Wrongful Death Settlement Calculator

How this wrongful death settlement estimator works

The calculator groups potential compensation into two broad categories:

• Economic damages – measurable financial losses, such as lost future income, employer benefits, medical bills, and funeral and burial expenses.
• Non-economic damages – human losses that are much harder to quantify, such as loss of companionship, guidance, and emotional support.

Many legal practitioners and insurance adjusters start with economic damages and then apply a multiplier to estimate a non-economic range. For example, some may consider a value between 1x and 3x of certain economic losses, adjusting up or down based on the circumstances.

In very simplified form, the type of calculation this tool illustrates can be expressed as:

Where:

• S = simplified estimated settlement total
• E = total economic damages (lost income, benefits, medical and funeral expenses)
• M = non-economic multiplier (a rough factor to visualize possible non-economic value)

The actual formula used in your jurisdiction may be more complex or completely different. Some places cap non-economic damages, others use separate statutory formulas, and many cases are resolved by negotiation rather than strict formulas.

Key factors that influence wrongful death compensation

Courts and insurers look at a wide range of facts when evaluating a wrongful death claim. Common factors include:

• Age of the deceased – Younger individuals with many expected working years remaining may have higher projected lost income, while older individuals may have lower economic loss but still significant non-economic damages.
• Earning history and career trajectory – Current income, past raises, benefits, and realistic future earning potential affect economic projections.
• Number and dependence of survivors – Spouses, minor children, and other dependents who relied on the deceased for financial and emotional support are central to damage assessments.
• Medical and end-of-life expenses – Hospital bills, hospice care, and funeral and burial costs are often included in economic damages.
• Liability and comparative fault – If there is a dispute about who was at fault, or if the deceased is alleged to share some responsibility, available compensation can be reduced or contested.
• Insurance coverage and assets – Policy limits and the defendant’s ability to pay can affect the practical settlement range, regardless of theoretical damages.
• State or country law – Statutory caps on certain damages, who may file, and how damages are calculated all vary widely by jurisdiction.

How to use this wrongful death calculator

This tool works best if you gather some basic information first, such as:

• Approximate annual income and benefits of the person who passed away.
• How many working years they reasonably had left (for example, until typical retirement age in your area).
• Documented medical expenses related to the final illness or injury.
• Funeral, burial, or memorial costs already paid or expected.

Then, when entering values into the calculator on this page:

1. Use realistic averages rather than best-case or worst-case numbers.
2. Include only what you can reasonably document with pay stubs, tax returns, bills, or receipts.
3. Remember that non-economic losses are illustrated using a broad multiplier, not a promise of what a court will award.

The result will give you a rough combined figure that can help you understand the overall scale of potential damages. It is normal for an attorney or insurer to arrive at a very different number once they apply local law, consider liability, and review evidence.

Interpreting typical wrongful death estimate ranges

Because every case is unique, no table can reliably tell you what your claim is “worth.” However, it can be useful to see how differences in age, income, and dependents might influence the scale of a potential settlement, before any legal caps or liability disputes are applied.

*These are broad, qualitative ranges for educational purposes only. They are not based on your jurisdiction and should not be treated as promises or averages.

Worked example (for illustration only)

Imagine a 40-year-old individual who earned $60,000 per year with modest benefits. They had planned to work another 25 years. Their final medical bills and funeral expenses totaled $40,000. For simplicity, ignore inflation and taxes.

1. Estimate lost earnings: $60,000 per year × 25 years = $1,500,000 in projected gross earnings.
2. Add medical and funeral costs: $1,500,000 + $40,000 = $1,540,000 in simplified economic damages.
3. Apply a non-economic multiplier for illustration: Suppose we visualize non-economic damages at 1.5 times the economic amount.
   • Non-economic estimate = 1.5 × $1,540,000 = $2,310,000.
4. Combine for a rough total: $1,540,000 + $2,310,000 = $3,850,000.

This $3.85 million figure is not what a court would necessarily award. Real outcomes would take into account liability disputes, insurance limits, local statutes, tax considerations, and possibly reductions for present value. The example merely shows how economic and non-economic components might be combined conceptually.

Limitations, assumptions, and important disclaimers

This calculator makes substantial simplifications. Among other things, it assumes:

• Straight-line projections of future income without detailed adjustments for inflation, promotions, or changing career paths.
• That all medical and funeral expenses are clearly documented and recoverable.
• A generic non-economic multiplier that is not tied to any specific jurisdiction or statute.
• No specific consideration of comparative negligence, punitive damages, or statutory caps.

This tool does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. It does not create an attorney–client relationship, and it cannot account for the detailed facts of your situation. Actual wrongful death settlements vary widely and may be higher or lower than any figure you calculate here.

You should not make major decisions about accepting, rejecting, or pursuing a claim based on this calculator alone. Always discuss your situation with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction, who can advise you based on local law and the evidence in your case.

Next steps after using the calculator

After you have explored different scenarios with the calculator, you may wish to:

• Gather documentation such as medical records, death certificates, police or incident reports, wage records, and tax returns.
• Write down a timeline of what happened, including key dates and who was involved.
• Note all individuals who depended on the deceased for financial or emotional support.
• Consult with one or more wrongful death attorneys to discuss your rights, potential claims, deadlines, and strategy.

Time limits (statutes of limitation) can be strict in wrongful death matters. Speaking with counsel as early as possible can help protect your options.

About this tool

This calculator is an educational aid built around general concepts commonly discussed in wrongful death resources, such as economic and non-economic damages and projected loss of support. It is not based on any one jurisdiction’s law and is not tailored to your case. For authoritative guidance, consult bar association materials in your region and, most importantly, a qualified attorney who regularly handles wrongful death matters.