Virginia Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Estimate your potential settlement based on Virginia guidelines.
Estimated Settlement Range
Economic Damages: $0
Non-Economic Damages: $0
Total Property Damage: $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. Virginia is a “Contributory Negligence” state. Under this law, you are barred from *any* recovery from the at-fault driver if you are found to be at fault, even 1%.
What Is a Car Accident Settlement Calculator?
A car accident settlement calculator is a tool that estimates the potential value of your personal injury claim after a car crash.
The calculator on this page takes into account:
- Your medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage (vehicle)
- Future medical costs
- Pain and suffering (non-economic damages)
- Fault determination under Virginia law
- At-fault driver’s insurance limits
Most importantly, it adjusts your claim using Virginia’s strict “contributory negligence” rule, which we’ll explain below.
Virginia’s Contributory Negligence Rule
Here’s the hard truth: Virginia is one of only a few states that follows pure contributory negligence.
That means:
If you’re even 1% at fault, you get nothing. Zero.
No matter how bad your injuries are, if a court or insurance adjuster finds you even slightly responsible, you’re legally barred from recovering any money from the other party.
That’s why the calculator asks, “Were you at fault?”
If you answer “Yes,” the estimated payout will immediately drop to $0.
How the Calculator Works (In Simple Terms)
This isn’t some generic math. It uses a Virginia-specific algorithm. Here’s what it’s doing behind the scenes:
1. Economic Damages
These are your out-of-pocket costs, like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future medical treatment
The calculator totals these up directly.
2. Non-Economic Damages (Pain and Suffering)
These are harder to quantify, but just as real. The calculator estimates this based on:
- Severity of your injury (e.g., whiplash vs. spinal injury)
- Length of recovery (more days = more pain)
- Aggravating factors (DUI, commercial vehicle, legal representation, etc.)
A multiplier is applied to your medical expenses to estimate pain and suffering. The more serious the injury or circumstances, the higher the multiplier.
| Injury Severity | Example | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Bruises, whiplash | 1.5× |
| Moderate | Concussion, broken bones | 2.5× |
| Significant | Herniated disc, surgery | 3.5× |
| Severe | Spinal injury, brain trauma (TBI) | 5.0× |
Additional factors like DUI, independent witnesses, police reports, and having an attorney may boost this number.
3. Property Damage
The calculator estimates how much your vehicle is worth before the crash, and how badly it was damaged. If the car was totaled, you may get the full value (capped by the at-fault driver’s property damage policy limit).
4. Insurance Limits
The at-fault driver’s insurance caps your payout. For example:
- $50,000 Bodily Injury Limit = max injury payout
- $25,000 Property Damage Limit = max vehicle payout
The calculator ensures your claim never exceeds these limits — because insurers won’t pay more than their policy covers.
What’s in the Final Settlement Estimate?
Once you enter your info, the calculator shows:
| Breakdown | Example Amounts |
|---|---|
| Economic Damages | $7,000 |
| Non-Economic Damages | $12,000 |
| Property Damage | $9,000 |
| Estimated Final Payout | $28,000 |
You’ll see a range (e.g., $24,000 – $28,000), which reflects negotiation wiggle room.
A disclaimer reminds users: this is an estimate, not a legal guarantee.
How to Use the Calculator (Step-by-Step)
- Enter your medical expenses and lost wages.
- Estimate future medical costs, if any.
- Add pre-accident vehicle value.
- Select vehicle damage severity using the slider.
- Choose your injury severity from the dropdown.
- Answer whether you were at fault.
- Check off any additional factors (e.g., DUI, commercial vehicle).
- Confirm the at-fault driver’s insurance limits.
- Click “Calculate.”
If you’re not at fault, you’ll get an estimate instantly. If you are — the result will read $0, due to Virginia law.
Why This Calculator Matters
This isn’t just a helpful tool. It’s a reality check.
Far too many people guess their settlement value based on stories or gut feeling. But with Virginia’s strict laws, guessing wrong could mean disappointment — or missing out on a fair offer.
This calculator:
- Gives you clarity
- Saves time
- Helps you prepare for insurance negotiations
- Helps attorneys build case strategy faster
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