Ohio Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate your potential settlement based on Ohio 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. Under Ohio’s “Modified Comparative Negligence” (51% Bar) law, you are barred from *any* recovery if your fault is 51% or greater. Non-economic damages are also capped by state law (at $350,000 for most injuries).
What Is the Ohio Car Accident Settlement Calculator?
The Ohio Car Accident Settlement Calculator is an interactive online tool designed to help accident victims estimate their potential settlement value based on Ohio’s personal injury laws.
It’s not just a random guess — it uses a formula that factors in:
- Your medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical costs
- Property (vehicle) damage
- Fault percentage
- Injury severity
- Ohio’s legal damage caps
- Insurance policy limits
It’s built specifically around Ohio’s “Modified Comparative Negligence” law, which means your payout is reduced by your share of fault — and if you’re 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
How the Calculator Works (Step-by-Step)
Let’s break down the logic behind this calculator in simple terms.
1. Start with Economic Damages
These are your actual financial losses — things you can put a dollar amount on:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical expenses
These numbers make up the foundation of your settlement.
2. Add Non-Economic Damages
Next, the calculator applies an injury severity multiplier (from 1.5x to 5x) to your medical-related expenses to estimate pain and suffering damages.
Here’s how the severity scale works:
| Injury Level | Example | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Bruises, whiplash | 1.5x |
| Moderate | Broken bones, concussion | 2.5x |
| Significant | Surgery, herniated disc | 3.5x |
| Severe | Spinal or brain injury | 5.0x |
Ohio caps most non-economic damages at $350,000 unless your injury is catastrophic (like paralysis or amputation).
3. Factor in Property Damage
The calculator also estimates vehicle damage based on:
- Your car’s pre-accident value
- The severity of the damage
If your car was totaled, it assumes the full value. For lesser damage, it adjusts proportionally.
4. Apply Fault Percentage (Ohio’s 51% Rule)
Ohio follows a modified comparative negligence rule:
- You can still recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault.
- Your payout is reduced by your fault percentage.
- If you’re 51% or more at fault, you get nothing.
So if your total damages are $100,000 but you’re 20% at fault, you can collect up to $80,000.
5. Apply Insurance Policy Limits
Your payout can’t exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage:
- Bodily Injury (BI) limit: usually $25,000 minimum
- Property Damage (PD) limit: usually $25,000 minimum
If your damages are higher than these limits, your recovery may be capped — unless you or the other driver have higher coverage or additional policies (like UM/UIM coverage).
6. Adjust for Additional Factors
The calculator tweaks the multiplier slightly based on case-specific facts that can raise or lower your potential settlement:
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Police report filed | +0.3 |
| Independent witnesses | +0.3 |
| Attorney representation | +0.2 |
| DUI by at-fault driver | +1.0 |
| Commercial vehicle involved | +0.5 |
| Long recovery (90+ days) | +0.5 |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | -0.5 |
These reflect real-world influences that can make your claim stronger or weaker.
Example Calculation
Let’s say you had:
- $10,000 in medical bills
- $3,000 in lost wages
- $2,000 in future medical costs
- A car worth $15,000 with moderate damage
- 10% fault
- Moderate injury (2.5x multiplier)
Your estimated total might look like this:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Economic Damages | $15,000 |
| Non-Economic Damages | $30,000 (2.5× medical) |
| Property Damage | $10,000 |
| Total Before Fault | $55,000 |
| Less 10% Fault | -$5,500 |
| Estimated Payout | $49,500 |
If the other driver’s insurance policy covers these limits, that’s roughly what your settlement might look like.
Why Use a Settlement Calculator?
Accident victims often underestimate or overestimate what their claim might be worth. The Ohio Car Accident Settlement Calculator helps you:
- Understand your case value range
- Prepare for insurance negotiations
- Know when to seek legal help
- Avoid lowball settlement offers
It’s not a replacement for legal advice, but it’s a powerful starting point for anyone navigating an Ohio car accident claim.
Legal Notes and Disclaimers
The calculator follows Ohio’s current laws, including:
- Comparative negligence (ORC §2315.33)
- Damage caps (ORC §2315.18)
- Insurance minimums (25/50/25 limits)
However, every case is unique.
Your actual settlement depends on:
- The insurance company’s evaluation
- Medical documentation
- Attorney negotiation skills
- Court rulings (if your case goes to trial)
So while this calculator gives a reasonably accurate estimate, it should be viewed as informational, not a guarantee.
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