SETTLEMENT VALUE OF HEADACHE INJURIES

Valuing Headaches in an Accident Case

Mild concussions are a very common type of injury in auto accidents and headaches are generally the most noticeable symptom. So when we talk about the value of “headache injuries” in accident cases, we are really talking about the value of mild concussions resulting in headaches. Based on jury verdict data, the average settlement value of headaches in an accident case is somewhere around $10,000. This can increase significantly based on certain factors, including: (a) severity of headachs; (b) age of plaintiff; and (c) credibility of plaintiff.

Headache Injury Case Statistics

Factors Impacting the Value of Headache Cases:

I.  Severity

II.  Associated Head Trauma

III. Plaintiff Credibility

IV.  Venue 

The potential settlement value of headaches in an accident case is driven by 3 primary factors. The first factor is the severity of the headaches. Severe headaches lasting for weeks or months will have a higher settlement value. A second factor which drives value in these cases is whether the headaches can be linked to some significant head trauma. If the plaintiff suffers a major concussion or physical injury to the head it will help substantiate the headaches and increase their settlement value. The third and often most important factor in headache cases is the credibility of the plaintiff. Headaches are highly subjective, so if the plaintiff is credible and believable it goes a long way towards bolstering the value of their case. The fourth influencing factor is what venue or Maryland jurisdiction the case is in.