Legal costs and timelines, in plain numbers. Not a law firm.
Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-09-01.
Updated 2026-09-01 · 11 sourced figures · 10 named sources · every figure checked against its source at publish
Workers' comp wage replacement is standardized in most states: 66.67% of your average weekly wage, tax-free, while you cannot work. Most settlements land between $20,000 to $50,000, with state averages spanning $47,600 to $67,500 from Ohio to California, because comp is fifty separate state systems wearing one name.
Sources: WorkCompCalc 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
Every figure this page relies on, with its source and date.
| Figure | What it measures | Source · retrieved |
|---|---|---|
| 66.67% | standard wage-replacement rate | standard temporary-disability rate, 2026-09-01 |
| $20,000 to $50,000 | where most settlements land | WorkCompCalc 2026, 2026-09-01 |
| $47,600 to $67,500 | state-average settlement spread | WorkCompCalc 2026, 2026-09-01 |
| 104 weeks | California temporary-benefit cap | California temporary-disability maximum (Helbock Law 2026), 2026-09-01 |
| impairment rating x state weeks x weekly rate | the permanent-partial formula | SetCalc 2026, 2026-09-01 |
| $1,764.11 | California max weekly benefit | California DIR 2026, 2026-09-01 |
| $1,281.50 | New York max weekly benefit | NY WCB, injuries July 2026-June 2027, 2026-09-01 |
| $1,271.05 | Texas max weekly benefit | Texas DWC 2026 rates, 2026-09-01 |
| 70% | Texas replacement rate, first 26 weeks | Settlement Insight 2026, 2026-09-01 |
| 30 days | employer-notice deadline (CA/NY/TX) | IW Pharmacy 2026 deadline survey, 2026-09-01 |
| 2 years | New York claim-filing deadline | Ilabaca Law 2026, 2026-09-01 |
Sources: IW Pharmacy deadline survey 2026; Ilabaca Law 2026; Helbock Law 2026; SetCalc 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
The weekly ceiling and even the replacement rate move by state: California's 2026 maximum is $1,764.11 per week, New York's is $1,281.50, Texas's is $1,271.05, and Texas replaces 70% of wages for the first 26 weeks rather than the usual two-thirds. Same injury, different state, materially different check.
Sources: California DIR 2026; NY WCB 2026-27 rates; Texas DWC 2026; Settlement Insight 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
Ongoing checks at 66.67% of wages plus covered treatment, but caps and durations apply (104 weeks temporary cap in California) and the claim ends when the state says so.
A lump sum, typically $20,000 to $50,000, in exchange for closing some or all future rights. Rational when recovery has plateaued and the rating is fair; dangerous before maximum medical improvement.
Sources: WorkCompCalc 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
"Comp pays your full salary." It pays 66.67% in most states, capped weekly ($1,271.05 in Texas). "Reporting can wait until it gets worse." The notice window is 30 days in the three biggest comp states, and late notice is the classic claim-killer. "Settlement values are negotiable folklore." Permanent-partial value is arithmetic: impairment rating x state weeks x weekly rate.
Sources: IW Pharmacy 2026; Texas DWC 2026; SetCalc 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
How much does comp pay? 66.67% of your average weekly wage up to your state's cap; detail in what comp pays. What do settlements look like? $20,000 to $50,000 for most; state averages in settlement figures. Hurt by a third party at work? That can be a separate injury claim: see Personal Injury.
The factual triggers: a denied or disputed claim; a rating that reads low against your actual limitations; pressure to settle before maximum medical improvement; retaliation after reporting; or any permanent-injury case, where the formula's inputs are worth professional scrutiny because they multiply.
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How much workers' comp pays · Average settlement figures
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