Most online calculators work by asking for basic inputs—injury type, treatment costs, lost wages, and sometimes recovery length. They then produce an estimated range of damages.
That can be useful if you’re trying to plan: How long will I be out of work? What documentation should I gather first?
But settlement value isn’t only math. In California truck cases, insurers commonly evaluate:
- Causation (whether the crash truly caused your injuries)
- Comparative fault (whether you’re partly responsible)
- Available insurance/coverage (including commercial policies and any additional defendants)
So even a well-built calculator can’t account for what the defense will argue once evidence is reviewed.


