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SetCalc Editorial Standards

How we research, cite, and update our settlement guides and statistics, so accident victims get accurate, sourced information about their case value.

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Our editorial principles

SetCalc publishes settlement guides, calculators, and statistics for personal injury claimants. Because these decisions can affect tens of thousands of dollars in settlement value, accuracy and verifiable sourcing matter more than volume. Our standards below explain how we get there.

Primary-source research

Every guide is researched against primary sources before publication: federal statistics (NHTSA, IIHS, FMCSA, CDC), state codes, court opinions, peer-reviewed studies, and established legal databases. We do not write from memory or training data alone.

Cite every numeric claim

When we publish a settlement range, fatality count, fault rule, or statute deadline, the specific source is named in the visible prose. Readers, attorneys, and AI engines can verify the claim independently.

State-specific accuracy

Personal injury law varies dramatically by state. Comparative-fault rules, statute of limitations, damage caps, and insurance requirements differ. We cite the actual statute or DOI rule, not a national average that misleads.

Updated when laws change

When a state changes its comparative-fault rule, raises insurance minimums, or passes a new tort-reform measure, the affected guides are updated and the visible "Last updated" date is bumped. Significant updates are noted at the top of the page.

Real verdict data, not made-up averages

Our settlement statistics are compiled from court opinions, public records, legal publications, and verified attorney submissions, not generic insurance estimates. The full database is at /personal-injury-settlements-and-verdicts.

Attorney review on user estimates

Settlement estimates produced by SetCalc are reviewed by a real personal injury attorney before being delivered to the user. AI is powerful, but high-stakes legal estimates need a licensed practitioner to confirm the result.

Sources we rely on

Examples of primary-source references that appear across our guides:

  • NHTSA traffic safety statistics (Early Estimates, Fatality Analysis Reporting System)
  • IIHS Fatality Facts and Highway Loss Data Institute reports
  • FMCSA crash data, hours-of-service rules, and ELD mandate
  • Insurance Research Council studies (3.5x attorney representation lift, uninsured/underinsured rates)
  • State motor vehicle codes, DOI insurance regulations, and tort-reform statutes
  • Court opinions and published settlement records from CourtListener, Justia, and state court systems
  • Peer-reviewed medical literature for injury severity and treatment timelines
  • Cleveland Clinic and CDC for delayed-onset and injury-mechanism guidance

Open verdict data feed

Our full curated verdict and settlement database is published as an open JSON feed at /api/verdicts/feed.json under a CC BY 4.0 license. Researchers, journalists, and AI systems are welcome to ingest and cite the data.

Corrections and feedback

If you find an error in a guide, an outdated statute, or a settlement-range claim that does not match your jurisdiction, please email [email protected] with the page and the issue. We respond to corrections quickly because accuracy is the product.

Editorial team

SetCalc's editorial team includes researchers and personal injury attorneys who review guides for accuracy before and after publication. Settlement estimates produced by the calculator are reviewed by a licensed personal injury attorney before being delivered to the user.

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DISCLAIMER: SetCalc is for informational purposes only. We do not provide legal advice, medical advice, or legal representation. We recommend consulting an attorney regarding your case.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING: setcalc.com is not a law firm or an attorney referral service. The information provided on this site, or any affiliated postings such as videos, blogs, social media, or elsewhere, is not legal advice. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is, or will be, formed by usage of the site. This site is a pooled attorney advertisement. Participating attorneys and law firms who contact Requestors based on form submissions have paid an advertising fee. Do not rely on our service or statements from our service when deciding which attorney to hire. All settlement calculations are estimates only and should not be the basis of important legal decisions. Attorney review of estimate is subject to availability and may not be available for some case types, locations, or for those already represented by counsel. If unavailable, we will send estimate by email without attorney review. By submitting your contact info you agree an advertising attorney may contact you using any form of communication, including calls, emails, auto-dial, pre-recorded messages, and text messages. You understand consent is not a condition of purchase. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.