Most AI or online calculators work by taking a few inputs—age, relationship, medical expenses, and work history—and generating a rough “range.” That can be useful if you’re trying to understand what kinds of losses are commonly claimed.
However, in Downey, the circumstances behind fatal claims often include complications that automated tools can’t properly model, such as:
- Causation disputes (e.g., whether the fatal outcome was tied to the incident or to pre-existing conditions)
- Multiple potentially responsible parties (drivers, employers, property owners, contractors, or manufacturers)
- Insurance coverage questions (policy limits and coverage defenses that affect settlement leverage)
- Shared-fault arguments tied to intersection behavior, lane usage, roadway visibility, or speed
A calculator may suggest a number, but it can’t tell you whether the other side will argue “no duty,” “no causation,” or “insufficient proof.” In California, those arguments can be outcome-changing.


