Many online tools generate a rough estimate using age, income, and a few generic assumptions. In real Bartlett cases—especially those involving commuter traffic, intersections, and high-speed roadway conditions—value turns on facts that calculators can’t capture, such as:
- What the police report says about speed, signal compliance, lane position, and fault
- Whether witnesses can explain what they saw (and whether their memories still match)
- How quickly the medical chain of events was documented after the incident
- Whether the defense can argue an alternative cause of death
- How Illinois law applies to comparative fault when more than one party contributed
A better way to think about it: the “right” question isn’t “What number does a calculator give?” It’s “What damages can be proven with records—and how strong is the liability story?”


