A settlement calculator for medical malpractice generally produces an estimate using broad assumptions—such as the severity of injury, whether losses are expected to be ongoing, and typical ranges for similar cases.
In practice, those tools cannot:
- review your actual medical records and imaging
- determine whether the provider’s actions fell below California’s standard of care
- evaluate causation (whether the negligence truly caused the specific harm)
- account for how your specific treatment course affects future damages
A more realistic takeaway is this: online ranges can help you understand the types of damages that matter, but they shouldn’t be treated like a promise.


