Average Car Accident Settlement Amounts: Statistics & Payouts

The value of a car accident is dependent on the economic and non-economic losses suffered by the victim. Data from the Insurance Information Institute (III) shares that in 2022, the average collision-related car accident claim was $5,992, though those related to injuries reached over $24,000. The average claim for comprehensive insurance was $2,738. Keep in mind that most car accidents are minor, resulting in few, if any, injuries and just vehicle damage.

That may not accurately represent the value of your car accident. The value of your accident is dependent on the financial, physical, and emotional losses you suffered as a result of the accident.

How Much Can I Get for My Car Accident Claim?

The value of your car accident claim depends on the type and amount of damages you’ve suffered and the other party caused. Typically, this includes damage to your vehicle, medical bills, and related losses, lost time at work, and pain and suffering.

Every case is different. However, your car insurance accident attorney can offer insight into what your case may be worth during an initial consultation. From there, a full investigation into your losses will determine what you can expect to receive from the at-fault party’s insurance company.

Average Car Accident Settlements Amounts

The average car accident settlement amounts for bodily injury claims are substantially higher than what you could expect to receive from just a vehicle injury. The III shares that, in 2022, with a high claim severity, the average car insurance settlement claim was $24,211. That does not include additional factors such as extensive injuries a person may suffered.

According to the III:

• The average car accident liability claim was $20,235 for bodily damage in 2020.
• Most people – more than 51%, recovered less than $10,000 with about 35% of all people receiving less than $5,000.
• The average car accident with injuries was worth $29,700 in 2020.
• Those who did not suffer injuries had an average award of $16,700.

Also notable, working with an attorney tends to offer better outcomes.

• 98% of all car accident settlements are paid out without going to trial (which is both faster and less expensive).
• The average payout for those with an attorney was, according to Martindale-Nolo was $44,600.
• The average payout for those without an attorney was $13,900.

Factors That Affect the Amount of Car Accident Settlements

Car accident settlements are based on the evidence and details of your accident claim. The following are some of the most common factors that contribute to the value of your car accident settlement claim:

• Severity of injuries: A person who has just a trip to the emergency room may not have a substantial injury cost. However, those who require surgery, long-term hospital stays, and ongoing treatment will have a much higher bodily injury claim.
• Number of people hurt: When more than one person is hurt in a car accident, costs increase substantially.
• Lost time at work: This include any lost wages or benefits due to being injured or due to ongoing medical needs.
• Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering are non-economic losses dependent on the severity of the injury and verifiable losses.
• Deformity: Those who suffer injuries related to amputation or scarring may be able to seek compensation for those losses as well.
• Emotional distress: Many times, car accidents cause emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, that may require mental health care.
• Property damage: Also note that the settlement is likely to include losses related to damage to your vehicle, including the repair or replacement of the vehicle, depending on the damage present.

FAQs on Car Accident Settlements

What insurance will pay for car accident settlements?

When someone else’s negligence causes your injury, that person, called the at-fault party, is responsible for the losses you incurred. Typically, the at-fault party’s liability insurance covers the losses up to the policy’s coverage limits.

What is contributory negligence?

In some states, the court may appoint each party with a certain percentage of fault if both hold some level of liability in the case. Typically, as long as you have less than 49% of the fault in the case, you may be able to claim compensation for the losses. However, your recovery of damage is lowered by the percentage of fault you have.

How much is pain and suffering worth in a car accident settlement?

The value of a car settlement claim’s pain and suffering is often the most complex of factors to calculate in terms of value. Depending on where you live, laws may restrict how much pain and suffering claims are worth. Typically, they are worth what it costs to make a person whole. That could be based on the amount of healing time, the severity of injuries and losses, pain experienced by the party, a person’s age and health at the time of the accident, and the severity of economic damages a person suffers.