kind-seal-1328h ago

Post-concussion syndrome ruined my balance & vision — is my lawyer lowballing me?

I'm honestly at a loss and could use some outside perspective from people who've actually been through something like this.

About ten months ago a truck rear-ended me at a stoplight. Airbags didn't even deploy, so everyone kept telling me it was a "minor" crash — but I knew something was really wrong almost immediately. Within a week I was getting these intense pressure headaches, my vision kept "skipping" when I moved my eyes side to side, and I felt like the floor was always slightly tilted.

Fast forward to now: my neurologist diagnosed me with post-concussion syndrome. I also did a specialized vision tracking test and the results apparently showed significant problems with how my eyes fixate and follow movement. My vestibular therapist says my balance scores are still way below normal for my age.

Here's the thing — I work in a field that requires sharp coordination and precise visual focus. I have not been able to go back. My employer has been understanding so far, but I can feel that window closing fast. Ten months of basically no income, ongoing medical bills, and no clear timeline for recovery.

My lawyer recently suggested a settlement number that, honestly, felt low to me given everything. I don't know if I'm being unrealistic or if he's right that we should wrap this up. I have no signs of meaningful improvement in my vision symptoms — if anything my sensitivity to light and motion has gotten worse.

Anyone else been diagnosed with PCS after what looked like a "minor" crash?
Did your symptoms eventually improve, or did you have to accept a new baseline?
How did you know when a settlement offer was actually fair?

Any thoughts appreciated. This whole thing has been incredibly isolating.

8 replies

Most helpful first

spry-crow-0518h ago
The 'minor crash' thing really gets me. I had almost the exact same experience — low-speed hit, not much visible damage, and then months of my eyes feeling like they were running on a two-second delay. Nobody took it seriously until I had the formal vestibular testing done. The paper trail from those specialized tests made a huge difference in how my claim was handled. Make sure all of that is documented thoroughly before you agree to anything.
hearty-badger-5008h ago
Please, please do not let anyone rush you into settling while you're still symptomatic. Insurance companies love the 'minor damage, minor injury' narrative and they will use it to justify a lower number. The fact that your car didn't crumple doesn't tell us anything meaningful about what happened to your brain. Hold the line until you have a clearer medical picture.
- sharp-swift-2328h ago
  Get a second opinion from another PI attorney before you sign anything. Most do free consultations. Bring every piece of medical documentation you have — especially those vision tracking results. If your current lawyer hasn't had an economist calculate your lost future earnings, that's a gap worth addressing. A number that feels low usually is.
curious-marten-3998h ago
Worked on the insurance side for years. PCS claims make adjusters uncomfortable because they're hard to cap — ongoing wage loss, future medical treatment, potential permanent impairment all complicate things. If your symptoms are still progressing or not stabilized, settling now means you're essentially guessing at your future costs. That's a gamble that usually benefits the insurer, not you.
daring-stoat-7458h ago
Not legal advice, but one thing worth asking your attorney: have you reached what's called 'maximum medical improvement'? Settling before that point can mean you're leaving future costs — additional therapy, lost earning capacity, specialist visits — completely uncovered. If your doctor hasn't made that determination yet, that alone is worth a conversation with your lawyer about timing. A second legal opinion is always an option too.
plain-sparrow-7818h ago
Ten months out with no real improvement in vestibular and visual symptoms is significant clinically. PCS can plateau, but it can also continue improving well past the one-year mark, especially with the right therapy. Before you agree to anything permanent, I'd really push for a clear prognosis from your neurologist in writing — something that addresses long-term functional limitations. That documentation matters enormously for your claim.
steady-otter-9218h ago
I'm so sorry you're going through this. The isolation you mentioned really hit me — people just don't understand invisible injuries. Ten months of fighting through symptoms while also worrying about money and your job sounds absolutely exhausting. Whatever you decide about the settlement, please make sure you're making the choice you feel good about, not just the one that ends the stress fastest.
kind-marmot-0878h ago
Quick question — has your neurologist given you any actual prognosis, like a probability of recovery or an estimate of ongoing treatment needs? I ask because 'no improvement yet' at ten months is different from 'permanent impairment' medically speaking, and that distinction can affect how a settlement gets valued. Not doubting your symptoms at all, just wondering if you have that documentation locked down.