Workers comp settlement body part prices 2022

How much money do you get for losing a limb? It depends on where you live. The average maximum compensation for an arm in the United States is $169,878. However, if you live in Alabama, you may only receive a maximum payout of $48,840 if you lose an arm on the job. Nevada pays the most for a lost arm, clocking in at $859,634.

Click on the image to display at full size

Workers comp settlement body part prices 2022

Embed Code
To obtain the data used to create this infographic, the workers’ compensation laws of 50 states and the District of Columbia were thoroughly researched to calculate the maximum benefit that injured workers can receive for the total loss or amputation of various limbs. These calculations were cross-referenced with attorneys, judges, and state officials that serve each state. The wide variation between states has led to complicated, controversial situations.

Here is a breakdown of some of the largest limb compensation discrepancies between states.

How Much Is a Human Arm Worth in Workers’ Compensation?

  • U.S. average: $169,878
  • Highest state: Nevada: $859,634 ($689,756 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Alabama: $48,840 ($121,038 lower than average)

How Much Is a Human Leg Worth in Workers’ Compensation?

  • U.S. average: $153,221
  • Highest state: Nevada: $457,418 ($304,198 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Alabama: $44,000 ($109,221 lower than average)

How Much Is a Human Hand Worth in Workers’ Compensation?

  • U.S. average: $144,930
  • Highest state: Nevada: $738,967 ($594,037 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Alabama: $37,400 ($107,530 lower than average)

How Much Money Do You Get for Losing an Index Finger at Work?

  • U.S. average: $24,474
  • Highest state: Oregon: $93,063 ($71,250 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Maryland: $6,720 ($17,754 lower than average)

How Much Do You Get for Losing a Thumb?

  • U.S. average: $42,432
  • Highest state: Kentucky: $195,670 ($153,238 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Rhode Island: $13,500 ($28,932 lower than average)

How Much Is a Human Foot Worth in Workers’ Compensation?

  • U.S. average: $91,779
  • Highest state: Maryland: $251,802 ($160,023 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Minnesota: $26,000 ($65,779 lower than average)

How Much Compensation Is an Eye Worth?

  • U.S. average: $96,700
  • Highest state: Pennsylvania: $261,525 ($164,825 higher than average)
  • Lowest state: Minnesota: $22,800 ($73,900 lower than average)

If you are concerned about the safety of your workplace, there are resources that can help you. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) protects your right to refuse dangerous work. Your can refuse to do a task if all of the following are true:

  • You asked your employer to address the danger and they failed to do so.
  • You genuinely believe that imminent danger exists.
  • A reasonable person would agree that there’s a real risk of serious injury or death.
  • The hazard can’t be corrected quickly enough through enforcement measures like an OSHA inspection.

You can also take the National Safety Council’s SafeAtWork Pledge. By taking this pledge, you agree to never compromise your own safety or the safety of others to get a job done; to actively look for hazards, report them, and take action to warn others; and to be a positive safety role model for friends and family at all times.

Dustin is an experienced attorney with 20 years of work in the legal field. He is a former JAG attorney for the US Navy and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal.

Read More

Print

See average workers’ comp settlement amounts for injuries by body part, type of injury, and cause. Learn what’s included in a typical payout.

On This Page

  • Average Settlement Amounts by Body Part
  • Injuries To Multiple Body Parts
  • Average Settlements by Injury Type and Cause
  • What’s Included in Work Injury Settlements?

Some workers’ comp cases are resolved with a lump-sum settlement instead of regular monthly payments. The exact settlement amount will depend on your state’s workers’ comp laws, the type of injury you suffered, and its severity.

While all workers’ compensation claims are unique, there are resources to help estimate average settlement amounts.

The National Safety Council (NSC) maintains a database of the average payout for workers’ comp settlements by type of injury. Based on the NSC data, this article will look at average settlement amounts for different work injuries and disabilities. You can also view workers’ comp settlement examples here.

Average Settlement Amounts by Body Part

Upper Body Work Injuries

Workers’ comp cases with head injuries settle for the most money compared to settlements for all other body parts. Claims involving catastrophic brain injuries can sometimes settle for millions of dollars.

Average work injury settlements for the upper body include:

  • Head – $92,493
  • Neck – $61,510
  • Arm and shoulder – $46,205
  • Chest – $42,342
  • Upper back – $33,154
  • Hand/fingers/wrist – $24,627

Carpal Tunnel and Nerve Disorders

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a nerve disorder of the wrist and hand. It’s a common work-related injury, especially for office workers and employees whose jobs involve repetitive hand motions (e.g., data entry specialists).

The average workers’ comp settlement for carpal tunnel is $30,510. This is about $6,000 more than the average settlement for hand and wrist injuries in general.

Other types of nerve damage are also quite common at work.

Lower Body Work Injuries

Lower back injuries are a leading cause of workers’ disabilities. Lumbar (lower back) sprains, strains, and herniated discs are common workplace injuries.

Average settlement amounts for lower body injuries include:

  • Lower back – $36,882
  • Hip/thigh/pelvis – $58,146
  • Leg – $57,476
  • Knee – $33,153
  • Ankle – $30,486
  • Foot/toes – $27,628

While the average settlement for a hip injury is above $50,000, minor injuries that get treated without surgery will typically settle for between $5,000 and $20,000. Settlement amounts jump drastically in cases involving total disability.

As to knee injuries, you’ll likely see a settlement amount above the average when surgery is required to repair the injury. When surgery is required for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the value of a workers’ compensation settlement can rise to $80,000 or higher.

Workers comp settlement body part prices 2022

Injuries To Multiple Body Parts

Some employees will suffer injuries to multiple body parts from a traumatic work accident. The average settlement amount in these cases is $68,749.

Amounts will increase when workers injure body parts which typically settle for large figures on their own. For example, an insurance company will pay a worker more for head and neck injuries than hand and foot injuries.

Slip and falls are common causes of accidents that result in injuries to multiple body parts. Workers often get injured from the initial slip but then injure another body part when trying to break their fall.

Case Example: Supreme Court of NJ Boosts Awards for Multiple Work Injuries

Three New Jersey workers’ compensation cases, each involving a worker who suffered multiple injuries from a single event, were combined for consideration by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Under the 1980 revisions to the laws, if a worker suffered multiple injuries, each injury was calculated separately:

“When a claim petition alleges more than one disability, the number of weeks in the award shall be determined and entered separately for each such disability and the number of weeks for each disability shall not be cumulative when entering an award.”

Two of the cases, Poswiatowski and Fagan, had multiple injuries (each injury with a different percent of disability) calculated separately and approved by a lower court. They appealed.

When the Smith case was calculated separately, he would only have been entitled to a structured settlement of $15,468 to be paid over 273 weeks at a rate of $156 per week.

Through his attorney, Smith argued that his multiple percentages of disabilities should have been added cumulatively, based on 50% of the statewide average weekly wage (SAWW) for 273.25 weeks, for a total award of $33,759. A lower court substantially agreed.

The NJ Supreme Court decided that using a cumulative calculation, such as in the Smith case, better serves the legislative intent to “put significantly more money into the hands of the more seriously injured workers.”

The final ruling stated, in part: 

“We hold that the weeks of compensation awarded for one accident’s multiple injuries that establish a single compensable disability should be cumulated, not separated, in computing the award.”

Poswiatowski vs. Standard Chlorine Chemical Co.

Each state has its own laws for calculating workers’ comp disability settlements. If you suffered multiple injuries from a single work accident, contact a workers’ compensation attorney for legal advice about your options.

Most workers’ compensation lawyers offer free consultations. A good lawyer will help protect your interests and maximize your workers’ comp claim.

Average Settlements by Injury Type and Cause

Average settlement amounts are sometimes broken down into different types or natures of work injuries.

Average settlements for common types of work-related injuries:

  • Amputation – $109,926
  • Fracture/dislocation – $59,253
  • Burn – $48,295
  • Occupational disease – $35,779
  • Strain/Sprain – $31,851
  • Concussion – $30, 955

Workers’ comp settlement offers for amputations are considerably more than settlements for other types of injuries. A work injury leading to an amputation will require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. The worker may not be able to return to the workforce and have high future medical expenses.

Average workers’ comp settlements for catastrophic head injuries exceed $92,000. But settlements for concussion are much lower at around $31,000. Moderate concussions may only result in an insurer offering a settlement amount of between $5,000 and $10,000.

Workers comp settlement body part prices 2022

Average settlement amounts for common causes of work injuries:

Motor vehicle accidents are by far the most costly cause of work injuries, followed by burns and slip and falls.

Workers comp settlement body part prices 2022

What’s Included in Work Injury Settlements?

Fair settlement offers will not compensate injured employees for the full value of their lost wages. If injured at work, you will usually receive about two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage. However, worker’s comp wage payments are not treated as taxable income.

Workers’ compensation benefits also don’t include compensation for pain and suffering. Although, workers can sue their employer in cases of intentional harm or egregious negligence and try to recover pain and suffering damages.

Payment for Medical Expenses

Workers’ compensation insurance companies will only pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Doctors must document the specific nature of your injury and the reason for your treatment.

Depending on the workers’ comp laws of your state, medical benefits may not cover chiropractic care, acupuncture, and other “alternative” treatments.

Insurers will also often condition a settlement upon you waiving your right to coverage for future medical care. If you waive this right, you’ll be responsible for future medical bills related to your injury.

Make sure you speak with a workers’ comp lawyer before waiving any workers’ comp benefits.

Settlements and Disability Benefits

Some work injuries result in an employee suffering a permanent partial disability or a permanent total disability, depending on the level of impairment.

Most states use a loss-of-use schedule of injuries to calculate lump-sum payments for permanent disability settlements. These schedules assign a compensation value depending on the body part you injured or the bodily function that your injury impacted.

Injured workers can ask for a scheduled settlement once they’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI means your physician believes your work injury won’t get any better with ongoing treatment.

 

How Much is Your Injury Claim Worth?

Find out now with a FREE case review from an attorney…

  • Your Accident
  • Your Claim
  • Contact Info
  • Your Evaluation

Type of Accident:

Auto Accident

Workers Compensation

Medical Malpractice

Personal Injury

When did the incident occur?

Was the accident your fault?

Yes No

Were you Physically Injured?

Yes No

Do I Qualify?

So far so good! Please answer a few more questions and then click "Go to Last Step"

Unfortunately, based on your answers we can’t provide a case review. But you may qualify for pre-settlement funding.

Are you interested in receiving cash while you wait for your case to settle?

Yes No

Get Cash

This funding gives you the money you need to cover personal expenses now. Approval takes < 24 hours with no credit checks and no obligation — you only pay it back if you win your claim. Funding can range from $500-$100,000, depending on your case and needs.

Is an attorney helping you with your claim?

Yes No

Did you need medical treatment or time off work?

Yes No

Describe the incident and your injuries:

Go to Last Step

We respect your privacy. The only person who may contact you is a licensed attorney who can help.

Your Name:

Phone Number:

Street Address:

Zip Code:

Email:

Get Your Evaluation!

By submitting, you agree to the Terms & Conditions. You consent that the funding company you are matched with or a call center may contact you by phone and/or text, even if you are on a Do Not Call Registry. You agree these messages may be auto-dialed or pre-recorded, and consent is not a condition of purchase.

What is the most workers comp settlement?

Most workers get between $2,000 and $40,000 dollars for their claim. The average amount for a workers' compensation settlement is about $20,000. Every case differs, though, and our firm has gotten impressive case results for workers, including one award of $640,000.

How do you calculate an impairment rating?

To calculate the impairment award, the CE multiplies the percentage points of the impairment rating of the employee's covered illness or illnesses by $2,500.00. For example, if a physician assigns an impairment rating of 40% or 40 points, the CE multiplies 40 by $2,500.00, to equal a $100,000.00 impairment award.

What is the average cost of a back injury?

Average Back Injury Settlements For lower back injury settlements like sprains and strains, the average settlement is between $10,000 and $50,000. Our personal injury attorneys have access to a nationwide database that helps them place a value on your case.

How long do most workers comp settlements take?

How Long Does It Take to Reach a Settlement for Workers' Comp? The entire settlement process—from filing your claim to having the money in your hands—can take around 12-18 months depending on the details of your case and whether or not you have legal representation.