Most online tools estimate value by using simplified inputs (hospital stay length, diagnosis labels, time missed from work). They typically don’t account for realities we see in Lyons cases, such as:
- Delayed symptom reporting after an accident (common when people initially think it’s “just a headache”)
- Conflicts in the incident story that arise from crowded scenes and multiple witnesses
- Functional impact that shows up later—like trouble concentrating while driving, returning to shift work, or managing daily responsibilities
- Insurance focus on consistency, because TBI symptoms can fluctuate
In Illinois, insurers and defense teams often push hard on causation and documentation. That means the “range” from a calculator may be too optimistic if key medical records are missing—or too low if the injury has well-documented ongoing limitations.


