A calculator is best used as a planning tool, not a prediction. In Holland, the biggest reason estimates can miss the mark is that the “inputs” people choose online often don’t reflect what Michigan insurers look for.
Use a calculator to think through questions like:
- Are my documented medical treatments consistent with the symptoms I report?
- Do my records support both economic losses (medical bills, rehab, lost wages) and non-economic losses (pain, limitations, reduced quality of life)?
- Is there an obvious liability issue—like a failure to yield, unsafe lane change, or inadequate maintenance—that can be proven with evidence?
But be cautious if your situation involves:
- Conflicting reports about speed, lane position, or right-of-way
- Gaps in treatment (even short ones) that the insurer may claim weaken causation
- A crash that occurred in/near seasonal construction zones where signage, lane markings, or detours are disputed


