Malpractice conversations online get theatrical fast. Courthouses care about charts, expert reports, causation, and whether your state makes non-economic damages cry in a corner. Money follows liability first; multipliers second. Anyone promising a “typical” number without your file is selling vibes.
Economic vs non-economic in plain language
Economic stacks are bills, rehab, lost income—things with receipts. Non-economic is the human wreckage category that statutes sometimes cap, especially in reform states. A calculator can show how sensitive totals are to those knobs; it cannot read your MRI or depose a defendant.
Using the estimator without fooling yourself
Enter defensible economic numbers, pick a severity band you can actually support with facts, and toggle the crude “cap haircut” option to remember reform exists in some jurisdictions. If the output feels huge, ask whether insurance limits or indemnity structures would clamp it anyway.
Open the medical malpractice settlement estimator when you want a structured thought experiment—not when you need a second opinion on medicine or law.
FAQ
Do I have a case because the number looks big?
No. Viability is for counsel after records review—not a form field.
Why caps?
State law. The toggle here is a blunt reminder, not a statute lookup for your venue.