There’s no simple calculator for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) case. Settlements in Texas can range from the low six figures into the millions, depending on the severity of the injury, the person’s age and career, and how much their day-to-day life has changed.
Keep reading to learn more about what goes into valuing a brain injury claim in Dallas, and why working with an experienced Dallas brain injury attorney is so important.
How Brain Injuries Change the Value of a Case
Brain injuries are different from broken bones or soft-tissue injuries. They can affect memory, mood, personality, and basic functioning in ways that are hard to see but very real for the person living with them.
Texas law considers serious brain injuries to be “catastrophic” when they cause long-term disability, loss of function, or major impairment. That “catastrophic” label matters, because it often means:
- More intensive and expensive medical care
- Longer or permanent time away from work
- Higher need for future treatment and support
- Greater impact on quality of life
All of those factors can significantly increase the value of a claim compared with a more typical injury.
The Building Blocks of a Brain Injury Claim’s Value
When a Dallas brain injury attorney evaluates a case, they usually start by breaking damages into two main categories: economic and non-economic losses.
1. Economic Damages
- Past medical bills – ER visits, hospital stays, surgery, imaging, rehab, medications, specialists
- Future medical care – follow-up appointments, therapy, assistive devices, home health, long-term care
- Lost wages – time you’ve already missed from work
- Loss of earning capacity – reduced ability to work in the future or stay in the same career
In serious TBI cases, economists and life-care planners may be brought in to project the cost of care for decades to come. That long horizon is one reason brain injury claims can reach very high numbers.
2. Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and physical discomfort
- Cognitive problems (memory, focus, processing speed)
- Depression, anxiety, PTSD, personality changes
- Sleep problems, headaches, irritability
- Loss of independence and hobbies
- Strain on family relationships and caregiving burdens
Because these aren’t on a receipt, lawyers and insurers often use approaches like the multiplier method or per diem method to value pain and suffering—either multiplying economic damages by a factor based on severity, or assigning a daily amount for your suffering over time.
How Texas Law Affects What Your Claim Is Worth
Where you file your case matters. For Dallas brain injury claims, Texas rules come into play in several important ways.
The Statute of Limitations
Most personal injury cases in Texas have a two-year deadline from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. Miss that window and you can lose your right to compensation entirely, no matter how strong your case is.
Comparative Negligence and the “51% Bar” Rule
Texas uses a modified comparative negligence system called proportionate responsibility. If you’re found more than 50% responsible for the accident, you can’t recover anything.
If you’re 50% or less at fault, you can still recover, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example:
- Total damages: $1,000,000
- You’re found 20% at fault
- Your recovery is reduced to $800,000
For brain injury cases, where the numbers can be very large, even small changes in that percentage can make a huge difference. A good Dallas brain injury attorney will fight hard to keep unfair blame off you and on the parties that actually caused the harm.
Why Insurance Companies Undervalue Brain Injury Claims
From the outside, a person with a TBI might “look fine.” They may walk and talk normally while still struggling with memory, processing, mood swings, or fatigue that make work and relationships incredibly hard.
Insurers know juries sometimes have trouble understanding invisible injuries, and they often:
- Argue symptoms are from something else (age, stress, prior issues)
- Suggest you’re exaggerating because scans look “normal”
- Push quick, low settlements before you understand the long-term impact
- Downplay future medical needs and lost earning capacity
That’s one reason it’s risky to rely on an online “settlement calculator” for a brain injury case. Brain injuries are simply too complex and individual.
When Should You Call a Dallas Brain Injury Attorney?
It’s smart to call an attorney as early as possible after a serious head injury—especially if:
- You’ve been diagnosed with a concussion, TBI, or skull fracture
- Symptoms are getting worse or not improving
- You’re missing work or worry you won’t be able to return to your old job
- An insurance company is pressuring you to settle or sign forms
- Multiple parties may share blame (e.g., multi-vehicle crash, unsafe property, defective product)
A seasoned Dallas brain injury attorney can start preserving evidence, documenting your symptoms, and lining up the expert support you’ll need long before negotiations begin. They can also help you avoid common mistakes, like delaying medical care or oversharing with adjusters, that can quietly shrink the value of your claim.
How Goff Law Approaches Brain Injury Cases
Goff Law, PLLC is a Dallas-based personal injury firm that regularly handles traumatic brain injury and other catastrophic injury claims. Our team emphasizes how head injuries disrupt daily routines, careers, and long-term plans—not just what shows up on a scan.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in an accident, you don’t have to figure out the value of your claim alone. We can can:
- Review your medical records and accident details
- Coordinate with specialists to understand long-term needs
- Calculate both economic and non-economic damages
- Negotiate with insurers and, when necessary, take your case to trial
Consider reaching out to us at Goff Law for a free consultation to walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you understand fair compensation.