Real data
Average workers' comp claim cost
A workers' comp settlement (the lump sum that closes a claim) is not the same as a claim's total cost, and there is no single national settlement average. But the NCCI/NSC claim-cost data shows the scale: the average lost-time claim runs in the mid five figures, with cause of injury — not the body part alone — driving much of the difference. Your settlement is then shaped by your weekly wage, impairment rating and state caps.
Source: National Safety Council — Injury Facts (NCCI Workers Compensation Statistical Plan data, 2022–2023). These are claim costs, not settlement medians, and benefit rates and caps vary sharply by state — use the calculator above for your own range.
The method
How your workers' comp settlement is calculated
From your average weekly wage, your impairment rating and your future medical costs, within your state's caps.
Average weekly wage (AWW)
Sets your weekly benefit rate, often about two-thirds of AWW, capped by state.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
Impairment rating × the weeks set by your state schedule × your benefit rate.
Future medical
Estimated cost of ongoing treatment — often a large part of the lump sum.
State caps
Weekly rate and totals are limited by your state's maximums.
Adjust for your state
Workers' comp varies by state
Workers' comp is no-fault, but the formula, caps and schedules differ in every state — which is why two identical injuries settle for different amounts in different places.
You can recover even if the injury was your own doing.
Your weekly rate and total are capped by your state's schedule and maximums.
Each state sets how many weeks each impairment rating is worth.
Closing future medical for a lump sum varies by state and is often negotiable.
See the state-specific calculator and average data:
Questions
Workers' comp settlement FAQ
From your average weekly wage, your impairment rating and your future medical costs, within your state's caps. There is no pain-and-suffering component.
A percentage your doctor assigns at maximum medical improvement (MMI) that reflects permanent loss of function — it directly scales your PPD payout.
A lump sum gives certainty and closes the claim; weekly benefits keep medical open. It depends on your recovery and finances — and often on legal advice.
No. Workers' comp is no-fault, so you can recover even if the accident was partly your doing.
Workers' comp settlements are generally not taxable, but interactions with other benefits can vary — confirm with a professional.
Get your personalized estimate
Run the numbers for your own case in under a minute — no contact details, no obligation, just an honest range.
Open the calculator