How Are Settlement Amounts Calculated? The Legal Lawsuit Methodology
Wondering how settlement amounts are calculated on this site? This page explains the sources behind our settlement ranges, fault-rule summaries and filing-deadline data, how each is checked, and what these figures can and cannot tell you.
Sections
Overview
Legal Lawsuit offers free reference material on settlement ranges, state fault rules and filing deadlines for personal injury and mass tort claims. Since readers rely on these numbers when weighing their legal options, the site follows a written, repeatable process for sourcing, checking and updating them. That process is described here in plain language, and it governs every page on the site that presents settlement ranges or legal rules.
Our Data Sources
Four kinds of sources are used, ranked by preference:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Government and regulatory data | NHTSA crash statistics, FMCSA trucking rules, U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating data and state insurance departments |
| Primary legal sources | State statutes and codes, read firsthand on official legislature or code publisher websites rather than taken from secondhand summaries |
| Legal-research aggregators | Casefleet, Justia, Nolo and Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., used to double-check primary statutes and spot recent amendments |
| Industry and insurance data | The Insurance Information Institute, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and current consumer insurance guides (such as WalletHub, Kiplinger and Liberty Mutual) for classifying no-fault states |
Each outside source is linked in the “Sources & Citations” section of the page that relies on it, so you can check it yourself.
How Settlement and Verdict Ranges Are Built
Legal Lawsuit does not run a live case database and cannot see confidential settlement terms. Any dollar ranges on our pages are editorial estimates built from publicly reported settlements and verdicts, insurance payout data and ranges published by courts and personal injury firms, presented as a conservative low-to-high range for each type of accident or injury.
A range is meant to show the general scale of a type of claim, not to predict what any one case will bring. Real outcomes turn on case-specific facts such as how serious the injury is, who was at fault, how much insurance is available and where the case is filed. Every settlement-range table carries an asterisk and a link back to this page so readers can see how the figures were produced.
How Legal and Statutory Information Is Verified
Statutes of limitations, fault systems and negligence rules change as legislatures amend them, and secondary sources often lag behind. Before a state-by-state legal chart is published, the current statute text is checked directly (or through a source that links straight to it), and that reading is then compared with at least one independent aggregator.
This step has caught real, recent changes. Florida's personal injury statute of limitations, for example, dropped from four years to two under HB 837, effective March 24, 2023, and Louisiana's general prescription period for delictual actions grew from one year to two under Act 423, effective July 1, 2024. Many older articles online, including on some competing sites, still list the old figures. Changes like these are checked before publication and again at scheduled reviews.
Updates and Corrections
Pages with state-by-state legal data show a “Last Updated” date in the meta bar near the top. These pages are reviewed on a rolling basis and right away when a relevant law change comes to light. If you are an attorney, paralegal or reader who thinks a figure here is outdated or wrong, please let us know through the contact form on the About & Editorial Policy page; every submission is reviewed, and confirmed errors are fixed promptly.
Limits of This Data
- It is not legal advice, and reading it does not form an attorney-client relationship.
- It does not guarantee or predict the result or value of any particular case.
- It does not replace reading the current statute that governs your situation.
- It is not a live, constantly updated case database; settlement ranges are editorial estimates compiled periodically.
Before making any legal decision, confirm the current law and get case-specific advice from a licensed attorney where you live.
Common Questions
Can Legal Lawsuit's data replace legal advice?
No. All content on this site, including settlement ranges and summaries of state law, is general educational information. It is not legal advice, so speak with a licensed attorney in your state before deciding anything about a legal claim.
How often is the settlement and legal data updated?
Each page shows a “Last Updated” date in its meta bar. Data-heavy pages are reviewed on a rolling basis and updated promptly when a relevant law change or newly reported settlement data is identified.
How can I report an error or request a correction?
Use the contact form on the About & Editorial Policy page and choose “Editorial Job” or explain the problem in the comments box. The editorial team reads every submission.
Questions About Your Own Case?
If you were hurt and want to understand your options, share a few details about what happened. Finding out whether you have a claim is free, with no obligation.
This page outlines Legal Lawsuit's editorial methodology for general information only and is not legal advice. Legal Lawsuit is not a law firm and does not represent clients. Check current legal requirements with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before making a legal decision.
