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.