Fracture — Upper Extremity Claim Value in California: 2026 Settlement Estimate
See how California law and this injury's typical severity combine to produce a settlement range.
Estimated Settlement Range
$6,900 – $16,000
Estimate only. Not legal advice. Actual settlement value depends on your specific case facts — consult a licensed workers comp attorney in California.
How This Estimate Is Calculated
This estimate starts with California's wage-replacement formula, then applies typical outcomes for Fracture — Upper Extremity claims.
California pays 67% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $1764.11/week. For a Fracture — Upper Extremity claim, the typical temporary disability period is 8 weeks, with settlement multipliers ranging 1.3x–3.0x. See the full methodology for where this range comes from and what it doesn't include.
Here's the actual math: on a $1,000 average weekly wage, California's formula puts your weekly benefit at $667. Over the typical 8-week recovery window for Fracture — Upper Extremity, that's $5,334 in wage-replacement before any settlement multiplier is applied. Multiplying that by this injury's typical 1.3x–3.0x range is what produces the $6,900–$16,000 estimate above. Your own number will differ based on your real wage — use the calculator on the homepage to plug in your actual figure.
What This Estimate Doesn't Account For
What's missing from this number: your permanent impairment rating (assigned after MMI), disputed liability, and future medical treatment — all of which can move a real settlement well outside this range.
Whether surgery is needed for Fracture — Upper Extremity varies enough that it's one of the biggest single factors separating a case at the low end of this range from one at the high end.
About Fracture — Upper Extremity Claims
Because arm and hand fractures show clear diagnostic evidence, insurers rarely dispute whether the injury happened — the negotiation instead centers on how much permanent impairment, if any, remains after healing.
Common causes: Falls, machinery accidents, being struck
Surgery likelihood: moderate
For a deeper look at what specifically drives severity and impairment ratings for this injury — not just how it's calculated in California — see the full Fracture — Upper Extremity resource, including how this injury compares across all 50 states.
California Workers Comp Rules
- Waiting period: 3 days
- Filing deadline: 365 days
- Attorney contingency fee: 9-15%
- State agency: California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC)
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the filing deadline for a workers comp claim in California?
In California, the filing deadline is 365 days from the date of injury. See the full filing deadline guide for tolling rules and what happens if you miss it.
Is it worth getting a lawyer for a California workers comp case?
Most workers comp attorneys work on contingency (typically 9-15% of the settlement), so there's usually no upfront cost to get a case reviewed.
What can I expect to receive for a Fracture — Upper Extremity injury in California?
Estimated range for Fracture — Upper Extremity in California: $6,900–$16,000. See the calculation breakdown above for how this was derived.