I can help you with this...
First of all the lawyer is right, about not being able to do anything until the person is out of the military. If the kid stays in until he gets his 20yrs... you cant touch him. I have been through this, with a navy guy and his with that swiped $2400 from me.
The next bad thing you have going for you is the insurance company is Allstate. For the past several years Allstate has taken the position that they will not settle claims at the normal 2-3 time the medical bills. Most of the time the insurance companies, will settle for 2-3 times medical bills, for example 10K in bills will gross you 20-30K. If you have an attorney, and the settlement will be 30K, the lawyer will get 10K the Docs get 10K , and you get 10K. Sucks for the patient, but that is the way it goes.
Allstate will take EVERY claim to court! They have found in this area, the juries will will award very little. If you have 10K in bills, in Franklin county you will be lucky too get your medical bills paid. Then the lawyer will get 33% of that. Leaving you holding the rest of the bill
The the severity of the injury, and how long the symptoms will last , unfortunately mean little to the insurance company. THEY DON'T CARE!! "You are not in good hands" with Allstate.
Long gone are the days of big personal injury settlements. unless you are in a VERY liberal area (California, Washington state ect)
If you want a second opinion call Atty. Joe Frailey 614-337-8366. I refer all of or personal Injury claims to him he will tell you straight up what he thinks, and wont blow smoke up your rear!