Utah Workers' Comp Settlement Calculator: Step-by-Step Guide

Before you sit down with an insurance adjuster and hear their settlement offer, you need to know what your case is actually worth. The CVR calculator gives you that number in 5 minutes — but only if you bring the right inputs.

This is the step-by-step.

The short version

• Your settlement is built from 4 buckets: TTD, PPD, medical reserves, and travel.
• You need: AWW (your average weekly wage), date of injury, impairment rating, weeks off work, and medical bills paid + future estimates.
• The calculator gives you a baseline number. Negotiate up from there — never down.

Bucket 1 — TTD (Temporary Total Disability)

What you got while you were off work. The math:

TTD weekly = AWW × 66.67% (capped at $1,098/week in 2026)
TTD total = TTD weekly × weeks you were off

Inputs you need:

• Your Average Weekly Wage. Use the 52 weeks before injury including overtime + bonuses. If you worked less, use what you have.
• Number of weeks you were off work between injury and MMI (or return-to-work date).

Bucket 2 — PPD (Permanent Partial Disability)

The big one. Once you hit MMI and your doctor gives you an impairment rating:

PPD total = Impairment % × 312 weeks × TTD weekly rate

Inputs:

• Your impairment rating from your doctor or IME (whole person %).
• Same TTD weekly rate from Bucket 1.

Bucket 3 — Medical reserves

Future medical care the insurance carrier will pay for if you keep your case open, OR a lump sum they pay you to close the medical portion.

Inputs:

• Medical bills already paid by the carrier (helps establish the baseline).
• Future treatment recommended by your doctor: physical therapy, pain management, possible future surgery, medications.

Adjusters undervalue future medical. Get your doctor to write a "future treatment recommendation" letter before settlement.

Bucket 4 — Mileage and travel

Often forgotten. Utah pays mileage to and from medical appointments at the IRS standard rate (~67 cents/mile in 2026).

• How many appointments? (PT, follow-ups, specialists)
• Round-trip miles per appointment?

This bucket is usually $500–$3,000. Small, but add it.

Step-by-step with the CVR calculator

1. Open the CVR Quick Calculator.
2. Enter date of injury — drives 2026 vs 2025 rates.
3. Enter AWW (52-week average including OT and bonuses).
4. Enter weeks off work.
5. Enter impairment rating (or estimate range).
6. Enter total medical bills + estimated future care.
7. Add travel mileage.
8. Result: total estimated case value.

What the adjuster will offer vs what your case is worth

Adjusters typically open at 40–60% of full case value. Their goal is to close fast and cheap. Your goal is to know the full number so you can negotiate intelligently.

Rough rule of thumb: if their first offer is below 60% of your calculator number, push back. If you don\'t know the calculator number, you have no leverage.

Common mistakes using the calculator

Mistake 1: Underestimating AWW

Adjusters often use base wages only. Add overtime, bonuses, shift differentials, on-call pay. Anything taxable counts.

Mistake 2: Forgetting future medical

If you settle and your back gets worse 2 years later, that\'s on you unless future medical is reserved. Always factor in ongoing care.

Mistake 3: Not running multiple scenarios

Run the calculator at 10%, 15%, 20% impairment. Knowing the range gives you negotiation power before the final rating.

Next step

Run your numbers in the CVR Quick Calculator right now. Save the result. If the gap between calculator value and adjuster offer is more than $10,000, you probably need an attorney — find one in our Utah directory.