Okay, let's talk about the settlement calculator.

You plug in the medical expenses, the future medical expenses, the property damage, your lost income, your pain and suffering — which is a multiplier. So it's very objective. You decide how much that is. If you're in a lot of pain, you put more. If you're in a little bit of pain, you put less.

And then you look at the degree of fault. Some people go, “I don't have any fault.” The problem is, sometimes juries and judges think there's some partial fault there, so you have to be more objective about that.

The settlement calculator doesn't really take into account some really important things — like the actual injuries themselves. All you have is the amount of the medical bills. But some injuries are worth more than others. If you have a broken hand versus a sprained hand, it's different. If you have a traumatic brain injury — which is worth a lot — versus a smaller concussion, things like that aren’t really factored in.

It also doesn't take into account the percentage of fault — who is at fault and who wasn’t. It doesn't consider prior injuries either. Insurance companies and juries reduce value if you've already had problems with your back, for example, and now have additional problems. Then they try to figure it out: what should be given on those?

Then there's your credibility. Sometimes it can be a benefit, and sometimes it can be a detriment depending on the jury. Some people like you, some people don’t. Some find you sympathetic, while others may think you come across as whiny, not credible, or even a little dishonest.

When the jury doesn't believe what you're telling them — and a lot of the story comes from you — it becomes a problem. How much pain have you been in? How much aggravation has this caused? If you're honest, it's pretty easy. But if you exaggerate, juries don’t like it.

Another big factor is how large the insurance policy is. You could be severely hurt, but if there’s only $25,000 in coverage, that’s very limited.

Insurance companies and juries also have different perspectives. Someone wealthy might think a million dollars isn’t much. But a juror with a regular $50,000 job may feel they’re giving you a huge award. It really varies.

There's also the credibility of witnesses — the experts who testify for or against you. Their impact can be significant based on how credible they seem.

And obviously, there’s the quality of your lawyer. Are they likable? Sometimes lawyers are abrasive, argumentative, or overly aggressive — and juries don't like that. A good attorney presents well: forceful, but kind. It’s a knack. Hopefully, you have one who knows how to do that and get you a big number.

To really get a good number or a better range, you talk to an injury attorney — a good one, someone you can trust and who’s on your side. Those are the things to consider when using this injury calculator.