Most online tools are built for averages. They may ask for details like your diagnosis, hospital stay length, and age, then generate a broad range. But insurers don’t settle based on an online estimate—they settle based on the evidence they can defend in negotiations (and, if needed, in Montana litigation).
For Billings cases, the gap between a tool and reality often comes down to:
- How quickly you got evaluated after the accident
- Whether your records clearly connect the incident to your spinal findings
- The trajectory of your recovery (including complications and ongoing therapy)
- Proof of wage loss when injury affects work capacity in the months after the crash
A responsible way to use a calculator is to treat it as a prompt: “What information do I need to support the damages categories in my situation?”


