What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Washington?

When a car accident settlement makes the news, it’s often because it’s unusually high. Some people see these news stories and assume that if they receive a settlement after an accident, it will be millions of dollars as well.

However, there’s a considerable amount of variation when it comes to settlement amounts. If you’re thinking about taking legal action after a crash in Seattle, you might wonder how much the average Washington car settlement is. 

This article will look at what factors influence car accident settlement amounts in Washington, whether averages really matter, and how working with an experienced car accident attorney can help you maximize your recovery.

Understanding the Average Settlement for Car Accident Victims In Washington

Car crash settlements can range from a few thousand dollars to well into the millions in the Evergreen State. However, calculating an average settlement is challenging for a number of reasons. Even if you could calculate a precise average, it wouldn’t necessarily help you value your own case.

Many car accident lawsuits that settle outside of court—as opposed to being decided by a trial verdict—are confidential. Verdicts, or monetary awards decided by a court, tend to be higher than settlements, and they are a matter of public record. 

Cases that go to trial also often involve catastrophic injuries. Lawsuits over catastrophic injuries almost always call for more compensation than cases concerning mild to moderate car accident injuries. This is true regardless of whether they settle out of court.

While there’s no simple way to calculate an average settlement, it may be helpful to consider these general statistics on car accident settlements:

• A survey of settlements from 2015 to 2020 found that most were $25,000 or less
• That same study found that the average settlement for car crash cases involving injury was $29,700
• The Insurance Information Institute reports that the average auto bodily injury claim was $26,501 in 2023

These statistics paint a general picture. To get a closer idea of the compensation you could recover, it’s important to look at the individual facts of your case with the help of an attorney.

What Factors Influence Your Auto Accident Settlement?

Average settlement ranges can give you a very general idea of what your case might be worth. However, the facts of your case have a major impact on the total car wreck settlement you might be entitled to, from the cost of your medical care to the total property damage you incurred.

The Cost of Your Medical Care

Even with insurance, medical bills after a car accident can be astronomical. For many injured people, the cost of medical care is what convinces them to pursue legal action.

The Value of Your Lost Wages

If your car crash causes you to miss work, your settlement will likely include reimbursement for lost wages. If you miss a significant amount of work, your lost income may make up a large portion of your settlement.

Pain and Suffering

The value of the pain and suffering you experience is subjective. Generally, the highest awards for pain and suffering go to plaintiffs whose injuries will have lasting effects. For example, you would probably receive less pain and suffering compensation for a broken leg than for injuries resulting in amputation.

Total Property Damage

After a crash, much of the focus is on compensation for your injuries. However, your settlement should also include compensation for damaged property. If you own a valuable car and it’s destroyed in the crash, that could easily add tens of thousands of dollars to your settlement.

Contact an Experienced Seattle Car Accident Attorney For Help With Your Claim

Considering average car injury settlement values and looking closely at the circumstances of your case can give you a general idea of how much compensation you could recover. However, unless you’re an attorney, accurately determining the worth of your case can be extremely difficult. 

An experienced Washington car accident lawyer at Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can take a look at your case, tell you how much it could be worth, and help you decide whether legal action is the next best step. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

If you’ve been injured in Seattle, WA, and need legal assistance, contact Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Contact our legal team and schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer today. We proudly serve King County in Washington and its surrounding areas. Visit our law office at:

Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
2101 4th Ave 1030 Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 727 4000
Hours: Open 24/7