Accident Settlement Calculator

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Louisiana Car Accident Settlement Calculator

In Louisiana, you generally have 2 years to file an injury lawsuit, you recover nothing if more than 50% at fault, and drivers must carry at least $15,000/$30,000 in injury liability. Enter your numbers below to see what a Louisiana claim may be worth and what you would actually take home.

Louisiana changed its fault rule on January 1, 2026. Modified comparative fault: you recover nothing at 51% or more fault (Act 15 of 2025, Civil Code art. 2323). Which accidents fall under the new rule is not yet settled by the courts. This calculator already applies the new rule. See all recent changes
1

Your accident

How serious is the injury?
2

Your costs so far

That's all you need for a first estimate. Rough numbers are fine.

Optional: make the estimate more accurate fault, insurance, lawyer fee
3

Fault and future costs

4

Insurance

5

What comes out of it

Louisiana rules in 30 seconds

If you were partly at faultYou get nothing if you are more than 50% at fault
Details & exceptions

For accidents on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana uses modified comparative fault. If the injured person's negligence is 51 percent or more, they recover nothing; if it is less than 51 percent (so 50 percent or less), their damages are reduced by their percentage of fault. Accidents before January 1, 2026 remain under the old pure comparative fault rule, where a person could recover even if mostly at fault, with damages reduced by their share.

Compare fault rules in all states →
Deadline to file a lawsuit2 years from the accident
Details & exceptions

Civil Code art. 3493.1 (enacted by Act 423 of 2024, HB 315, as art. 3493.11 and renumbered by the Law Institute): 'Delictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of two years,' running from the day injury or damage is sustained. This covers both personal injury and property damage from a car accident. Act 423 repealed former arts. 3492 and 3493 (one year), took effect July 1, 2024, and applies only to delictual actions arising after that date. Accidents on or before June 30, 2024 kept the old one-year period, which has now run out. Wrongful death (art. 2315.2(B)) and survival actions (art. 2315.1(A)), as amended by Act 176 of 2025 (HB 291, eff. Aug. 1, 2025): one year from death or two years from the day the injury was sustained, whichever is longer. Claims against the State and political subdivisions follow the same prescription, but personal injury damages against them are capped at $500,000 per person, not counting property damage, medical care and lost earnings (R.S. 13:5106(B)(1)). Statute text was read from Law Institute act packets and FindLaw mirrors because legis.la.gov could not be reached.

Compare deadlines in all states →
Other driver's minimum insurance$15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident
Details & exceptions

Property damage minimum: $25,000. R.S. 32:900(B)(2): $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $30,000 for two or more persons, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. The Louisiana Department of Insurance auto guide (rev. 03/2026) gives the same 15/30/25 minimums. The Law Institute's 2025 and 2026 Title 32 disposition sheets show no amendment to R.S. 32:900. 'No Pay, No Play' (R.S. 32:866): an owner or operator who does not carry the required liability coverage cannot recover the first $100,000 of bodily injury or the first $100,000 of property damage from a motor vehicle accident, whoever caused it. If that uninsured owner sues and is awarded $100,000 or less, they must pay all court costs. Act 16 of 2025 (HB 434) raised these figures from $15,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage. The act sets no special effective date, so under the Law Institute's 2025 Title 32 disposition sheet it took effect August 1, 2025. The LDI guide (rev. 03/2026) still shows the old $15,000/$25,000 figures. 2026 bills on 'no pay, no play' (HB 516) and uninsured motorist recovery limits (HB 173) died in committee.

Compare minimums in all states →
Who pays your medical billsThe at-fault driver's insuranceSee all no-fault states →
Cap on pain and sufferingNo cap for typical car accident claims
Details & exceptions

No general cap for typical car accident injury claims. No general cap on noneconomic (general) damages in car-accident cases against private defendants. Proposed $500,000 general damages caps in the 2026 session (HB 526, SB 361) died. HB 526 failed 4-5 in House Civil Law and Procedure on 2026-04-07, and SB 361 never got a hearing. Caps that do not apply to ordinary auto claims: (1) claims against the State and political subdivisions, where personal injury damages are capped at $500,000 per person, not counting property damage, medical care and lost earnings (R.S. 13:5106(B)(1)); (2) medical malpractice, capped at $500,000 plus interest and costs, not counting future medical care (R.S. 40:1231.2(B)(1)). Civil Code art. 2315.12 (Act 17 of 2025, eff. Aug. 1, 2025) bars general damages and past and future wages for unauthorized aliens in motor vehicle claims, except under UM/UIM coverage that names them as insureds. That is a narrow plaintiff-category bar, not a cap. Other 2025 changes that affect auto claim values: (a) R.S. 9:2800.27 (Act 466 of 2025, SB 231, eff. Jan. 1, 2026, prospective only) limits recoverable past medical expenses to amounts actually paid when health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or workers' compensation paid, or under an attorney-negotiated provider discount; (b) Code of Evidence art. 306.1 (Act 18 of 2025) overrules the Housley presumption of causation; (c) Act 16 of 2025 raised 'No Pay, No Play' to $100,000 (see minimum_liability_insurance). Seat belt nonuse: R.S. 32:295.1(E), which had barred seat belt evidence, was repealed by Acts 2020, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 36, effective Jan. 1, 2021, so nonuse may be raised on comparative fault and damages. The 2025 Title 32 disposition sheet shows no 2025 amendment to 32:295.1. A 2026 act (Act 236) amended only 32:295.1(A)(1).

Uninsured motorist coverageOptional
Details & exceptions

R.S. 22:1295(1)(a): every auto liability policy delivered in Louisiana must include uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage at no less than the policy's bodily injury liability limits, unless the insured rejects it in writing, chooses lower limits, or chooses 'economic-only' coverage. These choices count only if made on the form prescribed by the Commissioner of Insurance and signed by the named insured or their legal representative. UM limits may not be lower than the R.S. 32:900 minimums unless economic-only coverage is chosen. Economic-only UM pays actual costs but not pain and suffering (LDI guide). Coverage is included by default and can be waived, so 'required' is false. The Supreme Court strictly enforces the form requirement (Duncan v. U.S.A.A., 2006, per secondary sources).

Worked example: a typical Louisiana car accident claim

Another driver turned left into you at an intersection in Louisiana: $15,000 in medical bills, $5,000 in lost wages and a moderate injury that healed in a few months. The insurer says you were 20% at fault for speeding slightly, the other driver has a $100,000 policy, and your lawyer takes 33%.

  1. Economic damages$20,000Medical bills + expected future treatment + lost wages.
  2. Pain and suffering$20,000 – $40,000Multiplier method: economic damages × 2–3 for a moderate injury, minus the economic part itself.
  3. Total claim value$40,000 – $60,000Economic + pain and suffering.
  4. After your share of fault$32,000 – $48,000Louisiana uses modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you recover nothing if you are 51% or more at fault; otherwise recovery is reduced by your 20%.
  5. Limited by available insurance$32,000 – $48,000At-fault policy limit $100,000 + your UM/UIM $0.
  6. Estimated take-home$20,440 – $31,160Minus attorney fee (33%), case costs and medical liens.

You would take home about $25,800 ($20,440 – $31,160), after the 33% fee and $1,000 in case costs.

Typical figures (midpoint of a moderate injury multiplier), no medical liens. Run your own numbersor see the same crash in every state.

How much time do you have to file?

General personal injury deadline only. It can be shorter for claims against a city, county or state agency (often a written notice within months), and longer for minors. Check with a lawyer before relying on it.

Deadline traps in Louisiana

The 2-year lawsuit deadline is not the only clock. These are the ones people miss:

Crash with a government vehicle or on a public road2 years (no separate notice)

No special notice of claim is required; suits against the State or a local government follow the normal 2-year prescription. Trap: after filing, you must request service on the government defendant within 90 days or the suit can be dismissed.

La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1 (Act 423 of 2024), two-year delictual prescriptionLa. R.S. 13:5107(D), service on state or political subdivision within 90 days

If the injured person is a child

Louisiana does not pause the 2-year deadline for children: prescription runs against minors, so a parent or guardian generally must file within 2 years of the crash.

La. Civ. Code art. 3468, Incompetents (official Louisiana Legislature)

How fast a Louisiana insurer must respond

Insurers must start adjusting property damage and medical expense claims within 14 days of notice, make a written offer on property damage within 30 days of proof of loss, and pay third-party claimants within 30 days of a written settlement.

La. R.S. 22:1892, Payment and adjustment of claims

If an insurer misses these deadlines, you can file a complaint with the state insurance department. Compare all states:insurance claim deadlines by state.

Next steps after a Louisiana crash

Frequently asked questions

What is a typical car accident settlement in Louisiana?
It depends on the bills, the injury and fault. Worked example: with $15,000 in medical bills, $5,000 in lost wages and a moderate injury, 20% of the fault, a Louisiana claim against the other driver is worth about $40,000, and the injured person takes home about $25,800 after a 33% attorney fee and costs. At 51% fault, the same claim pays nothing in Louisiana.
Is Louisiana an at-fault or no-fault state for car accidents?
Louisiana's car insurance system: At-fault (tort).
Is there a cap on pain and suffering in Louisiana car accident cases?
No general cap for typical car accident injury claims. No general cap on noneconomic (general) damages in car-accident cases against private defendants. Proposed $500,000 general damages caps in the 2026 session (HB 526, SB 361) died. HB 526 failed 4-5 in House Civil Law and Procedure on 2026-04-07, and SB 361 never got a hearing. Caps that do not apply to ordinary auto claims: (1) claims against the State and political subdivisions, where personal injury damages are capped at $500,000 per person, not counting property damage, medical care and lost earnings (R.S. 13:5106(B)(1)); (2) medical malpractice, capped at $500,000 plus interest and costs, not counting future medical care (R.S. 40:1231.2(B)(1)). Civil Code art. 2315.12 (Act 17 of 2025, eff. Aug. 1, 2025) bars general damages and past and future wages for unauthorized aliens in motor vehicle claims, except under UM/UIM coverage that names them as insureds. That is a narrow plaintiff-category bar, not a cap. Other 2025 changes that affect auto claim values: (a) R.S. 9:2800.27 (Act 466 of 2025, SB 231, eff. Jan. 1, 2026, prospective only) limits recoverable past medical expenses to amounts actually paid when health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or workers' compensation paid, or under an attorney-negotiated provider discount; (b) Code of Evidence art. 306.1 (Act 18 of 2025) overrules the Housley presumption of causation; (c) Act 16 of 2025 raised 'No Pay, No Play' to $100,000 (see minimum_liability_insurance). Seat belt nonuse: R.S. 32:295.1(E), which had barred seat belt evidence, was repealed by Acts 2020, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 36, effective Jan. 1, 2021, so nonuse may be raised on comparative fault and damages. The 2025 Title 32 disposition sheet shows no 2025 amendment to 32:295.1. A 2026 act (Act 236) amended only 32:295.1(A)(1).
What happens if I was partly at fault for an accident in Louisiana?
Louisiana follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar: you recover nothing if you are 51% or more at fault, and otherwise your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Louisiana?
Generally 2 years for personal injury and 2 years for property damage. Civil Code art. 3493.1 (enacted by Act 423 of 2024, HB 315, as art. 3493.11 and renumbered by the Law Institute): 'Delictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of two years,' running from the day injury or damage is sustained. This covers both personal injury and property damage from a car accident. Act 423 repealed former arts. 3492 and 3493 (one year), took effect July 1, 2024, and applies only to delictual actions arising after that date. Accidents on or before June 30, 2024 kept the old one-year period, which has now run out. Wrongful death (art. 2315.2(B)) and survival actions (art. 2315.1(A)), as amended by Act 176 of 2025 (HB 291, eff. Aug. 1, 2025): one year from death or two years from the day the injury was sustained, whichever is longer. Claims against the State and political subdivisions follow the same prescription, but personal injury damages against them are capped at $500,000 per person, not counting property damage, medical care and lost earnings (R.S. 13:5106(B)(1)). Statute text was read from Law Institute act packets and FindLaw mirrors because legis.la.gov could not be reached.
What is the minimum car insurance in Louisiana?
$15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. R.S. 32:900(B)(2): $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $30,000 for two or more persons, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. The Louisiana Department of Insurance auto guide (rev. 03/2026) gives the same 15/30/25 minimums. The Law Institute's 2025 and 2026 Title 32 disposition sheets show no amendment to R.S. 32:900. 'No Pay, No Play' (R.S. 32:866): an owner or operator who does not carry the required liability coverage cannot recover the first $100,000 of bodily injury or the first $100,000 of property damage from a motor vehicle accident, whoever caused it. If that uninsured owner sues and is awarded $100,000 or less, they must pay all court costs. Act 16 of 2025 (HB 434) raised these figures from $15,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage. The act sets no special effective date, so under the Law Institute's 2025 Title 32 disposition sheet it took effect August 1, 2025. The LDI guide (rev. 03/2026) still shows the old $15,000/$25,000 figures. 2026 bills on 'no pay, no play' (HB 516) and uninsured motorist recovery limits (HB 173) died in committee.
What is the deadline to file a claim against the government in Louisiana?
2 years (no separate notice). No special notice of claim is required; suits against the State or a local government follow the normal 2-year prescription. Trap: after filing, you must request service on the government defendant within 90 days or the suit can be dismissed.
How long does an insurance company have to respond to a claim in Louisiana?
Insurers must start adjusting property damage and medical expense claims within 14 days of notice, make a written offer on property damage within 30 days of proof of loss, and pay third-party claimants within 30 days of a written settlement.

Related

Official sources