What usually affects value
- How serious your injuries are and how long they last.
- The treatment you've had and the treatment you may still need.
- Income you've lost, and whether you can go back to the same work.
- Future costs, like ongoing care or changes at home.
- How the injury affects your sleep, family life, hobbies and daily tasks.
- Your share of fault, if any.
- How much insurance coverage is available.
- How well the evidence supports each of these points.
How state law can change the result
Fault rules matter. In Arizona, your recovery is reduced by your share of fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505). In Georgia, you can recover only if you were less than 50% at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33).
In Georgia, for claims arising on or after April 21, 2025, medical expense damages are generally limited to the reasonable value of necessary care, and if you have health insurance, a jury may consider both what was billed and what was actually needed to pay the bills (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1). That can change how medical bills count toward a claim.
The 3-Point Claim Check
- 1
An injury
You were hurt, even if it didn't seem serious at first.
- 2
Someone else at fault
Another driver or company caused the crash.
- 3
Insurance coverage
There's a policy that may cover what happened.
Insurance limits often matter more than people expect
An insurance policy has limits on what it will pay. Even when an injury is serious, the coverage available can shape what's realistic to recover from that policy.
Other coverage may also apply, like your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Finding every policy that might apply is part of figuring out what a claim may be worth.
Why online calculators mislead
A calculator only knows the numbers you type in. It doesn't know whether fault is disputed, what your medical records say, how much insurance there is, or how state law treats your bills.
Some calculators use a simple multiplier on medical bills. Real claims aren't valued that way, and a number that looks precise can give you false hopes or make a low offer look fair.
Settling too early can leave things out
If you settle before you know how your recovery is going, you may not account for future care or lost work. A settlement usually ends the claim for good.
That doesn't mean you should wait forever, since the general deadline to sue is 2 years in Arizona (A.R.S. § 12-542) and Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). It means it helps to understand your injuries before you agree to a number.
Getting a real answer for your situation
An attorney can review your records, the insurance and the fault issues and explain what may be realistic. Participating attorneys work on contingency. No upfront attorney's fees, and they're only paid if you recover.
It's free to check your claim, and you don't have to go ahead.