How much a Virginia workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Virginia settlements run 15000 to 150000 for typical cases, with the VWCC reporting an average approved settlement of 57121 in FY2024 (4979 settlements totaling 284404540); catastrophic injuries can reach several hundred thousand or seven figures — every case differs.
This guide lays out the Virginia caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Virginia sources, verified as of June 2026.
Virginia at a Glance
| Wage replacement | 66.67% |
| Max weekly benefit | 1507.01 |
| Min weekly benefit | 376.75 |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| PPD method | Scheduled body-part weeks — the statutory weeks for the injured member are multiplied by the doctor’s impairment-rating percentage and then paid at the worker’s weekly comp rate (scheduled-loss system; Virginia does not use a whole-body or wage-loss PPD method) |
| Lawyer recommended | For serious injuries, denials, or any settlement offer |
In This Virginia Guide:
How Much Is a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Virginia?
How much a Virginia workers comp settlement is worth depends on three things: the body part injured, your impairment rating, and your weekly wage. Typical Virginia settlements run 15000 to 150000 for typical cases, with the VWCC reporting an average approved settlement of 57121 in FY2024 (4979 settlements totaling 284404540); catastrophic injuries can reach several hundred thousand or seven figures — every case differs.
This guide lays out the Virginia caps, the body-part schedule, and how the math works, in plain English. All figures are from Virginia sources, verified as of June 2026.
Want a quick estimate for your own injury?
Virginia Body-Part Settlement Values
If your injury is a permanent loss to a specific body part, Virginia assigns it a set number of weeks of benefits. Your payout is roughly those weeks multiplied by your impairment rating and your weekly comp rate. Here are the Virginia figures:
| Body part (scheduled loss) | Statutory weeks of benefits |
| Arm | 200 weeks |
| Hand | 150 weeks |
| Leg | 175 weeks |
| Foot | 125 weeks |
| Eye | 100 weeks |
| Thumb | 60 weeks |
| Index Finger | 35 weeks |
| Second Finger | 30 weeks |
| Third Finger | 20 weeks |
| Little Finger | 15 weeks |
| Great Toe | 30 weeks |
| Other Toe | 10 weeks |
| Hearing One Ear | 50 weeks |
| Disfigurement | 60 weeks |
Whole-body / maximum: up to No single whole-body PPD cap — each scheduled member has its own maximum weeks (arm 200 is the largest single member); combined indemnity (TTD + TPD) is capped at 500 weeks, while permanent total disability is lifetime weeks.
How Virginia Calculates Your Payout
The weekly comp rate is two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the worker’s average weekly wage, where the average weekly wage is generally based on the 52 weeks of earnings before the injury; the result is then capped at the state maximum (1507.01) and raised to the state minimum (376.75), with figures effective July 1, 2026
Permanent disability: Scheduled body-part weeks — the statutory weeks for the injured member are multiplied by the doctor’s impairment-rating percentage and then paid at the worker’s weekly comp rate (scheduled-loss system; Virginia does not use a whole-body or wage-loss PPD method)
Offsets: Virginia has no state workers’-comp offset reducing benefits for Social Security retirement; however, unemployment benefits cannot be received for the same period, and the Social Security Administration may itself reduce SSDI under the federal WC offset — confirm with your state board and a licensed attorney
What Settlements Actually Run in Virginia
15000 to 150000 for typical cases, with the VWCC reporting an average approved settlement of 57121 in FY2024 (4979 settlements totaling 284404540); catastrophic injuries can reach several hundred thousand or seven figures — every case differs That said, no two cases are alike — the number that matters is the one your own injury, rating, and wage produce, not a statewide average.
What drives a Virginia settlement: body part and impairment rating, the worker’s average weekly wage (which sets the comp rate), cost of future/lifetime medical care, permanency, and ability to return to work
How Workers’ Comp Settlements Work in Virginia
A Virginia workers comp settlement usually has two parts: the wage benefits you are paid while you cannot work, and a lump sum for any permanent damage the injury leaves behind. The wage piece replaces a share of your average weekly wage, up to the state cap shown above.
The permanent piece is where most of the settlement value lives, and it depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and how the state values that loss.
Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Injuries in Virginia
Most states, including how Virginia handles many claims, divide permanent injuries into two buckets. A scheduled loss is a specific body part with a set number of weeks assigned to it, like an arm, hand, or leg. An unscheduled loss affects the body as a whole, like a back or a head injury, and is often worth more because it touches your overall ability to earn.
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Knowing which bucket your injury falls into is the first step to understanding what your case may be worth.
Other Virginia settlement rules: Virginia caps combined temporary total and temporary partial disability at 500 weeks; permanent total disability (e.g., loss of use of both hands, both arms, both feet, both legs, both eyes, or any two such members in the same accident) is paid for life but only begins after the 500-week TTD/TPD maximum is exhausted. Scheduled PPD can be paid in addition to (not concurrent with) wage-loss benefits.
Many claimants resolve cases through a full-and-final lump-sum settlement that must be reviewed and approved by the Commission; you may be entitled to a Medicare Set-Aside if future medical is closed out
Understanding Your Virginia Workers Comp Settlement
The size of a Virginia workers comp settlement is not random — it follows the state’s own formula. Your average weekly wage sets your benefit rate, the body part and impairment rating set the number of weeks, and the state cap sets the ceiling. Put together, those pieces are what a Virginia workers comp settlement is built from.
If any part of your Virginia workers comp settlement is unclear, the calculator below gives a quick estimate and your state board can confirm the current caps and the body-part schedule.
Got a settlement offer? Before you accept, it helps to know what your Virginia case may really be worth. An attorney can review the offer, often at no upfront cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a workers’ comp settlement in Virginia?
There is no single average — a Virginia settlement depends on the body part, your impairment rating, and your wage. Typical ranges run 15000 to 150000 for typical cases, with the VWCC reporting an average approved settlement of 57121 in FY2024 (4979 settlements totaling 284404540); catastrophic injuries can reach several hundred thousand or seven figures — every case differs.
Use the calculator on this page for an estimate, and remember every case is different.
How is a Virginia workers’ comp settlement calculated?
Virginia generally pays a share of your average weekly wage (capped at $1507.01/week), then adds a permanent-disability amount based on the body part and your impairment rating. The state’s body-part schedule sets the number of weeks.
Do I need a lawyer to settle my Virginia workers’ comp case?
Not always, but for a serious injury, a denied claim, or a settlement offer you are unsure about, many claimants talk to a workers’ comp attorney first — the consultation is usually free and represented claimants often recover more.
Official Virginia Sources & Resources
- Virginia Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission: https://workcomp.virginia.gov
- Virginia Workers’ Comp Statute: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title65.2/chapter5/section65.2-503/
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- NCCI (rating/benefit data): ncci.com
These Virginia workers comp settlement figures were last verified against official sources in June 2026. State benefit caps change every year — confirm the current figure with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
More Virginia Workers’ Comp Guides
- How to File a Virginia Workers’ Comp Claim
- Virginia Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.