How Are Personal Injury Settlements Calculated in Louisiana

June 24, 2025
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Are you wondering what your Louisiana personal injury case might be worth? It could be more than you think. Often, insurance companies rely on general formulas to calculate personal injury settlements that fail to reflect the true amount that your injuries have cost you. The team at Rice & Kendig knows that this is not fair.

Our personal injury attorneys will help you understand how a potential settlement value is calculated. Get a more realistic estimate of your claim's worth and gain confidence before speaking with insurance adjusters!

Average Personal Injury Settlement in Louisiana

At Rice & Kendig, we’ve recovered millions for injury victims across Louisiana, and the numbers tell a story. While minor personal injury settlements can range from $3,000 to $10,000, our case results show that serious and catastrophic injuries often settle for far more. Based on dozens of recent client outcomes, the average settlement we’ve secured for personal injury cases in Louisiana is approximately $1.2 million.

Settlements vary significantly based on injury severity. In our experience:

  • Lower-end cases (e.g., soft tissue injuries or short-term back pain) resolved for as little as $465,000.
  • Mid-range cases (e.g., fractures requiring surgery, PTSD, or chronic pain) settled between $500,000 and $1 million.
  • Severe or catastrophic cases (e.g., amputation, traumatic brain injury, or wrongful death) resulted in settlements from $1.5 million to over $5 million.

No two cases are alike, and your settlement should reflect the full scope of what you've endured, not just what insurance companies are willing to pay. At Rice & Kendig, we build every case around your unique injuries, losses, and future needs to pursue the maximum compensation available under Louisiana law.

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What Types of Damages Are Included in a Louisiana Personal Injury Settlement?

When you're injured in an accident, your losses often go far beyond the immediate medical bills. In Louisiana, personal injury settlements are built around a careful evaluation of both tangible and intangible harm.

Unlike some other states, Louisiana law does not follow a standard multiplier method to estimate your pain and suffering. Instead, courts and attorneys must assess each case based on its unique facts, supported by evidence and legal precedent.

Here’s how the process works:

Economic Damages

These are the direct financial costs of your injury. They’re typically well-documented and easier to quantify:

  • Healthcare expenses: Hospital stays, surgeries, medications, follow-up visits, and long-term therapy.
  • Lost income: Wages you missed during recovery and loss of future earning capacity if you're unable to return to work.
  • Property damage: Costs to repair or replace personal property like your car or mobile device.
  • Incidental costs: Out-of-pocket expenses such as travel to medical appointments, home modifications, or hiring help at home.

Non-Economic Damages

These reflect the personal, emotional, and psychological toll of your injury. Unlike economic damages, these are more subjective and require legal interpretation:

  • Pain and suffering: For physical pain, discomfort, and any long-term complications.
  • Mental anguish: Including anxiety, depression, trauma, or PTSD resulting from the accident.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life: If you can no longer participate in hobbies or daily activities as you once did.
  • Loss of consortium: Impact on close personal relationships, especially with a spouse or children.

Wrongful Death Damages

If an injury results in death, surviving family members may pursue compensation for:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Loss of the deceased’s income and benefits
  • Loss of companionship, guidance, or emotional support

Punitive Damages

Unlike other states, Louisiana allows punitive damages only in limited situations, such as when someone is injured by a drunk driver. These damages are meant to punish egregious behavior and are awarded in addition to other damages when permitted by law.

Want to Know How Much Your Case Could Be Worth?

Your injuries have already cost you enough. Don’t let a stingy insurance company decide what’s fair! Our personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for full compensation today.

How Louisiana Personal Injury Settlements Are Calculated

Once your economic and non-economic losses have been identified, the next step is determining how those losses are valued. Unlike many other states, Louisiana follows a civil law tradition with its own set of rules for calculating personal injury compensation.

Here are some of the most important legal factors that influence how settlements are calculated in Louisiana:

  • Civil Code Article 2315: Governs liability and damages in personal injury cases.
  • Present value requirement: All future damages must be calculated in today’s dollar value.
  • Comparative fault system: Your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of fault (even if it’s high).
  • Civil law foundation: Louisiana’s legal system applies distinct principles that differ from common law states.
  • Limited punitive damages: Only allowed in narrow circumstances, such as drunk driving (Civil Code 2315.4).
  • Special vs. general damages: Courts make formal distinctions that affect how damages are awarded.
  • Medical malpractice caps: Some cases, particularly those involving government entities, are subject to maximum limits.

At Rice & Kendig, we take every legal detail into account to ensure your settlement reflects the full scope of your losses. Our goal is simple: get you the compensation you’re entitled to — no guesswork, no shortcuts.

Find Out What Your Injury Claim Is Really Worth. Start with a Free Case Review!

Too many injury victims in Louisiana settle for less than they deserve. At Rice & Kendig, our experienced personal injury attorneys fight to secure every dollar you’re owed.

No upfront fees. No pressure. Just a clear legal strategy to get you full compensation. Contact our team to take the first step. We know how to make insurers pay what's fair.

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