Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis & Larsen (GJEL Accident Attorneys) is one of California’s premier personal injury law firms.

Our track record has earned us an “AV” rating (highest possible) by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, and we are listed in its Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

We have consistently achieved some of the largest personal injury settlements in California and many million-dollar-plus verdicts.

Is There an Average Personal Injury Settlement?

According to research, the average personal injury settlement is between $3,000 and $75,000, but this is generally not an accurate representation.

However, a study conducted in 2005 provides some insight into typical compensation amounts. The study found that: Half of all plaintiffs received $24,000 or less and the median settlement or verdict for all cases in the study was $31,000.

Below is a partial list of our personal injury verdicts and settlement amounts & examples. From auto accident injury cases to those involving defective products and harmful drugs, we have the experience and resources to obtain fair settlements for our clients.

It should be noted that personal injury settlement amounts examples are just examples and they do not indicate the success of a future case.

Here Are A Few of Our Personal Injury Lawsuit Settlement Payout Amounts

  • $100000

    $100,000 Settlement for Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident

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  • $1,350,000

    Unincorporated Santa Clara County Auto vs. Motorcycle Accident

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  • $875,000

    Young Man Injured While a Passenger in Friend’s Vehicle

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  • $300000

    $300,000 Settlement for Car Accident in Oakland

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  • $195,000

    Car vs. Motorcycle Accident Personal Injury Settlement

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  • $195,000

    $195,000 Recovered for a Two-Vehicle Accident in Pleasanton, California

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  • $112,500

    $112,500 for Auto vs Bicycle Accident Settlement in Brentwood

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  • $100,000

    Car Vs. Motorized Scooter Accident Crash Settlement

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  • $830,000

    Motorcyclist Splitting Lanes in Unincorporated Alameda County

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  • $830,000

    Motorcycle Accident in Santa Clara County, California

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  • $100,000

    Auto Versus Bicycle Collision in Union City, California

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  • $100,000

    Auto versus Pedestrian Accident in Unincorporated San Diego County

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  • $737,500

    Car vs Bicycle Accident at Contra Costa Settlement

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  • $100,000

    Bicycle Accident vs. Auto Collision Settlement

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  • $100,000

    Man Run Over in His Own Driveway By Friend’s Vehicle

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  • $100,000

    Two Vehicle Rear-End Collision Settlement

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  • $100,000

    Bicycle versus Automobile Accident Personal Injury Settlement Amount

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  • $212,500

    Motor vehicle versus bicycle accident injuries

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  • $250,000

    Motorcycle Accident in Pleasanton, California

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  • $300,000

    Wheelchair bound pedestrian struck by SUV

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  • $175,000

    Auto versus Pedestrian Accident

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  • $225,000

    Woman in crosswalk struck by inattentive driver

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  • $250,000

    Livermore, CA Automobile Accident

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  • $100,000

    Automobile versus Pedestrian Automobile Accident

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  • $100,000

    Auto versus Auto Contra Costa County Accident

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  • $125,000

    Bicyclist struck by Automobile

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  • $250,000

    Bicycle Accident in Martinez, California

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  • $250,000

    Motorcycle and Car Collision in Marin County, State of California

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  • $245,000

    Motorcycle accident settlement in San Leandro, California

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  • $125,000

    Passenger Injured in Fremont, California Accident

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  • $195,000

    Automobile versus Motorcycle Accident

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  • $250,000

    $225,000 Settlement for Auto vs Motorcycle Accident

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  • $500,000

    $500,000 Recovery for Automobile vs. Bicycle Accident

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  • $100,000

    Four car collision in the city of Pittsburg, County of Contra Costa, State of California

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  • $135,000

    Albany Bicycle Accident Settlement

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  • $425,000

    Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Settlement

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  • $337,000

    Rear-End Car Accident Settlement

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  • $350,000

    Car Accident with Traumatic Brain Injury Settlement

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  • $420,000

    Vehicle Pile Up Wrongful Death Settlement

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  • $375,000

    Car Accident Settlement for Passenger after Driver Loses Control During High-Speed Turning Movement

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  • $$CONFIDENTIAL

    Husband and Wife Awarded Insurance Policy Limits

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  • $100,000

    Car Accident Settlement For Passenger Injured in Intersection Collision

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  • $827,000

    Closed Head Injury Settlement

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  • $425,000

    Grass Valley Car Accident Settlement

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  • $365,000

    Car Accident and Serious Injury Settlement

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  • $515,000

    Severe Back Injury Settlement

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  • $500,000

    Fracture and TBI Settlement

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  • $700,000

    Marin County Motorcycle Accident Settlement [$200,000]

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  • $22 Million

    Bicycle Accident Settlement

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  • $11.6 Million

    Wrongful Death Road Defect Verdict

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  • $13.6 Million

    Wrongful Death Paid in Trial

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  • $20.4 Million

    Pedestrian Struck By AC Transit Settlement Right Before Trial

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  • $758,000

    Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Case

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  • $Millions

    Ford Explorer Rollover Settlement

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  • $145,000

    Hit and Run Motorcycle Accident Settlement Example

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  • $3.6 Million

    $3.6 Million Serious Injury Accident Settlement & Payout Amount

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  • $100,000

    San Francisco Motorcycle Accident Settlement $10,000,000

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  • $3.6 Million

    Over $3.5 Million Recovered for Serious Injury Accident

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  • $13.6 Million

    During trial for wrongful death of a spouse

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  • $11.7 Million

    $11.7 Million in Traffic Wrongful Death Case

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  • $1.7 Million

    Jail Injury Lawsuit Verdict 1.7 Million Dollars against The City of Richmond

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  • $117 million

    Victims of Unnecessary Heart Surgeries

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  • $6.225 million

    Motorcyclist killed in collision with farm tractor

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  • $7.5 Million

    $7.5 Million Dollars Recovered For a Big-rig collision in The Central Valley

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  • $20.452 Million

    Pedestrian accident settlement against AC Transit

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  • $100,000

    Injured cyclist

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  • $110,000

    Cyclist who collided with low hanging tree branch

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  • $180,000

    Cyclist struck while riding on the shoulder

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  • $195,000

    Cyclist ‘doored’ by exiting motorist

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  • $225,000

    Woman injured in car vs. bicycle accident

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  • $300,000

    Cyclist struck by car while riding at night

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  • $325,000

    Victim of ‘right hook’ bicycle accident

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  • $2.56 million

    13-year old boy injured in an ATV off-road rollover accident

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  • $3 million

    Jogger who was injured by a falling tree

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  • $100,000

    Man injured in a rear-end car accident

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  • $850,000

    Ankle injury following truck accident

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  • $250,000

    Hit and Run Car Accident Settlement

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  • $1.5 million

    Severe back injuries in car accident

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  • $195,000

    Student with permanent injury after truck accident

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  • $270,000

    Young man with burn injuries from barbecue

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  • $705,000

    Shopping mall back injury

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  • $100,000

    Disabling injuries in car accident

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  • $275,000

    Professor injured in freeway car accident

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  • $290,000

    Student who suffered head injury in car accident

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  • $410,000

    Boarding care patient who suffered serious accident injuries

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  • $250,000

    Woman who suffered serious ankle injury after car accident

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  • $575,000

    Driver injured in rear end car accident

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  • $515,000

    Woman with head injury following truck accident

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  • $3.8 million

    VS Cement company for motorcycle/truck accident

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  • $8 million

    VS Transportation agency for bus/pedestrian accident

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  • $100,000

    $100,000 Settlement for a Client injured in a motorcycle accident vs. State Farm Insurance

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  • $100,000

    $100,000 Recovery for Client injured in a motorcycle accident

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  • $100,000

    Client injured in car accident

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  • $100,000

    Injured passenger in a car accident

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  • $100,000

    Man injured in a motorcycle accident

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  • $150,000

    Boy injured in a pedestrian accident

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  • $992,000

    Woman Injured in Big Rig Truck Accident

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  • $3.27 million

    Bay Area Man Suffering from CRPS after Work Injury

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  • $350,000

    Passenger Injured in Head-On Collision in El Dorado County

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  • $140,000

    Berkeley Pedestrian Injured by Delivery Truck

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  • $205,000

    Victim of Contra Costa County Rear-End Accident

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  • $200,000

    Rear-End Accident & Injury Case Involving Classic Car Settlement

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  • $400,000

    Man Injured in Car vs. Motorcycle Accident

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  • $1.75 million

    Car vs. Motorcycle Accident in Livermore

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  • $250,000

    Elderly Pedestrian Struck by Delivery Van

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  • $100,000

    Commercial Truck Backs Into Woman’s Car

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  • $120,000

    Man Injured in East Bay Motorcycle Accident

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  • $120,000

    Berkeley Pedestrian Injured in Accident

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  • $125,000

    Motorcyclist with Broken Leg

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  • $130,000

    Head Injury Resulting from Auto Accident

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  • $150,000

    Passenger Injured in Car Accident

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  • $175,000

    Accident Victim Suffering from Back Injuries

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  • $190,000

    Closed Head Injury Victim in Freeway Accident

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  • $197,500

    CalTrans Employee Injured in Truck Accident

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  • $200,000

    Passenger Injured in Head-On Collision

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  • $200,000

    Motorcycle vs. Car Accident in Napa County

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  • $200,000

    Elderly Oakland Car Accident Victim

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  • $205,000

    Concussion Victim in San Ramon, CA

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  • $225,000

    Broken Arm for Car Accident Victim

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  • $235,000

    Elderly Couple Injured in Oakland Car Accident

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  • $248.000

    Man Injured While Putting Out a Fire

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  • $250,000

    Injury from a Moderate-Impact Car Accident

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  • $265,000

    Elderly Man Injured in Pedestrian Accident

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  • $285,000

    Golden Gate Park Pedestrian Accident

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  • $300,000

    Victim of Auto Accident at Oakland Intersection

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  • $300,000

    Accidental Gunshot Lawyer: $300,000 Recovery

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  • $300,000

    Man Injured in Contra Costa Construction Accident

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  • $325,000

    Bus vs. Pedestrian Accident in Berkeley

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  • $325,000

    Elderly Woman Injured in Medical Transport Van

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  • $338,000

    Passenger in Youth Group Van Accident

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  • $340,000

    San Leandro Personal Injury Case

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  • $417,500

    Car Accident on I-80 in Berkeley

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  • $420,000

    Pedestrian vs. Bus Accident in Concord

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  • $475,000

    Back Injuries Suffered in Big-Rig Accident

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  • $575,000

    Elderly Woman Injured in San Francisco Accident

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  • $600,000

    Bay Bridge Drunk Driving Accident Victim

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  • $625,000

    Oakland Pedestrian Accident

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  • $690,000

    High-Speed Auto Accident in Berkeley

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  • $700,000

    Marin County Motorcycle Accident

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  • $700,000

    Rear-End Auto Accident & Back Surgery

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  • $730,000

    Alameda Pedestrian Injury

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  • $750,000

    Motorcycle vs. Truck Accident

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  • $780,000

    Lawsuit Against Newark Employer

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  • $1 million

    Passenger Injured in Big Rig Accident

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  • $1 million

    Wood Chipper Personal Injury Lawsuit [Accident Injury]

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  • $1.1 million

    $1.1 Million Auto Accident Settlement

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  • $1.2 million

    Walnut Creek Motorcycle Accident Settlement

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  • $1.75 million

    Car Accident on Interstate 80

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  • $1.9 million

    Pedestrian vs. Auto, San Francisco Settlement

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  • $2.55 million

    Tractor Rollover Accident Settlement

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  • $3.25 million

    California Child Burn Injury Lawyer: 3.2 Million Recovered

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  • $3.3 million

    Case Against Former Plaintiffs’ Attorneys

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  • $4 million

    Mishandled Cremation Remains

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  • $5 million

    Truck vs. Auto Accident

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  • $6.546 million

    Vehicle Roll Over Injuries on Dangerous Road

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  • $6.975 million

    Construction Accident Fall

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  • $9.2 million

    Defective Sulzer Hip Implant Lawsuit

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What is a personal injury settlement?

A personal injury settlement is an agreement between a plaintiff and a defendant to resolve a personal injury case outside of court. Approximately 1 in 3 personal injury cases end in a settlement. The amount of the settlement is typically based on the severity of the injuries, the amount of medical bills, and the projected future costs of the injury. In some cases, the settlement may also include punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant for their negligence. 

Most personal injury settlements are reached through negotiation between the parties, but some may go to trial if an agreement cannot be reached. Some of the largest personal injury settlements in history have been for medical malpractice, wrongful death, and product liability cases.

How are personal injury settlements calculated?

The amount of a personal injury settlement is calculated by looking at a number of factors. These include the severity of the injury, the amount of medical bills incurred, the amount of lost wages, and the pain and suffering experienced by the victim. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded.

Who is typically responsible for a personal injury settlement?

There is no one definitive answer to this question, as the responsible party in a personal injury settlement can vary depending on the specific case. However, some of the most common responsible parties in personal injury settlements include insurance companies, the at-fault party’s employer, and the at-fault party themselves.

The outcome of previous cases should not be indicative of future success on your case.

Statistics for PI settlements across the US

1. The average personal injury settlement in the United States is around $52,900 (Source: The Balance).
2. The most common type of personal injury claim is a slip and fall accident, which accounts for 28% of all personal injury cases (Source: The Balance).
3. The median settlement amount for a personal injury case is $20,000 (Source: Nolo).
4. The average time for a personal injury settlement is between 6 and 12 months (Source: Nolo).
5. The average cost of a personal injury lawsuit is between $10,000 and $50,000 (Source: Nolo).
6. The average amount of time for a personal injury lawsuit to be resolved is between 2 and 3 years (Source: Nolo).
7. The average amount of money awarded in a personal injury lawsuit is between $30,000 and $50,000 (Source: Nolo).

Personal Injury Settlement Examples from GJEL

  • $22,000,000 from a bicycle accident case
  • $13,600,000  for an accidental death case
  • $20,400,000  accident case

Here are some of the highest personal injury settlements ever recorded:

  1. $4.9 billion: Six plaintiffs in Alaska won this amount in a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation regarding the 1989 Valdez oil spill.
  2. $3 billion: A group of plaintiffs in Texas were awarded this amount in a case claiming that the drug fen-phen resulted in significant health problems.
  3. $2.4 billion: A New York plaintiff who suffered permanent brain damage due to medical malpractice received this amount in a settlement.
  4. $1.5 billion: A Californian plaintiff who sustained permanent injury from a faulty product received this amount in a settlement.
  5. $1 billion: A New York plaintiff who experienced a spinal cord injury as a result of medical malpractice received this amount in a settlement.

Also, make sure to check out our article on the top class action lawsuits.

Typical Personal Injury Settlement Amounts

Determining the typical amount of compensation in personal injury cases can be quite challenging as each case is unique and compensation is based on the individual circumstances of the case. The amount of damages caused is the primary factor that determines the amount of compensation, although other factors such as the severity of the injury and the level of negligence involved may also come into play.

For instance, compensation for a broken arm resulting from a car accident would differ from that of a severed hand. Thus, estimating a typical compensation amount for cases of the same type is quite difficult.

However, a study conducted in 2005 offers some insights into the typical compensation amounts for personal injury cases. According to the study, half of all plaintiffs received compensation of $24,000 or less, and the median compensation amount for all cases studied was $31,000.

In auto accident cases, the median compensation awarded was $16,000, while the median award for premises liability cases was $90,000. Premises liability cases refer to instances where owners or landlords are held responsible for injuries caused by the condition of the property.

For medical malpractice cases, the average compensation awarded was $679,000, while the median payout for product liability cases was $748,000. Product liability cases refer to instances where flawed products such as medicine with unknown side effects or a lawn mower that explodes whenever it gets hot cause injuries.

In conclusion, determining the typical compensation amount for personal injury cases can be quite challenging, as each case is unique and depends on various factors. However, the above study offers some insights into the average and median compensation amounts for different types of personal injury cases.

This article was written by Andy Gillin and last updated on 3/17/2023