Personal Injury

Traumatic Brain Injuries

By Ted Smith, Attorney · Originally published February 13, 2020. Updated July 22, 2026.

After a car accident, your doctor may use the term “TBI,” short for traumatic brain injury. A TBI happens when a bump, blow, or jolt to the head disrupts normal brain function. It can range from a mild concussion to a life-altering injury, and it is one of the more serious things a Central Texas accident victim can face, both medically and legally.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A TBI is not one single injury. It covers a range of conditions caused by trauma to the head or a sharp object piercing the skull. Doctors generally describe two categories:

Open head injury: the skull is cracked or penetrated by direct impact.
Closed head injury: the skull is not broken, but the brain is jolted hard enough to slam against the inside of the skull, such as in a concussion.

Because the brain controls nearly every function in the body, a TBI can affect a person physically, cognitively, and emotionally, sometimes all at once.

Recognizing a Brain Injury After an Accident

Some TBI symptoms show up immediately. Others take hours or days to appear, which is why medical evaluation after any head or neck impact matters even if you feel okay at the scene. Watch for:

Headache that will not go away, or gets worse
Nausea, vomiting, or dizziness
Confusion, memory problems, or trouble concentrating
Slurred speech or difficulty finding words
Blurred or double vision, or sensitivity to light
Loss of consciousness, even briefly
Seizures
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs
Balance problems or slowed reaction time

If you or someone with you shows any of these signs after an accident, seek medical care right away. Severe symptoms, including prolonged unconsciousness, repeated vomiting, or seizures, are a reason to call 911.

Treatment and Recovery

In the emergency setting, treatment focuses on protecting oxygen flow to the brain, controlling blood pressure, and preventing the injury from getting worse. Once a patient is stable, care can include monitoring, medication, physical or cognitive therapy, and in more serious cases, surgery. Recovery timelines vary widely. Mild TBIs, often called concussions, can resolve in weeks, while moderate to severe injuries can require months of rehabilitation and leave lasting effects on thinking, memory, mood, and focus.

Texas Health and Human Services runs an Office of Acquired Brain Injury that connects Texans with rehabilitation resources and support after a TBI, including guidance on what to do in the days right after the injury.

TBI and Fort Hood Families

Traumatic brain injury is not only a car accident issue for Central Texas. Veterans and military family members who suffer a new head injury after an earlier service-connected injury should give each treating provider a complete history so the medical record reflects both conditions. Families connected to Fort Hood can find more resources on our veterans and military families page.

Why a TBI Changes How a Claim Should Be Handled

Emergency care focuses first on evaluating and stabilizing the injury. Later records may be needed to document rehabilitation, work restrictions, or lasting symptoms. A personal injury claim involving a brain injury therefore depends on the full course of medically necessary treatment, not only the initial emergency visit.

Get Professional Help

If you or a family member suffered a TBI in an accident that was someone else’s fault, the personal injury attorneys at Ted Smith Law Group can help you understand your options for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term care. Learn more on our personal injury page.

FAQ

Can a mild TBI still support a personal injury claim? It may. Even a mild TBI, or concussion, can involve medical costs and missed work. A claim depends on fault, causation, insurance coverage, and proof of the resulting losses.

How long after an accident can TBI symptoms appear? Some symptoms are immediate. Others, especially with closed head injuries, can take hours or days to show up. That is one reason a full medical evaluation after any head or neck impact matters.

Will insurance cover TBI treatment? Coverage depends on the health and auto policies involved. A potential claim against an at-fault party is separate and depends on liability, available coverage, and proof of damages. Review the actual policies rather than assuming a particular treatment is covered.

Do veterans with a service-connected TBI have a harder time proving a new claim? Not necessarily, but it is important that medical records clearly separate or connect the prior condition and the new injury. This is part of what a full case review addresses.

How soon should I talk to a lawyer after a TBI diagnosis? As soon as you are able to. Texas generally allows two years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, and building the medical record for a TBI claim takes time.

Sources

Call (254) 690-5688 for a free consultation about a traumatic brain injury claim.