Head & Brain Injury Workers' Comp Settlement Calculator
Estimate your head/brain injury workers' comp settlement. Average settlement: $91,844. Range typically $20,000 – $2,000,000+ depending on severity and state.
Adam Noah · Workers' Comp Research Analyst
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy
About the authorAverage Head & Brain Injury Settlement
$91,844
Source: National Safety Council injury cost database
How Is a Head & Brain Injury Workers' Comp Settlement Calculated?
A head/brain injury workers' comp settlement in 2026 is built from four main components. Understanding each piece helps you know whether an offer is fair.
- 1.Lost wages (Temporary Total Disability). Most states pay 66.67% of your average weekly wage while you're off work, capped at the state maximum.
- 2.Permanent impairment. After you reach MMI, a doctor assigns an impairment rating (usually 0-100%). That rating multiplied by your state's scheduled weeks produces the PPD portion.
- 3.Medical expenses. Both past medical bills and reasonable future medical care for the head/brain injury. In lump-sum settlements this is capitalized into the total.
- 4.Vocational / loss-of-earning-capacity. If you can't return to your prior job at the same wage, the difference — sometimes for years — increases the settlement value.
Insurers typically try to settle these claims at 50-70% of their true value. Workers represented by attorneys historically recover 3-5x what unrepresented claimants accept.
Average Head & Brain Injury Settlement Amounts by Severity (2026)
| Severity | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Mild Concussion (Full Recovery) | $20,000 – $50,000 |
| Post-Concussive Syndrome | $45,000 – $120,000 |
| Skull Fracture | $80,000 – $250,000 |
| Mild-to-Moderate TBI | $150,000 – $500,000 |
| Severe TBI / Catastrophic | $500,000 – $2,000,000 |
Ranges based on National Safety Council, Martindale-Nolo, and state workers' comp board settlement data. Actual settlements depend on your state, wage, and case specifics.
Key Factors That Affect Your Head & Brain Injury Settlement
- •Severity of cognitive deficit on neuropsychological testing
- •Ability to return to prior occupation
- •Lifetime care needs (cognitive therapy, assistive technology, personal care)
- •Imaging evidence (MRI, DTI, SPECT scans)
- •Pre-injury profession and wage
- •Age and expected life expectancy
- •Family impact and loss of consortium (in third-party cases)
Is Your Settlement Offer Fair? Get a Free Case Review
A workers' comp attorney can review your offer and negotiate — most work on contingency (no fee unless you win). Represented claimants historically receive significantly higher settlements for head/brain injuries.
Find a Workers' Comp AttorneyExternal link to Avvo attorney directory. WorkCompCalc does not endorse specific attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average workers comp settlement for a traumatic brain injury?▾
Workers comp TBI settlements average $91,844 but the range is enormous: mild concussions settle $20K-$50K, moderate TBI $150K-$500K, and severe cases regularly exceed $1,000,000 due to lifetime care costs.
How is a head injury settlement calculated?▾
Head injury settlements account for: impairment rating (cognitive function), future medical (cognitive therapy, imaging, medications), lost earning capacity (often enormous for white-collar workers with cognitive deficits), and pain and suffering (in third-party claims).
Can I settle a workers comp TBI case quickly?▾
Not recommended. TBI symptoms often evolve over 12-24 months. Early settlement typically undervalues the case by 50%+ because permanent deficits haven't crystallized. Neuropsychological testing at 18-24 months is the typical benchmark.
Other Injury Settlement Calculators
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