Online calculators usually assume simplified facts—one injury category, one range, one “average” medical course. Real malpractice disputes rarely follow averages.
For Shively families, common reasons an estimate may be off include:
- Continuity of care across locations: A patient may be treated at one facility, referred to another, and then followed by a different provider group. Settlement value depends on what each provider did (or failed to do) and what records connect the events.
- Communication gaps: Missed follow-ups, incomplete discharge instructions, or unclear medication changes are frequent flashpoints. Insurers often argue symptoms were expected or unrelated.
- Evolving injuries after the fact: Some harms become obvious weeks later—especially when diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment adjustments were delayed.
A calculator can’t review those details. A lawyer can.


