How does it work (in simple terms)?

• Adjusters enter medical and claim data.
• The program assigns “trauma severity points” using thousands of rules and roughly 600 injury profiles.
• The carrier “tunes” the program to its own settlement data and regions, which affects the dollar range it spits out.

Important: Regulators found one national carrier used Colossus on about 50% of auto bodily‑injury claims and required that claimants be told when the software may be used.

Why the “Colossus settlement calculator” idea is misleading

There is no public calculator you can plug numbers into for an accurate payout. Colossus and similar systems are proprietary and “tuned” by each insurer. Their inner workings aren’t fully public. Any generic online calculator risks undervaluing your unique claim.

Where software gets it wrong

Colossus can miss real‑world harm when:

• Medical records are thin or inconsistent. If pain, limitations, or complications aren’t charted, the program won’t “see” them.
• Coding is incomplete or overly broad. These systems work from categories; nuance and severity can be lost.
• Non‑economic losses (sleep disruption, anxiety, lifestyle changes) aren’t tied to specific, documented findings.
• “Tuning” depresses ranges. Carriers map program points to their own historical payouts by region—software that’s tuned low tends to suggest lower offers.

How we fight insurer algorithms (what you can do right now)

To make sure software (and the human behind it) values your case fully, we focus on evidence the program must count and the Missouri law that forces fair dealing.

1. Complete medical documentation
   • Ask providers to document objective findings (spasm, positive imaging, ROM limits), functional limits (lifting, standing, turning), and work/home impacts each visit.
   • Ensure all diagnoses and complications are listed—not just “neck strain.”
2. No gaps in treatment
   • Follow prescribed care. Gaps look like you recovered—even if you didn’t. (The software will discount time without visits.)
3. Permanent impairment
   • Where appropriate, secure a physician impairment rating under the AMA Guides; these ratings are often weighted by evaluation software.
4. Functional proof beyond charts
   • Keep a short symptom & activity diary (lifting kids, driving tolerance, sleep). We translate this into objective terms the program recognizes.
5. Missouri time‑limited demand, in writing
   • When strategy calls for it, we serve a written demand, this starts the clock and removes excuses for delay.
6. Venue & policy‑limit leverage
   • Colossus doesn’t try cases. Liability facts, venue risk, and policy limits are negotiated outside the software’s math.

“I verbally agreed to a number on the phone. Is it binding in Missouri?”

Maybe—and that’s why you should call us before you say yes. In Missouri, settlements are typically in writing. In practice, insurers still push for signed releases, and courts scrutinize whether there was a real “meeting of the minds.”

If you already signed a release: Changing the deal is hard unless there’s evidence of fraud, duress, mistake, or breach. Talk to us immediately.

Do Missouri insurers really use Colossus?
Some do; others use different programs (Mitchell ClaimIQ or Verisk COA). The key is that software guides the offer, but it’s not the final word.

Is Colossus the same as a “settlement calculator”?
No public calculator mirrors a carrier’s tuned software. Even legal publishers note that the program’s workings are guarded trade secrets.

How do I get a fair number if software is involved?
Document everything, avoid gaps, and let us structure a Missouri‑compliant written demand that forces attention to the evidence and the risk of trial.