In practice, the number your family might receive depends less on online formulas and more on whether your evidence supports the categories of damages California recognizes.
In Irvine cases, value frequently turns on issues like:
- Traffic and intersection fault (e.g., disputes about lane changes, turning movements, or failure to yield during commuting surges)
- Causation after serious injuries (medical records that explain why the death followed the incident)
- Documentation of financial support (pay history, household contributions, and how the decedent supported dependents)
- Comparative responsibility (when fault is argued to be shared—even partially)
- Insurance and policy limits (what coverage exists and whether there are additional avenues of recovery)
If any of these pieces are missing, insurers often push settlements that don’t reflect the full impact on your family.


