Get a free case review

Home > Medical Malpractice > Medical malpractice damage caps by state

Medical Malpractice Damage Caps by State

Ready to file a claim ?

See if you qualify to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Get Started

Does my state have a medical malpractice damage cap?

As of 2024, 29 states have a damage cap for medical malpractice settlements. Most these states have a soft damage cap that only limits the amount you could earn for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. However, a few states have a hard total damage cap limiting the overall amount of damages that can be earned, including economic damages like medical bills or lost wages.

State Non-Economic Damages Cap Exceptions?
Alaska $200,000 Raised to $400,000 in cases of wrongful death or severe impairment.
California $390,000
(2024 UPDATE) 		Raised to $550,000 in cases of wrongful death.
Colorado $300,000
TOTAL cap, including economic damages: $1 million.
Hawaii $375,000 Only limits “pain and suffering” damages.
Idaho $430,740
(2022 UPDATE) 		No cap if death was caused by willful or reckless misconduct.
Indiana $1.8 million
(TOTAL, including economic damages) 		For cases that occurred after 2019.
Iowa $250,000 For severe impairment or wrongful death, the cap is raised to $1 million against doctors or clinics, and $2 million for hospitals.
Louisiana $500,000
(TOTAL, including economic damages) 		-
Maryland $890,000
(2024 UPDATE) 		$15,000 increase per year. Increases by 125% for wrongful death cases.
Massachusetts $500,000 Cap is waived in cases of wrongful death or severe impairment.
Michigan Lower: $537,900
Upper: $960,500 		As of 2023, caps adjust yearly for inflation.
Mississppi $500,000 -
Missouri $465,531
(2024 UPDATE) 		Raised to $814,679 in cases of wrongful death or “catastrophic injury.”
Montana $250,000 -
Nebraska $2.25 million For cases occurring after 2014.
Nevada $350,000 -
New Mexico $600,000
(TOTAL, including economic damages) 		Independent providers only. Damages cap significantly raises when suing majority-owned facilities and hospitals.
North Carolina $656,730 Raised every three years for inflation.
North Dakota $500,000 -
Ohio $250,000, OR:
3x the plaintiff’s economic damages 		Damages can only go up to $350,000.
Oregon $500,000* *Applies ONLY to wrongful death cases.
South Carolina $546,869
(2024 UPDATE) 		If there are over 3 defendants, cap raises to $1,637,608. Raises for inflation.
South Dakota $500,000 -
Tennessee $500,000 Raised to $1 million for wrongful death of a parent with surviving children.
Texas $250,000 Raised to $500,000 if there is more than one defendant.
Utah $450,000 -
Virginia $2.6 million
(TOTAL, including economic damages) 		This cap is as of 2023. Cap is determined by date of occurrence. Raises by $50,000 every year.
West Virginia $250,000 Raised to $500,000 in cases of wrongful death or severe impairment. Adjusts yearly for inflation.
Wisconsin $750,000 -

File a medical malpractice claim

If you believe the hospital (or a specific doctor, surgeon, or nurse) that treated you failed to provide the level of care owed to you due to negligence, you may be eligible to file a claim to get compensated for your injuries or illness.

Ready to file a claim ?

See if you qualify to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Get Started

Referenced Articles

The references used by our writers at FreeLegalReviews.com are deemed to be from credible and reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, court records, non-profit organizations, government agencies, highly regarded news media, and legal subject experts. Before making any medical or financial decisions, please seek the opinion of a qualified professional.

  1. Limitation on damages from health care provider’s services, Alaska Stat. § 09.55.549 (Casetext). Retrieved from https://casetext.com/statute/alaska-statutes/title-09-code-of-civil-procedure/chapter-0955-special-actions-and-proceedings/article-06-medical-malpractice-actions/section-0955549-limitation-on-damages-from-health-care-providers-services

  2. AB-35 Civil damages: medical malpractice, Ca. Civ. Code § 3333.2 (2022). Retrieved from https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB35

  1. Limitation of actions – medical or health care, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102.5 (Casetext). Retrieved from https://casetext.com/statute/colorado-revised-statutes/title-13-courts-and-court-procedure/limitation-of-actions/article-80-limitations-personal-actions/section-13-80-1025-limitation-of-actions-medical-or-health-care

  2. Section 663-8.7 – Limitation on pain and suffering, Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-8.7 (Casetext). Retrieved from https://casetext.com/statute/hawaii-revised-statutes/division-4-courts-and-judicial-proceedings/title-36-civil-remedies-and-defenses-and-special-proceedings/chapter-663-tort-actions/part-i-liability-survival-of-actions/section-663-87-limitation-on-pain-and-suffering

  3. LIMITATION ON NONECONOMIC DAMAGES, Idaho Code § 6-1603 (Casetext). Retrieved from https://casetext.com/statute/idaho-code/title-6-actions-in-particular-cases/chapter-16-periodic-payment-of-judgments-limitation-on-certain-tort-damages-and-liabilities/section-6-1603-limitation-on-noneconomic-damages

  4. Recovery Limitations, Ind. Code § 34-18-14-3. Retrieved from https://iga.in.gov/laws/2023/ic/titles/34#34-18-14

  5. House File 161, Iowa Code § 147.136A (2023). Retrieved from https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=HF%20161

  6. Limitation of Recovery, RS 40:1231.2 Retrieved from https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=97087#:%7E:text=(1)%20Evidence%20of%20an%20advance,extent%20of%20the%20advance%20payment.

  7. Limitation of noneconomic damages, Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-2A-09 (2005). Retrieved from https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj&section=3-2A-09&enactments=false

  8. Limitation of damages for pain and suffering, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231 § 60H. Retrieved from https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleII/Chapter231/Section60H

  9. Claim for damages alleging medical malpractice; limitation on noneconomic damages; exceptions; itemizing damages into economic and noneconomic loss; “noneconomic loss” defined; adjusting limitations on noneconomic loss, Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.1483. Retrieved from https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=MCL-600-1483

  10. Limitation on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice actions; definitions, Miss. Code § 11-1-60 (Casetext). Retrieved from https://casetext.com/statute/mississippi-code-1972/title-11-civil-practice-and-procedure/chapter-1-practice-and-procedure-provisions-common-to-courts/section-11-1-60-limitation-on-noneconomic-damages-in-medical-malpractice-actions-definitions?

  11. No common law cause of action – limitation on noneconomic damages – jury not to be informed of limit – limit – punitive damages, requirements – annual increase on damages limit, amount – nonseverability clause, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 538.210. Retrieved from https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=538.210&bid=48377&hl=

  12. Medical malpractice noneconomic damages limitation, Mont. Code § 25-9-411. Retrieved from https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0250/chapter_0090/part_0040/section_0110/0250-0090-0040-0110.html.

  13. Action for injury or death; maximum amount recoverable; settlement; manner; coverage; how treated, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 44-2825. Retrieved from https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=44-2825

  14. Limitation on amount of award for noneconomic damages, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 41A.035. Retrieved from https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-041a.html

  15. Limitation of recovery, N.M. Stat. § 41-5-6. Retrieved from https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18541/index.do?zoupio-debug#!fragment/

  16. Liability limit for noneconomic damages, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-21.19. Retrieved from https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_90/GS_90-21.19.html

  17. Noneconomic damages limited – Reduction of award, N.D. Cent. Code § 32-42-02. Retrieved from https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t32c42.pdf

  18. Limitation on compensatory damages that represent economic loss, Ohio Rev. Code § 2323.43. Retrieved from https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2323.43

  19. Limitation on award for noneconomic damages in claim for wrongful death, Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 31.705, 31.710. Retrieved by https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors031.html

  20. Noneconomic damages limit; exceptions; annual adjustment based on Consumer Price Index, S.C. Code § 15-32-220. Retrieved by https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c032.php

  21. Limitation on damages for medical malpractice, S.D. Codified Laws § 21-3-1. Retrieved from https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/21-3-11

  22. Civil damage awards, Tenn. Code § 29-39-102. Retrieved from https://advance.lexis.com/documentpage/?pdmfid=1000516&crid=0896439e-0075-47a4-9414-7117c5845a05&nodeid=ABDABNAAC&nodepath=%2fROOT%2fABD%2fABDABN%2fABDABNAAC&level=3&haschildren=&populated=false&title=29-39-102.+Civil+damage+awards.&config=025054JABlOTJjNmIyNi0wYjI0LTRjZGEtYWE5ZC0zNGFhOWNhMjFlNDgKAFBvZENhdGFsb2cDFQ14bX2GfyBTaI9WcPX5&pddocfullpath=%2fshared%2fdocument%2fstatutes-legislation%2furn%3acontentItem%3a539W-SM00-R03K-R278-00008-00&ecomp=8gf5kkk&prid=b1a07d43-9e3c-410c-965b-1f1e33ddb7ae

  23. Limitation on Noneconomic Damages, Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.301. Retrieved from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CP/htm/CP.74.htm

  24. Limitation of award of noneconomic damages in malpractice actions, Utah Code § 78B-3-410. Retrieved from https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title78B/Chapter3/78B-3-S410.html?v=C78B-3-S410_1800010118000101

  25. Limitation on recovery in certain medical malpractice actions, Va. Code § 8.01-581.15. Retrieved from https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter21.1/section8.01-581.15/

  26. Limit on liability for noneconomic loss, W. Va. Code § 55-7B-8. Retrieved from https://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-7B-8/

  27. Medical malpractice; limitation of actions; limitation of damages; itemization of damages, Wis. Stat. § 893.55. Retrieved from https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/V/55

Further Reading

Medical malpractice overview

Types of medical malpractice

Statute of limitations by state

Available damages in a wrongful death claim

Related News