Online tools typically start with assumptions that don’t fit many Michigan work injuries—especially in a college town where work schedules, second jobs, and commuting patterns can complicate the story.
Common reasons calculators don’t match real outcomes include:
- Wage inputs don’t reflect your actual pay structure. If you earned overtime, shift differentials, bonuses, or irregular hours, a generic calculator may use an incomplete wage picture.
- Your work restrictions arrive at different times than the tool expects. In practice, settlement discussions often hinge on when a doctor documents impairment and limits your ability to work.
- Causation issues are more common than people think. If the insurer questions whether symptoms truly came from the job accident (or were aggravated by work), the settlement value can change dramatically.
- Documentation gaps happen during busy periods. In East Lansing, injuries sometimes get reported later due to scheduling conflicts, work coverage, or difficulty getting timely appointments.
A calculator can be a starting point—but it can’t replace a record-based assessment of your medical status and claim file.


