North Carolina Car Accident Settlement Calculator

What the North Carolina Settlement Calculator Does

This calculator helps you estimate a possible settlement range after a car accident. It considers:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages from missed work
• Vehicle damage and repair or replacement costs
• Injury severity
• At-fault driver’s insurance limits
• Legal and situational factors (like whether a police report or witnesses exist)

It’s not legal advice — but it gives you a grounded, realistic idea of what your claim could look like before talking to a lawyer.

Why North Carolina Is Different: The “Contributory Negligence” Rule

Before we get into how the calculator works, here’s a big thing you need to know:

In North Carolina, if you are even 1% at fault, you can’t recover anything from the other driver.

This is called Contributory Negligence, and it’s one of the strictest liability rules in the country.
So, if you check “Yes” under “Were you at all at fault?” — the calculator automatically sets your payout to $0, no matter how severe your injuries are.

That’s not a bug — that’s the law.

How the Settlement Calculator Works

The calculator uses a simple but effective formula to estimate your total potential compensation. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Economic Damages (Tangible Losses)

These are your direct financial losses:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages

These are added up first — this forms your “base” claim amount.

2. Non-Economic Damages (Pain & Suffering)

The calculator then applies a multiplier to your medical damages.
This multiplier increases based on how serious your injuries are:

3. Property Damage

This covers the loss of or damage to your car.
If your vehicle is “totaled,” the calculator assumes 100% of its pre-accident value.
If the damage is less severe, it scales the payout based on a “damage severity” slider.

4. Insurance Policy Limits

Even if your damages are high, you can’t collect more than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.

In North Carolina, the minimum liability coverage is:

• $30,000 for bodily injury (BI)
• $25,000 for property damage (PD)

If your damages exceed those numbers, your claim will be capped.

Example Scenario

Let’s say you enter the following:

• Medical bills: $5,000
• Lost wages: $2,000
• Future medical: $1,000
• Vehicle value: $15,000
• Injury severity: Moderate (2.5x multiplier)
• No fault on your part

Here’s what happens:

• Economic Damages = $8,000
• Non-Economic Damages = $8,000 × 2.5 = $20,000
• Property Damage ≈ $10,000
• Total Potential Claim = ~$38,000

If the at-fault driver’s BI limit is $30,000, your payout would be capped at that for the injury portion, plus up to $10,000 for the car — for a total estimated payout of about $40,000.

Extra Factors That Can Affect Your Settlement

The calculator also lets you check boxes for “bonus” or “risk” factors. Here’s what they mean:

Each of these toggles slightly adjusts the multiplier, reflecting real-world settlement trends.

Why Use This Calculator?

Here’s what makes this calculator especially useful for North Carolina drivers:

Instant Results — No waiting or form submissions.
State-Specific Logic — Designed around North Carolina’s unique laws.
Transparent Formula — You can see how every input affects your estimate.
Educational Value — Learn how insurers and attorneys think when valuing claims.

This tool gives you a clear, quick picture of what your case might be worth — before you start negotiations or contact a lawyer.

Important Legal Note

This calculator provides an estimate, not a guarantee.
Every case depends on unique details like:

• Liability disputes
• Long-term medical prognosis
• Comparative insurance coverage
• Legal representation

Always talk to an experienced North Carolina car accident attorney before making decisions about settlement offers.

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