In San Mateo, many fatal cases involve complex causation: multi-party traffic collisions, pedestrian/vehicle incidents, workplace logistics, or premises conditions near public access areas. AI tools can’t reliably account for:
- Multiple potential defendants (drivers/employers/property owners/contractors)
- Comparative fault issues that commonly arise in California
- Insurance coverage structure (commercial policies, umbrella coverage, or disputes over policy triggers)
- Local proof availability (e.g., whether key footage or incident records were preserved)
An AI calculator might provide a “range,” but the settlement value in real life depends on what can be proven—and how strongly. If liability is disputed, an estimate becomes especially unreliable.


