Published formula · Free · Not a law firm

Calculate your numberbefore you talkto anyone.

A free California crash case calculator that shows every step of the math. It's built on a published formula and 17,572 public verdicts, and it connects you with verified California attorneys.

Calculate my case value See the formula live
Encrypted & confidentialVerified CA attorneys~3 minutes, no account
Built in the open

A number you can actually check.

Most "case value" calculators are lead forms in disguise. WreckPilot publishes its formula, its data sources, and the places where the estimate can be wrong.

17,572

Public verdicts & settlements in the model

4,425

Of them from California courts

7.4M

Insurer claims behind our benchmarks

~3 min

To an estimate, no account needed

Try it now

Move a slider. Watch the math move.

This is a simplified preview of the published WreckPilot model (v2.3). It updates as you type and sends nothing anywhere. The full calculator also adds comparable cases, deadlines and an attorney match.

Your losses01

$10,000
$3,000
$5,000

Your injury02

5/10 · Moderate
5/10
Medical care

California reality03

0%
Other driver's bodily-injury limit

Estimated case valueLive

$42,500–$55,500
Full damages range before attorney fees
EconomicPain & sufferingFault / policy reduction
You'd keep after ⅓ fee⁦$28,333⁩ – ⁦$37,000⁩
What insurers typically pay⁦$18,000⁩ – ⁦$23,000⁩
Multiplier⁦3.45×⁩ – ⁦4.75×⁩
Confidence95%
Show every step of the math
  1. Economic damages (specials)⁦$18,000⁩
  2. Severity multiplier⁦3.45×⁩ – ⁦4.75×⁩
  3. Pain & suffering = bills × (mult − 1)⁦$24,500⁩ – ⁦$37,500⁩
  4. Insurer minimum (1.8× bills)not needed
  5. Full damages⁦$42,500⁩ – ⁦$55,500⁩
  6. Your fault (0%)no change
  7. Policy limitunder ⁦$100k⁩
  8. After ⅓ contingency fee⁦$28,333⁩ – ⁦$37,000⁩
What these words mean
Pain and suffering
Money for the pain, stress and lost enjoyment of life the injury caused, on top of your bills.
Specials (economic damages)
Money you lost that has a receipt: medical bills, lost pay and car repairs.
Policy limit
The most the other driver's insurance will pay for an injury, however serious it is. California's minimum is $30,000 per person.
Contingency fee
How most injury lawyers are paid: a share of the money you get, usually one third. If you get nothing, you usually pay no fee.
Lien
A claim on your settlement by someone who already paid your medical bills, like Medi-Cal or your health insurer. It is paid back from your settlement.
Get my full estimate

Simplified preview of the published model, for information only. This is not legal advice. Only a lawyer who has reviewed your records can value your claim.

How it works

Four steps. About three minutes.

  1. Enter accident details

    Tell us the crash type, date and where it happened in California. There’s no account and no phone number.

  2. Describe your injuries

    Injury type, severity and the care you’ve had. ER visits, surgery and treatment gaps all change the multiplier. Mark your car’s damage on a 3D model if you like.

  3. See your value, with the math

    Get a range, not a sales pitch. It shows fault, policy limits, insurer benchmarks and what you’d keep after fees.

  4. Get matched, if you want

    Connect with a verified California injury attorney for a free consultation. Only an attorney who accepts your case sees your answers.

What you get

From valuation to attorney. All free.

Instant case valuation

An estimated range for your California crash case in under three minutes. It's grounded in your own losses and checked against 7.4M insurer claims.

Attorney matching

Verified California personal injury attorneys near you.

Free & confidential

No cost, no obligation and no hidden fees. Your answers are encrypted.

Secure evidence upload

Photos, medical records and police reports, all in one place. Each file you add also raises your estimate's confidence score.

The data, unfiltered

What California juries and insurers have paid.

These are reported California outcomes by accident type, showing the 25th to 75th percentile and the median. We show them as context because they're also a warning.

Car accident1,278 CA cases
$1M
Truck accident550 CA cases
$1.3M
Pedestrian313 CA cases
$1.3M
Motorcycle149 CA cases
$1.6M
Bicycle109 CA cases
$1M
$100k$300k$1M$3M$10M
Why these medians look huge: public reports over-represent large, newsworthy results. Most routine claims settle privately and are never reported. That's why comparables don't set your headline number.
Don't miss the clock

California gives you two years. Sometimes six months.

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (CCP § 335.1). Claims against a public entity, like LA Metro, Muni, a school bus or a county road, must first be presented within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).

—days left

Lawsuit deadline—
Public-entity claim—

This is a warning, not a legal calculation. Exceptions exist, for example for minors or delayed discovery.

Questions

Straight answers.

Is the estimate really free and confidential?
Yes. It takes less than three minutes, needs no account, and your answers are encrypted. Only an attorney who accepts your case ever sees them.
Is WreckPilot a law firm?
No. WreckPilot doesn't give legal advice. Estimates are informational and come from a published formula. We connect you with verified California attorneys who can review your actual records.
How is the number calculated?
We add your medical bills, lost wages and vehicle damage. Then we add pain and suffering using a severity multiplier from 1.5× to 5.5×, capped at 3× for soft tissue. Next we reduce for your share of fault and cap the total at the at-fault driver's policy limit. The full formula, with sources, is on the Methodology page.
What if I was partly at fault?
California follows pure comparative negligence (Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 1975). Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, even if it's above 50%.
Why is my estimate lower than the verdicts I see online?
Reported verdicts skew large, and insurers never pay more than the policy limit. A minimum $30k policy caps the injury portion at $30k, however serious the injury.
Three minutes from now

You'll know what your case may be worth.

Free. Confidential. No obligation. Every step of the math is shown.

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