The multiplier method and the per-diem method, side by side, with every line of arithmetic printed, because the part of your claim without receipts deserves the most transparency, not the least.
Reviewed August 24, 2026 · methodology · changelogTwo honest methods, shown side by side. Educational estimate, not legal advice.
Pain and suffering is the part of a settlement with no receipts, which is exactly why fake precision thrives here. The honest approach is to run both accepted methods and treat the spread between them as information:
If the per-diem figure lands inside your multiplier range, you have a well-supported number. If it lands far above, your case may be one the multiplier method undervalues, worth raising explicitly in negotiation or with an attorney.
The math is carrier-neutral, but the playbooks differ: see our pages on State Farm, Progressive, GEICO, Allstate, and USAA.
Two methods dominate. The multiplier method takes your economic damages (medical bills + lost wages) and multiplies by 1.5 to 5 depending on severity. The per-diem method assigns a daily dollar rate, often anchored to your daily wage — for every day of recovery. Adjusters typically run both; so does this calculator.
Soft-tissue injuries with full recovery sit around 1.5–2×. Months of treatment pushes 2–3×. Fractures and surgery justify 3–4×, and long-term impairment 4–5×. Clear liability, strong documentation, and permanent effects push you toward the top of a band; shared fault and gaps in treatment pull you down.
Initial offers usually come in below any honest calculation, first offers commonly ignore pain and suffering almost entirely. The calculated range is your anchor for negotiation, not a prediction of the first check. Documentation is what moves an adjuster from their number toward yours.
Not when it flows from a physical injury. It's excluded under IRC §104(a)(2) with the rest of the injury award. Run the tax calculator if your settlement has taxable components like punitive damages or interest.