Average Neck and Back Injury Settlement by State: 2025 Data Study

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Neck and back injury settlement amounts in every state depend on several factors, including the severity of the injury, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Insurance companies evaluate these elements when determining payouts, but their initial offers are often lower than what victims truly deserve. Understanding average settlement amounts helps set realistic expectations, strengthens your negotiation position, and ensures you pursue the maximum compensation for your injuries.

What are the Average Settlement Amounts of Neck and Back Injury?

According to a recent study conducted by The Miley Legal Group, the national average settlement amount for a neck and back injury is $925,169, while the median amount is $316,000. The highest amount found in the study was a $71,000,000 verdict in New York for a car accident injury while the lowest amount was $1,719 in Minnesota, also involving a car accident.

Estimated Settlement Amount by Accident Type

1. Car Accidents

The average settlement amount for car accident neck and back injury depends on factors like speed at impact, medical expenses, and fault determination. Insurance companies often undervalue claims, making legal guidance essential.

2. 18-Wheeler Accidents

Truck accident claims tend to be higher due to severe injuries, extensive property damage, and federal regulations governing commercial vehicles. If you’ve had a neck and back injury after a truck accident, a skilled truck accident lawyer can make all the difference while you’re focusing on medical treatment.

3. Slip and Fall Accidents

Liability in slip and fall cases often hinges on proving negligence, such as failure to maintain safe premises. Medical records and witness statements can strengthen your claim.

4. Work-Related Accidents

Workplace injury settlements vary based on whether claims go through workers’ compensation or personal injury lawsuits. Some cases allow for additional claims against third parties.

To help you understand your potential compensation, we’ve also compiled average and median settlement amounts based on national data for different injury types.

Average Settlement Amount for a Neck Injury

Neck injuries from car accidents and other incidents can range from mild to severe, and settlement values vary accordingly:

• Whiplash or Minor Soft Tissue Injuries – $10,000 – $50,000
• Cervical Strain or Herniated Discs – $50,000 – $200,000
• Severe Neck Injuries (Fractures, Nerve Damage, or Long-Term Disability) – $500,000 – $5,000,000+
• Cervical spine injury settlement amount often falls between $100,000 and $500,000 and cases with permanent paralysis or significant spinal cord damage can exceed $1 million.

What is the Average Settlement for a Back Injury?

A back injury can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, and even permanent disability. Here’s a general breakdown of back injury settlement amounts based on severity:

• Minor Back Strains & Sprains – $10,000 – $50,000
• Herniated Discs & Chronic Back Pain – $50,000 – $200,000
• Severe Spinal Cord Injuries & Paralysis – $200,000 – $1,000,000+

In particular, back injury settlement awards range widely depending on whether the injury leads to long-term medical care or disability.

Severe injuries that result in permanent impairment, spinal fusion surgery, or paralysis can exceed $1 million.

How Much is the Average Neck and Back Injury Settlement Amount in Every State?

The amounts vary significantly across different states.

With the right information you provide, it will help us calculate accurate estimated average settlement amounts through the accident injury settlement calculator.

Below are the average and median settlement figures for every state:

Alabama

• Average: $414,467
• Median: $350,000

The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury in Alabama is $414,467, and the median is $350,000. The highest amount found in the study was a $1 million settlement for a back injury during a trucking accident on I-65.

Alaska

• Average: $572,418
• Median: $270,000

Alaska’s average neck and back injury settlement amount is $572,418 and the median is $270,000. The highest amount found in our study was a $1.9 million verdict in favor of a 25-year-old man injured in a t-bone car accident who required disc replacement surgery as a result of his injury.

A few high settlement amounts in the data collected for Alaska skews the average settlement value far higher than the median amount. There were a small number of million-plus dollar settlements but the majority of cases settled for less than $500,000.

Arizona

• Average: $1,377,833
• Median: $500,000

Arizona’s average settlement amount is nearly $1.4 million, while the median amount is $500,000. The highest settlement amount found was approximately $7.4 million for an accident involving a semi-truck and a motorcyclist. The semi driver made a negligent left turn in front of the victim’s motorcycle, causing the motorcyclist to wreck and sustain a spinal cord injury.

Arkansas

• Average: $266,667
• Median: $157,500

The average settlement for a neck and back injury in Arkansas is $266,667, with a median settlement amount of $157,500. The highest amount found was an $800,000 jury verdict for a man injured when a semi-truck rear-ended his car.

This $800,000 verdict was an outlier among the settlement and verdict amounts found in the study. Most settlement amounts were in the $100,000 to $200,000 range. The majority of the cases studied were the result of car accidents.

California

• Average: $1,728,491
• Median: $1,535,500

California’s average and median neck and back settlement amounts are among the highest in the nation. The average was about $1.7 million and the median was approximately $1.5 million.

The highest amount found was a $3,500,000 settlement for a man and his two sons who were involved in a multi-vehicle accident that left them with severe injuries to the spine. The accident was caused by an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer driving under the influence of alcohol after leaving a party.

Colorado

• Average: $179,267
• Median: $100,000

Colorado’s median and average settlement amounts were on the low end of the spectrum for the US. The average amount was $179,267, and the median settlement amount came in at $100,000. The highest amount was a $450,000 settlement for a plaintiff who suffered a back injury after an accident with a semi-truck.

Connecticut

• Average: $230,344
• Median: $238,000

The average neck and back injury settlement amount for Connecticut is $230,344, and the median amount is $238,000. The highest amount was a $410,000 settlement for a woman who sustained a back injury in a head-on collision while driving her car home from work.

Delaware

• Average: $350,787
• Median: $100,000

Delaware’s average settlement amount came in at $350,787, while the median amount is $100,000. The highest amount found was a $3.2 million settlement for neck and lower back injuries that occurred after a multi-vehicle accident. Doctors recommended that the injured plaintiff undergo neck surgery, which left the victim paralyzed.

The $3.2 million settlement amount skews the average amount for Delaware far above what it would be otherwise. Most of the settlement amounts we found in the study were at or under $100,000.

Florida

• Average: $965,562
• Median: $274,434

The average neck and back injury settlement amounts in Florida is $965,562, and the median is $274,434. The highest settlement amount found in the study was an $8 million sum paid out to a plaintiff who was rear-ended by a garbage truck and suffered a broken neck.

The large disparity in Florida’s average and median settlement amounts is owed largely to this $8 million settlement.

Georgia

• Average: $206,667
• Median: $200,000

Georgia’s average settlement amount is $206,667, and the median amount is $200,000. The highest amount recorded was $350,000 for a car accident victim who needed two back surgeries after a rear-end collision.

Georgia’s average and median settlement amounts track closely with one another. The study found that cases range in value from $150,000 to 350,000.

Hawaii

• Average: $2,006,000
• Median: $950,000

The average neck and back injury settlement in Hawaii is about $2 million and the median is $950,000. The largest amount reported was a $6.2 million jury verdict awarded to a man who broke his back after a 15 to 20-foot fall at a country club.

Idaho

• Average: $740,750
• Median: $362,500

The average neck and back injury settlement amounts in Idaho is $740,750. The median amount is $362,500. 

The largest amount found in our study was $3 million paid out to a victim who suffered a spinal cord injury while riding as a passenger in a truck. The driver of the vehicle lost control of his vehicle while attempting to evade the police during a stop and caused traffic violations. The $3 million sum was awarded to the injured party and part of it was used to set up a special needs trust.

The $3 million award slightly skews the average settlement amount higher than it would have been otherwise since the majority of the amounts found in the study were in the $300,000 to $400,000 range.

Illinois

• Average: $651,081
• Median: $720,000

The average settlement amount in Illinois for a neck or back injury is $651,081 while the median amount is $720,000. The highest amount we found was $1.4 million for a plaintiff who required back surgery after being rear-ended by a truck.

Indiana

• Average: $451,467
• Median: $250,000

Indiana’s average back injury settlement value is $451,467, while the median amount is $250,000. The largest sum found in the study was a $1.35 million settlement for a slip and fall injury after a mechanic suffered a permanent neck injury. It is unclear from the way that this was reported if this injury was also work-related.

Most of the settlement and verdict amounts for Indiana were in the $100,000 to $250,000 range, but some large awards pushed up the average to a little over double the median amount.

Iowa

• Average: $309,479
• Median: $132,750

Iowa’s average settlement amount for neck and back injuries is $309,479, and the median amount is $132,750. The highest amount found in this study was an approximately $1.7 million settlement in favor of a man who was involved in a single-car rollover accident as a passenger, which resulted in soft tissue injuries and spinal fractures.

Kansas

• Average: $1,670,133
• Median: $340,000

The average back and neck injury settlement amounts in Kansas is approximately $1.7 million, and the median amount is $340,000. 

The largest sum found in this study was a $20 million jury verdict in favor of a woman who was injured when her vehicle was t-boned by a semi-truck while she was crossing a highway. The verdict was later reduced to $12 million after the comparative fault for the accident was weighed.

Kentucky

• Average: $365,733
• Median: $125,000

Kentucky’s average settlement amount is $365,733, while the median amount is $125,000 due to a few outliers which raise the state average. The largest settlement was a $2.1 million award paid out to a man who suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident.

Louisiana

• Average: $4,387,491
• Median: $1,045,000

Louisiana had the highest disparity between the average settlement amount and the median amount of all the states in this study. The average neck and back injury settlement in Louisiana is $4,387,491, and the median is $1,045,000.

The largest sum that we found in the study was an approximately $35.5 million jury verdict awarded to a driver who was involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle. The victim suffered spinal injuries and paralysis as a result of the accident.

Maine

• Average: $242,567
• Median: $200,000

The average settlement amount for neck and back injuries in Maine is $242,567, and the median amount is $200,000. The highest settlement amount found in this state was a $600,000 sum paid out to a nurse who required spinal surgery after a car accident.

Maryland

• Average: $397,253
• Median: $300,000

The average back injury settlement in Maryland is $397,253, while the median amount is slightly lower at $300,000. The largest amount found for our study was a $1.7 million jury verdict awarded to a plaintiff who required back surgery as a result of the injuries they sustained.

Massachusetts

• Average: $171,883
• Median: $100,000

Massachusetts’ average settlement amount is $171,883, and the median amount is $100,000. The largest settlement amount recorded for the study was a $475,000 sum that was paid out to an injured plaintiff who suffered a herniated and degenerative disc disease after a car accident in their neck, which required cervical fusion surgery.

The majority of the settlements reported for this study were for car accidents, and the amounts ranged from $75,000 to $475,000.

Michigan

• Average: $462,900
• Median: $320,000

The average settlement amount for a neck or back injury in Michigan is $462,900, and the median amount is $320,000. The largest amount found was a $1,5 million arbitration award paid to a mentally disabled victim after an accident involving a special transportation bus.

Despite a few outliers, the majority of settlements in Michigan ranged from $250,000 to $380,000. 

Minnesota

• Average: $1,412,462
• Median: $231,000

Minnesota’s average settlement amount is $1,412,462, and the median amount for neck and back injuries is $231,000. This difference between the average and median amounts is mostly due to the largest settlement we found for the state. 

$12 million was awarded to a 16-year-old plaintiff who suffered a spinal cord injury which left her dependent upon a ventilator and paralyzed from the neck down. The victim was riding as a passenger in a friend’s car when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll over.

Mississippi

• Average: $678,275
• Median: $614,625

The average settlement amount in Mississippi is $678,275, and the median amount is $614,625. The most considerable sum we found was a $1.5 million verdict awarded to a woman who was injured in an accident involving a semi-truck. The accident left the driver with injuries to her spine, which required a double disc fusion surgery and a disc replacement surgery along with other injuries.

Mississippi reported the second-highest number of settlements and verdicts from cases that involved neck and back injuries sustained in accidents with tractor-trailers.

Missouri

• Average: $556,241
• Median: $500,000

Missouri’s average settlement for neck and back injuries is $556,241, while the median is $500,000. The largest amount was a nearly $1.8 million settlement for an accident victim who required back surgery after a bus collided with the rear end of a truck. It is unclear if the plaintiff was a passenger or driver in the truck or a passenger in the bus.

Montana

• Average: $443,740
• Median: $375,000

The average settlement for a neck and back injury in Montana is $443,740, while the median is $375,000. The largest settlement recorded in the study was a nearly $1.1 million award to the driver of a semi-truck who required back surgery after he was rear-ended by another commercial vehicle.

Nebraska

• Average: $802,325
• Median: $175,000

Nebraska’s average settlement for a neck and back injury is $802,325, while the median is $175,000. The largest amount was a $6.7 million award for a plaintiff with a spinal cord injury sustained after a distracted driving accident.

Outliers on the high and low end of the scale account for the large difference between Nebraska’s average and median settlement amounts.

Nevada

• Average: $1,810,333
• Median: $1,270,000

The average settlement amount in Nevada is approximately $1.8 million and the median amount is nearly $1.3 million. The highest settlement amount we found was a $4 million payout for a driver who required spinal surgery as a result of a car accident.

New Hampshire

• Average: $191,667
• Median: $150,000

New Hampshire’s average settlement amount for a neck and back injury is $191,667, while the median amount is $150,000. The largest settlement in this dataset was $715,000 for a motor vehicle accident that left the plaintiff with neck injuries.

New Hampshire reported the most slip and fall accidents in all 50 states. The average settlement amount for a slip and fall resulting in a neck or back injury in New Hampshire is $132,750. 

New Jersey

• Average: $918,967
• Median: $1,000,000

The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury in New Jersey is $918,967, and the median amount is a little higher at $1 million. The largest sum found was a $2.5 million award to a driver who spent nine months in the hospital with a spinal fracture and internal injuries after being struck at an intersection by a driver who did not stop at a stop sign.

New Mexico

• Average: $798,889
• Median: $700,000

New Mexico’s average settlement amount is $798,889, and the median is $700,000 in neck and back injury cases. The largest sum we found was a $1.5 million settlement awarded to a plaintiff who suffered injuries to the back, arms, legs, and hips in a car crash with a teen driver.

New York

• Average: $8,609,555
• Median: $3,000,000

New York has the highest reported average and median settlement amounts of any state for neck and back injuries. The average settlement amount is approximately $8.6 million, and the median amount is $3 million.

The largest amount was a $71 million verdict delivered in 2017 in favor of a 19-year-old woman who was injured in a car accident. The accident left her with a fractured lumbar spine.

Even without this verdict, New York state would still have one of the highest average settlement amounts among all of the states, according to the data collected.

North Carolina

• Average: $699,016
• Median: $535,000

The average settlement amount for neck and back injuries in North Carolina is $699,016, and the median amount is $535,000. The largest settlement for the state was $2.2 million awarded to a passenger on a bus who sustained fractures to the neck after the bus driver fell asleep and crashed into a semi-truck.

North Dakota

• Average: $305,267
• Median: $155,000

North Dakota’s average settlement amount in neck and back injury cases is $305,267, while the median amount is just over half of that at $155,000. The higher average can be attributed to one large settlement we recorded for this study.

A nearly $2.4 million settlement was paid out to a plaintiff who suffered injuries to his ribs, lung, and back after being rear-ended by another vehicle on the highway.

Ohio

• Average: $363,800
• Median: $250,000

The average neck and back injury settlement amount in Ohio is $363,800, and the median amount is $250,000. The largest settlement amount was nearly $1.3 million for a serious back injury sustained during a car accident. The injured party required three surgeries and physical therapy as a part of his treatment.

Oklahoma

• Average: $448,600
• Median: $450,000

Oklahoma’s average neck and back injury settlement amount was $448,600, while the median amount was $450,000. The largest sum reported was an $850,000 award for a driver who suffered spinal injuries and had to undergo two back surgeries after being struck by a truck driver who was determined to have driven negligently.

Oklahoma reported the most semi-truck accidents of any state. The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury caused by a semi-truck accident was $590,875.

Oregon

• Average: $268,400
• Median: $241,000

The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury in Oregon is $268,400. The median amount is $241,000. The largest amount recorded for this study was a $525,000 award to a construction worker who was struck by a driver attempting to make a left turn across traffic. The injured party suffered injuries to both their cervical and thoracic spine.

Pennsylvania

• Average: $373,000
• Median: $300,000

Pennsylvania’s average settlement amount is $373,000, while the median amount for neck and back injuries is $300,000. The largest settlement reported was a $1 million award to the driver of a car that was rear-ended by a distracted semi-truck driver.

Rhode Island

• Average: $399,333
• Median: $300,000

Rhode Island’s average neck and back injury settlement amounts are $399,333, and the median amount is $300,000. The largest amount reported was a $1.5 million payout for a plaintiff who suffered fractures to the cervical spine and other injuries while riding as a passenger in a ride-sharing vehicle.

South Carolina

• Average: $796,214
• Median: $500,000

The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury in South Carolina is $796,214, and the median amount is $500,000. The largest settlement found in the study was $3.6 million for a man who required surgery on his neck after he was rear-ended by a driver for a construction company who was under the influence of alcohol.

South Dakota

• Average: $1,193,750
• Median: $225,000

South Dakota’s average settlement amount for neck and back injuries is nearly $1.2 million, and the median amount is $225,000. The largest amount was a $4.2 million settlement for a plaintiff who was injured by a defective recreational vehicle, which caused them to suffer a spinal cord injury.

Tennessee

• Average: $665,685
• Median: $300,000

Tennessee’s average settlement amount is $655,685, and the median amount for neck and back injuries is $330,000. The largest amount was a $3.7 million award to a man who suffered serious injuries to his neck and back after he was rear-ended by a semi-truck. His injuries left him in chronic pain.

The large difference between Tennessee’s average and median amounts can be attributed to a few million-plus dollar cases, which cause the average to be more than double the median value.

Texas

• Average: $503,648
• Median: $350,000

The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury in Texas is $503,648, while the median amount is $350,000. The largest amount was a nearly $2.1 million case where a woman was injured in a t-bone collision with a commercial vehicle. As a result of her injuries, she needed multiple surgeries on her back.

Utah

• Average: $340,435
• Median: $200,000

The average settlement amount in Utah is $340.435, while the median amount for a neck and back injury is $200,000. The largest amount was a $1.1 million case where the driver was involved in a head-on collision and required back surgery and rehabilitation as part of their treatment.

Vermont

• Average: $904,250
• Median: $567,000

Vermont’s average neck injury settlement amount is $904,250, and the median amount is $567,000. The largest amount was a $2 million case where the plaintiff was in a car accident that resulted in a spinal fracture.

The difference between Vermont’s average and median amounts could be attributed to a number of outlier cases skewing the average far higher than the median amount.

 Washington

• Average: $1,270,000
• Median: $670,000

The average settlement amount for a neck and back injury in Washington is approximately $1.3 million, while the median amount is $670,000. The largest settlement amount was for a woman who was blindsided by another driver on the road and suffered a car accident brain injury, and a broken back as a result.

A number of million-plus dollar outlier cases make the average amount significantly higher than the more conservative median settlement amount.

Virginia

• Average: $2,009,667
• Median: $1,750,000

The average settlement amount in Virginia is about $2 million, and the median amount for a neck or back injury is nearly $1.8 million. The highest amount was a $2.4 million settlement for a slip and fall accident on a public sidewalk resulting in a 72-year-old woman sustaining spinal injuries.

West Virginia

• Average: $440,778
• Median: $200,000

West Virginia’s average settlement amount for a neck and back injury is $440,778, while the median amount is $200,000. The largest amount was a $2 million award to a driver who suffered a back injury as the result of a rear-end collision.

West Virginia also reported a high number of slip and fall cases. West Virginia’s average slip and fall settlement amount in cases involving neck or back injuries is $413,667. 

Wisconsin

• Average: $518,467
• Median: $470,000

Wisconsin’s average settlement amount is $518,467, and the median amount for a back injury is $470,000. The largest sum was an approximately $1.2 million case involving a couple traveling with their child. The family was struck by an uninsured driver, which caused the couple’s vehicle to roll over. This led to numerous injuries, including a thoracic spinal fracture.

Wyoming

• Average: $1,147,000
• Median: $662,500

The average settlement amount in Wyoming is about $1.1 million, while the median neck and back injury amount is $662,500.

The largest amount found for Wyoming in this study was a $3.5 million case where a driver was struck by a commercial vehicle, which caused serious injuries to the spine. The plaintiff’s injuries were severe enough to require cervical spine and lumbar fusion surgeries.

Methodology

To gather the data that we needed to develop this study on neck and back injury settlement amounts, we looked at publicly available information on settlement and verdict amounts for neck and back injuries across the country. Many attorneys publish their case results on their websites and often describe the sum that their client was awarded as well as the nature of their injuries and claim.

We found 702 settlement amounts from across the country and then determined an average amount for each state as well as a median amount. We also categorized the settlements by type and then determined average and median amounts for car accidents, truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, and work-related accidents.

For cases that did not fall into any of the above categories or did not have a publicly reported cause. The average settlement amount for these injuries is $2,677,000, and the median amount is $2.2 million.

In most cases, the median amount is a more accurate representation of what a client in a given state may expect to see in a settlement. Large settlements in the million-plus dollar range were outliers in most states and skewed the average amounts to more than double the median amount in some cases. 

What is the Time Limit for Neck and Back Injury Settlement Claims?

In West Virginia, you generally have two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury or property damage lawsuit.

If you miss this deadline, you may lose the right to pursue compensation.

For insurance claims, you should report the accident as soon as possible. Many insurance companies have strict timelines, sometimes within a few days or weeks. Exceptions exist, such as for minors or cases where injuries aren’t immediately apparent.

If you’re outside West Virginia, you may also be wondering how long after an accident can you make a claim. The time limit to file a claim depends on your state’s statute of limitations.

Most states allow between one and six years for personal injury or property damage claims.

Insurance companies often require claims to be filed within days or weeks, so it’s best to report the accident as soon as possible.

Some exceptions may extend the deadline, such as cases involving minors, delayed injuries, or government entities, which often have much shorter filing windows.

How to Secure the Maximum Settlement for a Neck and Back Injury

Getting a fair settlement for a neck and back injury after an accident requires strong evidence, strategic negotiation, and legal expertise. Follow these steps to maximize your compensation:

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately – Even if pain appears later, a doctor’s evaluation is crucial. Delayed treatment can weaken your claim.

2. Gather Evidence – Medical records, accident reports, photos, witness statements, and proof of lost wages help prove your case.

3. Calculate Your Damages – Factor in medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care costs to determine a fair settlement amount.

4. Don’t Accept the First Offer – Insurance companies often lowball victims. Negotiating or hiring an attorney can significantly increase your payout.

5. Work With a Personal Injury Lawyer – An experienced lawyer can handle negotiations, prove liability, and take legal action if needed.

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Most accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win, typically taking 25% to 40% of the final settlement. If you’re worried about auto accident lawyer fees, remember that contingency-based attorneys require no upfront payment, ensuring you can afford legal representation.

Handling a neck or back injury claim alone can result in a lower settlement. Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts, but a personal injury lawyer can help secure full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Get Legal Help Today

You shouldn’t approach an insurance company for an accident settlement without an experienced personal injury attorney. From a back or neck injury, whiplash injury to serious spinal cord injuries, retaining a West Virginia car accident lawyer is the best asset to secure compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and property damage. 

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Miley Legal can help with your personal injury claim. You may call our personal injury law firm for a free consultation with us.