There is no standard or average settlement amount for a concussion workers’ comp claim in Michigan. Case value depends on the specific facts of your case — including how long you’re unable to work, whether your symptoms fully resolve or develop into post-concussion syndrome, and the cost of your future medical care.
If you’re disabled from a job-related concussion, you may be entitled to ongoing workers’ comp benefits — or you can trade those benefits for a lump-sum settlement, legally called a redemption under Michigan law.
A concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs from a blow to the head or violent shaking of the body. Symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Slurred speech
- Memory loss
- Problems with concentration
- Dizziness
- Balance issues
- Behavior changes
Some employees get better quickly and return to work after a couple of weeks of treatment. Others develop post-concussion syndrome, and it can take months or years to fully recover. Because a head injury can go either way, it’s important to seek treatment from a doctor as soon as possible.
How Is A Workers’ Comp Settlement For A Concussion In Michigan Calculated?
A Michigan workers’ comp settlement for a concussion is a negotiated estimate of two things: how much you’re owed in wage-loss benefits, and how much your future medical care will cost.
- Wage-loss benefits. Under Michigan law (MCL 418.351), injured workers are entitled to weekly benefits equal to 80% of their after-tax average weekly wage, calculated using their highest-earning 39 weeks out of the 52 weeks before the injury, up to a state maximum of 90% of the State Average Weekly Wage. A redemption estimates how many weeks or years you’re likely to remain disabled or restricted from returning to work, and values the wage-loss portion of your claim accordingly.
- Medical treatment costs. Your workplace injury claim must cover all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your injury. For a head injury, this can include neurology visits, cognitive or speech therapy, vestibular/balance therapy, and medication. Redemption negotiations project the cost of this ongoing or future care based on your doctor’s treatment plan.
Because every case involves different wage histories, recovery timelines, and medical needs, there’s no fixed formula that produces the same number for two different people — even with similar diagnoses.
What Is The Average Workers’ Comp Settlement For A Concussion In Michigan?
In Michigan, there isn’t a specified average workers’ comp settlement amount for a concussion. Statistics published by the Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency show the average payout for a workplace injury in 2025 was $76,475 — but that figure covers all workplace injuries and isn’t a reliable benchmark for a case involving post-concussion syndrome or significant future medical care.
A good redemption should provide enough money to cover your future medical treatment and sufficient time off work — not just a number that looks reasonable on paper. Watch out for insurance companies that offer low-ball amounts based on biased medical opinions from their own doctors.
Can I Sue My Employer For Pain And Suffering?
No. Our state’s workplace injury compensation system is no-fault — you don’t need to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits, and coverage applies even if the accident was partly your own fault. In exchange for this guaranteed coverage, workplace injury benefits do not pay for pain and suffering or other non-economic damages. Your Michigan workers’ comp settlement for a concussion is limited to wage-loss benefits and medical treatment costs — the two components covered above.
There is one exception, though: if someone other than your employer caused your head injury, you may be able to file a separate lawsuit against that third party.
Can I Sue A Third Party?
The workplace injury compensation system is generally your exclusive remedy against your employer under MCL 418.131 — meaning you can’t sue your employer separately, even for pain and suffering. But if someone other than your employer caused your head injury, you may be able to file a separate personal injury lawsuit against that third party.
For example, if you were driving for work and were rear-ended by a negligent driver, causing a head injury, you could collect workplace injury benefits and sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering and other damages a workplace injury claim doesn’t cover. Third-party lawsuits like this can result in significantly higher total recovery than workplace injury benefits alone.
What Are The Key Factors That Affect A Workers’ Comp Settlement For A Concussion In Michigan?
Because there’s no fixed formula, several case-specific factors influence how much your Michigan workers’ comp settlement for a concussion is ultimately worth:
- Permanent work restrictions. If your doctor says you can’t return to your previous job, or you can only work reduced hours or a lower-paying role, the insurance company’s wage-loss liability increases — which increases your case value.
- Age and education. Younger workers have more years of potential wage-loss liability ahead of them. Your education and ability to transition into an alternative job also factor into how insurers value your claim.
- The “independent” medical examination (IME). Insurance companies frequently send injured workers to their own contracted doctors — despite the name, these IME doctors are chosen and paid for by the insurer, and may claim a worker has fully recovered or that symptoms stem from a pre-existing condition rather than the workplace injury.
- Objective vs. subjective evidence. Concussions are sometimes called an “invisible” injury — a normal CT scan or MRI doesn’t rule out a real brain injury. Specialized testing, such as a neuropsychological evaluation, can help document cognitive deficits and strengthen your claim when symptoms aren’t visible on standard imaging.
Because concussion symptoms aren’t always visible on a scan, and IME doctors work for the insurance company, don’t accept a low Michigan workers’ comp settlement offer without solid evidence from your own treating physicians backing up your diagnosis and prognosis.
How Long After My Injury Can I Settle My Claim?
Michigan law requires you to wait at least six months from your injury date before a workers’ comp settlement for a concussion can be approved (MCL 418.835(1)). This waiting period is meant to ensure you’re medically stable enough to make an informed decision about your claim.
In practice, most attorneys recommend waiting even longer — until you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) — since settling right at the six-month mark, before you know your long-term prognosis, can mean settling for less than your claim is actually worth.
Can I Reopen My Claim If Symptoms Get Worse After I Settle?
It depends on how your claim was resolved. If you’re still receiving ongoing workplace injury benefits — you haven’t settled — your claim can generally be reopened if your condition worsens, subject to Michigan’s back-pay rules.
But if you agreed to a redemption for your concussion — a full and final lump-sum settlement approved by a workers’ comp magistrate under MCL 418.835 — that closure is permanent. You cannot reopen a redemption or ask for more money later, no matter how much your symptoms worsen or what future treatment you need.
Because head injury symptoms can be unpredictable — some resolve quickly, while others develop into post-concussion syndrome months later — it’s important not to agree to a redemption until you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and you and your doctor have a clear understanding of your long-term prognosis.
How Can A Lawyer Maximize A Workers’ Comp Settlement For A Concussion In Michigan?
A Michigan workers’ comp settlement for a concussion has to be negotiated — insurance companies know the value of claims and don’t want to overpay. An experienced work injury lawyer maximizes case value by:
- Building strong medical evidence. Working with your doctors to document the ongoing need for treatment and disability, rather than accepting a snapshot of your condition at one point in time.
- Planning for the worst-case scenario. Discussing your treatment plan and long-term prognosis with your doctor before negotiating, so a redemption accounts for the possibility that recovery takes longer than expected.
- Identifying work restrictions early. Documenting any permanent restrictions on your ability to return to your job, which directly affects how much wage-loss liability the insurer is facing.
- Challenging biased IME opinions with solid evidence from your own treating physicians, rather than letting an insurance company’s contracted doctor’s opinion go unanswered.
Why Choose Michigan Workers’ Comp Lawyers For A Concussion Settlement?
If you are pursuing a concussion settlement after a workplace accident, choosing Michigan Workers’ Comp Lawyers ensures your case is handled by attorneys with decades of focused experience in this area of law. We don’t just manage general claims—we specialize in workplace accident cases, bringing deep knowledge of our state’s laws to every matter.
Our team’s credentials speak for themselves: founding attorney Alex Berman has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for ten consecutive years and received the Hall of Fame Award from the State Bar. Jeffrey E. Kaufman and Andrea L. Hamm have earned Super Lawyer status after years of Rising Star recognition, and our attorneys—including Todd Barry and William E. Gray—have consistently been named Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit by DBusiness Magazine. These achievements reflect real, verifiable expertise and sustained performance, giving you confidence that your claim will be handled with the authority, skill, and attention it deserves.
Injured at work? Contact us for a free consultation
If you suffered a concussion on the job in Michigan and have questions about your workers’ comp claim and settlement, call now (855) 221-2667 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here for you.
For more than 40 years, our lawyers have been helping people like you who have suffered from on the job injuries statewide. We understand the physical, emotional, and psychological hardships you are experiencing from your accident. We also have the skill, experience, and know-how to protect you and get you the best possible payout amount for your case.
To see what our own clients have to say about the caring, compassion, and communication they received from us, you can read in their own words about their experience here on our testimonials page from clients we have helped.
Remember, every claim is different and must be negotiated on its own merits. Do not accept any payout amount without fully understanding your legal rights.
Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers never charges a fee to evaluate a potential case. Our law firm has represented injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 40 years. Call (855) 221-2667 for a free consultation today.
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