California Workers’ Comp Settlement Chart

When someone is injured at work in California, workers’ compensation (WC) provides a system for covering medical costs, wage replacement, and (in many cases) permanent disability payments. One of the most useful tools for understanding what a workers’ comp case might be worth is a settlement chart — tables that estimate typical payouts based on the nature, body part, or cause of injury.

In 2025, while no chart guarantees what your claim will settle for, California settlement charts can give meaningful benchmarks. Below is a legal breakdown of how those charts work, key numbers to understand, and useful caveats.

Why Settlement Charts Matter?

A workers’ comp settlement chart aggregates historical data, typical case outcomes, and legal norms to estimate potential payouts. It’s not binding, but:

• Helps injured workers set realistic expectations
• Guides attorneys during negotiations
• Assists insurers in valuing claims
• Provides a reference for case strength and risk

However, many factors still drive the final settlement: medical costs, disability ratings, future care, lost wages, and legal representation all matter.

Key Numbers from California Settlement Charts

Based on recent published data, here are some typical figures for California workers’ comp settlements by injury type and cause:

By Body Part (Total Settlement Estimates)

By Cause of Injury

Strain / Overuse – $35,291

By Nature of Injury (Type)

• Amputation: ~$118,837
• Fracture / Dislocation / Crush Injury: ~$60,934
• Burns: ~$48,671
• Sprains / Strains: ~$33,589
• Carpal Tunnel / Repetitive Motion: ~$33,477
• Cumulative / Occupational Disease: ~$16,696

Other Settlement Factors: Beyond the Chart

Disability Rating & Weekly Rate Limits

Permanent disability (PD) settlements often reflect a “rating” (percentage) that translates into a number of weeks of payment. Under California’s workers’ comp laws:

• There is a maximum PD weekly rate (as of 2025, around $290 per week) for partial disability claims.
• The number of weeks paid depends on the percentage of disability and when the injury occurred, per Labor Code schedules.

Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB)

Workers who can’t return to their previous job due to impairment may receive up to $6,000 (per state chart) for retraining.

Average Weekly Wage (AWW)

Both temporary and permanent disability payments are typically based on two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to statutory caps.

Why Some Settlements Are Very Large

While many settlements fall within chart averages, catastrophic cases can go far beyond typical amounts. Examples from California legal practice include:

• A construction worker in Los Angeles with traumatic brain and spinal injuries: ~$11 million.
• A Fresno warehouse worker with crush injuries: ~$9.8 millionA burn injury case in Bakersfield: ~$8.9 million.

These outsized figures often reflect lifetime medical costs, mobility impacts, and total or near-total disability.

Limitations of Settlement Charts

1. Estimates, Not Guarantees: These numbers are averages. Each claim is unique.
2. Future Medical Costs: Charts may or may not fully account for future surgeries, treatment, or care.
3. Attorney and Litigation Risk: Having legal representation increases likelihood of favorable outcomes.
4. Timing: Your settlement might come sooner or later than typical averages — settlement timing depends on many factors, including how contested your case is.

Practical Take-Aways

• Use a 2025 California workers’ comp settlement chart to gauge value — but don’t rely on it exclusively.
• Factor in your specific injury, body part, and cause when evaluating a settlement offer.
• If negotiating a Compromise & Release (C&R), ensure that future care is fairly valued.
• Consult an experienced California workers’ compensation attorney — their expertise can impact your final payout significantly.

Conclusion

In California, settlement charts for workers’ compensation provide a powerful tool for understanding how much a claim might be worth but they are not definitive. As of 2025, the typical settlement can vary significantly based on injury location, cause, and disability. Serious or catastrophic injuries may settle for much more than chart averages. To protect your interests, partner with a lawyer and use a chart as a starting point — and remember, every case has its own legal and medical complexities.