The two buckets: economic and non-economic damages
California injury awards are split into economic (hard-number) damages — medical bills, lost wages, future treatment — and non-economic (pain and suffering) damages. Insurers value the first by the documents you produce; they value the second by what a Sonoma County jury would likely award if your case went to trial.
How insurers actually run the numbers
Adjusters use multipliers (typically 1.5x–5x your specials) and software like Colossus or ClaimIQ. They lean low. The number they offer first is almost never their authority ceiling. Knowing where their authority probably sits is half of what we do.
What pushes value up
Surgery (especially with hardware), permanent impairment ratings, scarring, lost-wage claims with documentation, ER ambulance transport, clear liability, large insurance limits, and a credible willingness to file suit. Filing a complaint changes the conversation.
What pulls value down
Gaps in treatment, social media posts, prior similar injuries, pre-existing conditions documented in your records, and any statements you made to the at-fault driver’s insurer. We control these as soon as we’re hired.
Quick follow-ups.
Short, direct answers — written by attorneys, not marketers. Have a different question? Ask us in a free consult.