In practice, settlement value isn’t pulled from one formula. Instead, it’s built from two tracks:
- What happened (fault and causation): the crash narrative, witness accounts, police documentation, and any truck-related records.
- What you lost (damages): medical treatment, wage impact, property damage, and how your injuries affect daily life.
A calculator can be a helpful starting point for estimating categories like medical bills or missed work. But insurers often look for gaps—especially when liability is disputed or injuries develop over time.
Key takeaway for Carlsbad drivers: don’t treat an estimate as a promise. Treat it as a checklist for what your attorney will need to prove.


