Technology has infiltrated practically every area of our lives. Most often, technology serves to provide convenient solutions to everyday problems. 

Unfortunately, technology may do more harm than good when it comes to insurance claims. While efficient, using an Allstate car accident settlement calculator can result in lowball settlement values, leaving victims without adequate compensation for their injuries. 

A qualified personal injury attorney understands the deficiencies of an Allstate settlement calculator and knows how heavily insurance companies rely on these calculators in their claims process. Your attorney can fight for the settlement amount you deserve.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call (419) 595-4559 today for a free consultation with our experienced Ohio auto accident lawyers.

What Is a Colossus Personal Injury Calculator? 

Allstate relies heavily on Colossus software to determine the value of car accident claims.

A Colossus personal injury calculator is a software program that calculates settlement values for car accident claims for many insurance companies. Insurance companies use the Colossus personal injury calculator to standardize claims, and it saves them money on payouts.

Unfortunately, for the sake of speed, the calculator leaves out vital information that may fail to provide a complete picture of one’s injuries. In other words, the purpose of the Colossus personal injury calculator is not to obtain a fair settlement value but, instead, to drive down settlement values to save insurance companies money. 

How Does the Colossus Insurance Settlement Calculator Work?

The Colossus insurance settlement calculator gathers preliminary information before entering the injury data. For example, the software program analyzes whether your attorney has a record of taking cases to trial or prefers to settle for the best offer.

The program also considers the jurisdiction where your case occurs. Most importantly, the program provides “points” for the severity of injuries suffered by each victim, and acquiring more points provides a more favorable settlement value. 

However, it’s important to note that the Colossus personal injury calculator fails to account for a large portion of the tens of thousands of ICD-9 codes used by doctors.

The ICD-9 provides codes for diagnoses and procedures related to the hospitalization of victims. Without including all ICD-9 codes, the Colossus software cannot provide a complete and accurate record of a victim’s injuries and medical needs. 

How Could a Colossus Insurance Settlement Calculator Affect My Claim?

The way that a Colossus insurance settlement calculator gathers data often leads to shortcomings in getting a complete picture of your claim.

It operates on a points system, and fewer points provide a less favorable result for your claim. This means that a lot can ride on how detailed your doctor’s reports are. For example, if your doctor does not list every injury in your medical chart, the Colossus personal injury calculator may label you as “less injured.”

The Allstate Colossus calculator can also classify diagnoses and injuries incorrectly. For example, leg fractures are all organized together. However, a broken femur may create more complications or long-term issues than a broken ankle.

A severe break of the most prominent bone in your body, the femur, often requires months of rehabilitation and the possibility of more permanent injury. Yet it is grouped with less serious injuries.

Additionally, since a computer operates the Allstate settlement calculator, there is no way to include such crucial subjective and non-economic damages as the following:

  • Pain and suffering, 
  • Emotional distress, 
  • Disfigurement, and
  • Permanent disability.

These damages affect each injured victim differently. Based on this, they are excluded from the Allstate Colossus calculator. However, the importance of non-economic damages such as these cannot be overlooked or excluded from a compensatory award.  

What Can I Recover After a Car Accident?

Compensatory awards vary from person to person but are one of the most important aspects of your recovery. Compensation enables victims to remain financially supported if they are unable to work.

Additionally, compensation helps pay for extensive medical procedures, therapy, and rehabilitation. Recoverable damages in Ohio are separated into two categories: economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic Damages 

Economic damages represent quantifiable, financial losses including the following:

  • Medical expenses, 
  • Lost wages, 
  • Loss of earning capacity, and
  • Property damage.

Economic damages are typically proven through evidence like medical bills, pay stubs, and invoices. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain all receipts and records related to your accident for the calculation of economic damages. 

Non-Economic Damages 

Non-economic damages represent subjective and intangible losses.

These damages do not relate directly to financial losses and include the following:

  • Pain and suffering, 
  • Emotional distress, 
  • Loss of consortium,
  • Disfigurement, and
  • Loss of enjoyment of life.

Non-economic damages include those losses that account for the emotional and psychological pain associated with your injuries. For many, these damages represent lifelong injuries that may never heal.

There is no such thing as an Allstate pain and suffering calculator. In fact, insurance companies often neglect these important damages in crafting their settlement offers. That’s why it’s so important to have an attorney to help you calculate these damages.

Punitive Damages 

Punitive damages are awarded only in extreme cases. The intent of punitive damages is not to compensate the victim but rather to punish the negligent party.

It’s important to recognize that no Allstate Colossus calculator includes punitive damages in its calculations, as these may only be awarded by a court of law. However, it’s important to clearly determine whether punitive damages may be an option in your situation. Only a qualified personal injury attorney can provide you with this information. 

Injured in a Car Accident in Ohio? Take Action Today to Secure Your Rights

When it comes to personal injury stemming from a car accident in Ohio, Attorney Aaron Bensinger of Bensinger Legal Services has worked diligently for years focusing his practice in this area of law.

Aaron focuses not only on the case but on the client. Recognizing that each case represents its own unique facts and circumstances, Aaron prioritizes getting your life back on track by working to obtain just compensation for your injuries. 

Dealing with Allstate and other insurance companies can be intimidating. Through pressure tactics, insurance companies try to get people to accept low settlements so that they can protect their bottom line. 

Unfortunately, an Allstate settlement calculator never fully grasps the gravity of your injuries and losses. That’s why you need an attorney on your side. We are ready to help you file your claim and negotiate on your behalf. Aaron Bensinger is never afraid to take a case to trial if you are unable to reach a fair settlement. Let us do the work while you focus on your recovery.

Contact us today online or call (419) 595-4559 for a free consultation and case review.

Author Photo Aaron L. Bensinger

Aaron L. Bensinger is an Ohio attorney serving personal injury and civil litigation clients. He has extensive trial experience and makes client service is his primary focus. As a partner at Balyeat, Leahy, Daley, Miller & Bensinger, LLC, Aaron happily works in Lima, OH, and serves the entire Northwest region of the state and beyond.