Key takeaways:
- 20,551 head injuries were reported in Pennsylvania in 2023 (12.6% of all work injuries).
- Brain injury claims are among the most expensive and complex in the workers’ comp system.
- The average TBI claim cost (nationally) is $136,000, with severe cases exceeding $1 million.
- Pennsylvania settlements vary widely and depend on medical evidence, disability impact, and vocational factors.
A work-related brain injury can change your life in an instant. From mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), these cases often involve long recovery times, expensive medical treatment, and permanent disability.
In the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system, these claims are among the most expensive and medically complex cases an injured worker can face, necessitating guidance from a highly experienced brain injury attorney in Philadelphia & Allentown, PA.
How many brain injury claims are filed in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation does not have a dedicated category for “brain injury” or “concussion” claims in its official reports. Instead, injuries are classified by the affected body part.
In 2023, Pennsylvania reported:
- 20,551 head-area injuries (12.6% of all workplace injuries)
- Eyes: 5,373 cases
- Face: 3,157 cases
- Skull: 2,501 cases
While not every head injury is a brain injury, these numbers represent the pool of cases where TBIs or concussions could occur.
Some brain injuries may also be recorded under different categories depending on how they are coded in the claims system.
Why is exact brain injury data hard to track
Brain injuries are often underreported or misclassified in workers’ compensation records. Nationally, TBIs are less common than sprains, fractures, or strains – but they are far more costly.
According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI):
- The average TBI workers’ compensation claim between 2013-2018 cost about $136,000 (medical + wage loss).
- About 2.5% of TBI claims exceeded $1 million, and those catastrophic cases accounted for more than half of all TBI-related claim costs.
For comparison, the National Safety Council reports the average cost of all workers’ comp claims in recent years is around $44,000 – meaning a brain injury claim costs three times more than the average case.
What is the average payout for a brain injury?
There is no officially published average for brain injury settlements in Pennsylvania. Settlement values vary widely and depend on:
- Severity of the brain injury (mild concussion vs. severe TBI)
- Level of permanent impairment
- Length of wage loss benefits
- Future medical treatment needs
- Age, education, and work history of the injured employee
- Disputes over work-relatedness or disability level
How much money can you get for a TBI?
Using national data as a guide, the average TBI workers’ comp settlement is roughly $136,000, but Pennsylvania cases can range from much less in mild cases to hundreds of thousands or even millions for severe, life-altering injuries.
Why do you need a PA brain injury workers’ compensation attorney?
If you’ve suffered a workplace brain injury in Pennsylvania, you are up against two challenges:
- Proving the full extent of your injury – TBIs often require advanced imaging (MRI, CT scans) and neuropsychological testing to confirm cognitive and neurological damage.
- Overcoming insurance company resistance – Brain injury claims are expensive, so insurers often dispute causation, downplay severity, or push for early low-value settlements.
An experienced work comp lawyer can:
- Gather and present strong medical evidence
- Calculate fair settlement value based on wage loss, medical costs, and disability ratings
- Negotiate aggressively with the insurance company
- Take your case to a workers’ compensation judge if necessary
Who’s the leading brain injury attorney near me in Philadelphia & Allentown, PA?
If you or a loved one has suffered a work-related brain injury in Pennsylvania, don’t face the system alone. Liberty Bell’s skilled lawyers are here to protect your rights and fight for the benefits and settlement you deserve.
Our experience enables us to provide all-encompassing guidance across every facet of the system, from helping you avoid common misconceptions to navigating modified job offers to clarifying obscurities about medical marijuana usage in work comp cases.
Reach out to our offices in Center City in Philadelphia or Hamilton District in Allentown, and let our specialists give your case the best chance at a maximum payout.
