Insurance companies in Illinois typically don’t evaluate TBI claims like they’re checking off a checklist. They tend to focus on three practical questions:
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What happened, and who was responsible?
- Common Hazel Crest scenarios include rear-end collisions during commute traffic, side-impact crashes at intersections, and pedestrian-related incidents in busier areas.
- For workplace-related head trauma, they may scrutinize whether procedures were followed and whether the incident was reported promptly.
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What objective medical evidence exists?
- Even when a CT or MRI is “normal,” a concussion or other brain injury can still be real.
- What matters is whether treating providers document symptoms over time and connect them to the mechanism of injury.
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How much did your life change?
- Insurers often look for documentation of functional limitations—work restrictions, missed shifts, inability to sustain attention, headaches, dizziness, emotional changes, or need for ongoing therapy.
When those three pieces line up, settlement negotiations usually move faster and with more leverage. When they don’t, adjusters often push for low offers, arguing the injury is temporary, minor, or unrelated.


