Most online tools work like a worksheet. You enter information such as:
- the nature of your injuries
- treatment you’ve received (and whether you’re still in care)
- wage loss or reduced work capacity
- property damage
- limits on fault (based on assumptions)
The output is typically a range, not a prediction. In practice, insurers treat early estimates differently when they believe your medical documentation is incomplete or your injury timeline is unclear.
In El Cerrito, that means a calculator is most useful when it prompts you to gather the real proof behind the numbers—medical records, work records, and documentation that connects your injuries to the crash.


