Most AI calculators work like this: you enter basic information about your injury, treatment, and missed work, and the tool returns a range based on patterns it has seen in other data.
That can feel reassuring—especially when you’re dealing with pain, missed pay, and uncertainty. However, the estimate typically cannot account for:
- How your treating provider phrased restrictions (and whether they match real job demands)
- Whether your condition reached stabilization and how that timing is documented
- Whether the insurer disputes causation (work incident vs. pre-existing issues)
- Whether your wage impact is supported by the records used in South Dakota claims
For Aberdeen residents—where many employers rely on established schedules and defined job duties—small documentation differences can have outsized impact. If restrictions don’t clearly connect to your ability to perform your specific role, an insurer may undervalue the case.


