A range (low-high) based on all inputs
This output is clean, simple, and makes it clear what you might actually recover from insurance.
Why Use a Settlement Calculator at All?
Here’s why it’s useful before you call a lawyer or insurer:
- Prepares you for what’s fair
- Guards you from lowball offers
- Helps you negotiate smarter
- Gives context to legal conversations
It won’t replace a lawyer, but it’ll make you much more informed when you talk to one.
When to Talk to a Lawyer
The calculator gives a great baseline. But if:
- Your injuries are serious or permanent
- The other driver denies fault
- Insurance is stalling or denying your claim
- You’re not sure how to prove damages
…that’s your cue to bring in legal help. The calculator even has a checkbox to show how having an attorney can increase your potential payout.
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