It happened quickly, but the repercussions may last the rest of your life. You suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, truck wreck, or other accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence.
You deserve compensation. Yet, when victims turn to insurance companies for help, they often face skepticism, delay, and tactics designed to minimize payouts.
You don’t have to accept the insurance company’s unfair offer, and you don’t have to negotiate with the insurance company alone. An experienced Texas brain injury lawyer, like Hunt Bonneau, may help you and fight to ensure that every piece of medical evidence, every cost, and every impact on your daily life is considered.
How Do Insurance Companies Evaluate Traumatic Brain Injury Claims?
Insurance adjusters in Texas often rely on a formulaic approach to determine the “value” of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) claim. While they may appear cooperative, their goal is to protect company profits, not the injured person’s future.
They often begin by reviewing:
- Medical records and imaging. Insurers heavily weigh MRI or CT scan results, sometimes dismissing “mild” TBIs if imaging appears normal, even though cognitive and behavioral symptoms may persist.
- Treatment timelines. Any gap between the injury and medical treatment is used to argue that symptoms aren’t serious or unrelated.
- Employment history. Adjusters scrutinize missed workdays and income statements to limit lost wage compensation.
- Comparative fault. In Texas, even partial blame assigned to the injured party can dramatically reduce settlement offers.
An experienced Texas brain injury lawyer is familiar with these evaluation methods and prepares from day one to challenge them with strong medical documentation, clear evidence of daily impact, and expert testimony, if necessary.
What Tactics Do Insurance Companies Use to Minimize TBI Claims?
When clients in Dallas–Fort Worth contact The Bonneau Law Firm, they’re often surprised to learn how early insurance defense teams start working against them. Here are common TBI insurance tactics used to reduce or deny claims:
- Questioning the diagnosis. Adjusters may argue that a concussion or mild TBI isn’t a “serious” injury without objective proof, ignoring cognitive or emotional symptoms.
- Blaming preexisting conditions. They might suggest that headaches, memory problems, or anxiety stem from prior health issues rather than the accident.
- Low initial settlement offers. Quick, “goodwill” offers often fail to cover long-term therapy or cognitive rehabilitation needs.
- Surveillance and social media monitoring. Insurers sometimes track claimants to find photos or posts suggesting normal activity levels, even when symptoms fluctuate.
- Delay and paper pressure. Repeated requests for additional documentation or “independent” medical exams are designed to wear claimants down.
These strategies are especially common in high-value injury claims.
How Can You Strengthen a TBI Claim in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Every symptom, appointment, and change in daily ability should be documented to create a strong factual foundation. Specifically, you can gather the following documentation:
- Detailed medical follow-up. Continue seeing neurologists and therapists even when symptoms seem to improve. Consistent medical records validate the claim’s legitimacy.
- Functional impact journal. Keep a daily log of headaches, memory lapses, fatigue, or mood changes. These firsthand notes help translate invisible symptoms into concrete evidence.
- Employment verification. Request written documentation from your employer that shows missed workdays, reduced performance, or accommodations required.
- Avoid social media sharing. Even a single post showing physical activity can be misinterpreted by insurers and used against you.
- Get legal representation early. Contacting a Texas injury settlement lawyer immediately after diagnosis ensures proper claim filing and helps preserve critical evidence.
With thorough documentation and legal oversight, injured Texans can counter the strategies insurance companies use to limit recovery.
When Should You Call a Texas Injury Settlement Lawyer?
If you or a loved one suffered a head injury anywhere in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, contact a brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. Insurance companies begin building their defense immediately after an accident. The sooner your legal team starts, the stronger your claim.
A dedicated Texas injury settlement lawyer will protect your rights by:
- Coordinating with medical professionals to establish a clear diagnostic timeline
- Managing insurer communication to prevent damaging statements
- Demanding full compensation for current and future care costs and losses
- Presenting a full human story about how your brain injury impacts your life
Insurance adjusters may see your injury as a claim number. Hunt Bonneau sees it as a life interrupted, and a future worth fighting for.