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Brain Injuries · Austin TX

Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys in Austin, Texas

TBIs often don't show up on immediate imaging. Symptoms develop over days or weeks. Documenting those symptoms and connecting them to the accident requires an attorney with specific TBI case experience.

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Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious and complex injuries in personal injury law. They range from mild concussions with temporary symptoms to severe TBIs that cause permanent cognitive, behavioral, and physical impairment. What makes TBI cases particularly challenging is that the injury often isn't visible on standard CT scans immediately after the accident — and symptoms frequently don't appear in full for days or weeks.

Insurance adjusters know this. They routinely argue that because you appeared normal at the emergency room, or because the initial imaging was clear, you weren't seriously injured. An attorney who handles TBI cases knows how to counter that argument with neuropsychological evaluation, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and expert testimony connecting the accident mechanics to the injury pattern.

The damages in TBI cases are correspondingly complex. Future medical care — ongoing neurological monitoring, rehabilitation, cognitive therapy — can span decades. Lost earning capacity, particularly in cases where the injured person's cognitive function is permanently affected, requires careful vocational and economic expert testimony. These calculations need to be right before you accept any settlement.

Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. In TBI cases where symptoms develop slowly, the 'discovery rule' may in some cases delay the start of the limitations period — but this exception is narrow and contested, and you should not rely on it. Contact an attorney as soon as you suspect a TBI, not after symptoms fully manifest.

What You Need to Know

Key Facts About This Case Type

Delayed symptom onset

TBI symptoms often develop days to weeks after the initial trauma. Medical evaluation at the time of the accident may not capture the full injury. Documenting symptoms as they emerge is critical.

Specialized imaging

Standard CT scans frequently miss TBIs. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neuropsychological evaluation can document TBIs that don't appear on initial emergency imaging.

Long-term care cost calculation

Future medical care, cognitive rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity require vocational and economic expert testimony. These numbers must be accurate before any settlement is signed.

Two years to file

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003. The discovery rule exception for TBI is narrow — do not count on it. Consult an attorney as soon as symptoms appear.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A normal CT scan does not rule out a TBI. CT scans miss many TBIs, particularly mild to moderate ones. Neuropsychological testing, MRI, and DTI imaging are more sensitive for TBI detection. An attorney familiar with TBI cases will connect you with appropriate medical specialists.
Persistent headaches, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, personality or mood changes, sleep disruption, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, and vision problems — particularly if these appeared after a head impact. Seek medical evaluation immediately if you experience these after an accident.
Yes. Lost earning capacity is a distinct and often major category of TBI damages. It requires economic expert testimony comparing your pre-injury earning trajectory to your post-injury capacity. An experienced TBI attorney will work with the right experts to calculate this accurately.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. It's a TBI. The "mild" designation refers to the initial injury mechanics, not necessarily the long-term impact — some concussions resolve fully, others cause prolonged symptoms. Post-concussion syndrome can be a serious, long-term condition with significant damages.

Related Practice Areas

Car Accidents Truck Accidents Spinal Injuries Wrongful Death All Personal Injury Cases

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