How Much Is a Concussion or TBI Worth in Illinois Workers’ Compensation?
After a work-related head injury, many employees ask the same question: how much is a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) worth in Illinois workers’ compensation? The answer depends on where the injury falls on a wide spectrum—from concussions that resolve with little lasting impact, to brain injuries that permanently change a career, to severe TBIs that prevent any return to work. While Illinois workers’ compensation does not pay pain and suffering, concussions and TBIs can result in significant benefits, including medical coverage, wage replacement, permanent disability awards, and in the most serious cases, Permanent Total Disability benefits paid for life.
There Is No “Average” Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury Settlement in Illinois
Illinois workers’ compensation cases are not valued like personal injury lawsuits. There is no jury verdict and no compensation for pain and suffering. Instead, benefits are determined by statute and are based on medical evidence, work capacity, and long-term impairment.
Two workers with the same diagnosis may receive vastly different outcomes depending on how the brain injury affects their ability to work. To understand value more broadly, it helps to review how much a workers’ compensation case may be worth overall and how different benefit categories apply.
Medical Treatment That Drives the Value of Brain Injury Claims
Medical care is often the largest and longest-lasting component of a concussion or TBI claim. Illinois workers’ compensation should cover all reasonable and necessary treatment related to the injury, which may include:
-
Emergency room care and hospitalization
-
Neurology and neuropsychological evaluations
-
Cognitive therapy and occupational therapy
-
Vestibular therapy for dizziness and balance problems
-
Vision therapy for visual tracking and focus issues
-
Psychological or psychiatric treatment for PTSD, anxiety, or depression
-
Prescription medications for headaches, dizziness, mood disorders, or seizures
When treatment continues for months or years—or becomes permanent—it significantly increases the overall value of the case.
Wage Loss Benefits While You Recover
Many workers with concussions or traumatic brain injuries cannot immediately return to work. Several types of benefits may be available in Illinois.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
If your doctor removes you from work entirely, TTD benefits generally pay 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, subject to Illinois minimums and maximums.
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
If you return to light duty or reduced hours at lower pay, you may qualify for partial wage replacement.
The longer a worker is unable to return to full-duty employment, the greater the wage-loss portion of the claim.
The Wide Spectrum of Permanent Disability After a Concussion or TBI
Brain injuries at work exist on one of the broadest value spectrums in Illinois workers’ compensation. Some concussions resolve with minimal lingering effects. Others permanently change a worker’s career—or eliminate the ability to work entirely. Illinois law accounts for this range through several types of permanent disability benefits.
Person As A Whole (PAW) Awards for Brain Injuries
Many concussion and TBI cases result in person-as-a-whole permanent partial disability awards. These compensate workers for lasting impairment that affects overall functioning rather than a specific body part.
Brain injuries often qualify for PAW awards because they can impact:
-
Memory and concentration
-
Executive functioning and decision-making
-
Emotional regulation and personality
-
Balance, coordination, and vision
A worker may return to employment but function at a lower level due to persistent headaches, dizziness, cognitive slowing, or emotional instability. A PAW award recognizes this permanent loss even when work continues.
Loss of Occupation Awards After a Concussion or TBI
Some workers are physically capable of working but can no longer perform their pre-injury occupation because of cognitive, emotional, or safety-related limitations.
This commonly affects workers in safety-sensitive or highly skilled roles, including:
-
Nurses and healthcare workers
-
Commercial drivers
-
Construction and skilled trade workers
-
First responders
When a concussion or TBI prevents a return to the worker’s customary occupation, Illinois workers’ compensation may allow enhanced permanent disability benefits based on loss of occupation, even if other work is theoretically possible.
Wage Differential Benefits for Career-Altering Brain Injuries
If a worker can return to employment but only at a significantly reduced wage, Illinois workers’ compensation may provide wage differential benefits.
Wage differential benefits apply when:
-
The worker cannot return to their prior occupation
-
Cognitive or emotional limitations restrict job options
-
The injury permanently reduced earning capacity
These benefits are typically paid weekly and may continue for many years, sometimes until retirement age. Brain injuries that affect concentration, memory, stamina, or stress tolerance are common drivers of wage differential awards.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Benefits Paid for Life
At the most severe end of the spectrum are cases where a traumatic brain injury prevents any return to competitive employment.
When this occurs, Illinois workers’ compensation allows for Permanent Total Disability (PTD) benefits. PTD benefits are paid for life and are based on the worker’s average weekly wage. These cases are rare, heavily contested, and depend on strong medical and vocational evidence.
Real-World Example: Severe TBI With PTSD
Our firm recently represented a traveling nurse who was violently attacked by a patient while working. The assault caused a severe traumatic brain injury along with PTSD and orthopedic injuries.
Years later, she continues to suffer from:
-
Persistent dizziness and balance problems
-
Chronic headaches
-
Vision impairment requiring vision therapy
-
Vestibular dysfunction requiring ongoing treatment
-
PTSD requiring psychological therapy
-
Neck injuries and chronic pain
-
Long-term reliance on medication
Despite extensive treatment, she was unable to return to work in any capacity. After trial, she was awarded Permanent Total Disability benefits—checks for life—under Illinois workers’ compensation law.
Workplace violence cases like this are discussed further in our resources on nurses attacked by patients and attacks at work.
PTSD and Psychological Injuries Can Increase Case Value
PTSD, anxiety, and depression frequently accompany serious concussions and TBIs. When these conditions are causally connected to a physical injury, they may be compensable under Illinois workers’ compensation.
You can learn more in our guides on PTSD after a head injury at work and PTSD and Illinois workers’ compensation claims.
Related Injury Value Resources
Brain injury cases often involve additional orthopedic damage. You may also find these resources helpful:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a concussion worth in Illinois workers’ compensation?
There is no fixed amount. The value depends on medical treatment, time off work, permanent impairment, and whether the injury affects long-term employment.
Can a concussion lead to permanent total disability benefits?
Yes. In rare but severe cases, a traumatic brain injury can qualify a worker for Permanent Total Disability benefits paid for life.
Does workers’ comp cover long-term therapies for brain injuries?
Yes. Medically necessary treatment such as vestibular therapy, vision therapy, and psychological care may be covered.
Can PTSD increase the value of a brain injury case?
Yes. When PTSD is related to a physical injury, it can increase the duration and scope of benefits.
By Matthew C. Jones
Matthew C. Jones is an Illinois workers’ compensation attorney who represents injured workers in complex, high-stakes cases, including traumatic brain injuries, workplace violence claims, and permanent disability cases.
👉 https://mcharguelaw.com/meet-our-legal-team/matthew-c-jones/
