A woman was driving north on a highway when she encountered a convoy of three southbound vehicles, including a tractor-trailer with a wide load and two pilot cars. The lead pilot car, driven by the wife of the tractor-trailer driver, entered the northbound lane and waved a flag, attempting to alert the oncoming driver. The oncoming driver swerved onto the shoulder and then back into the lane, colliding with the tractor-trailer's load. The impact caused a fatal head injury to the woman. The lawsuit alleged negligence in the operation of the vehicles and handling of the transport job. Most defendants settled before trial, and the case proceeded against one driver.
Head/Brain Injury Cases in Texas
Head/Brain Injury cases from motor vehicle accidents can vary significantly in severity and outcome. These cases involve injuries that may require medical treatment, rehabilitation, and can impact quality of life. Settlement values depend on injury severity, medical expenses, recovery time, and long-term effects on the victim's daily activities and ability to work.
Last updated: November 2025
High-Level Statistics
A family was rear-ended by another vehicle. The impact caused the front seats of their car to collapse into the back seat, injuring their two young children. The parents sued the car manufacturer, alleging the front seats were defectively designed and failed to protect the children in a rear-end collision.
A family was stopped in traffic when their car was hit from behind. The children in the car sustained traumatic brain injuries. The family sued the driver of the other vehicle and the car manufacturer, alleging the car's seats were defectively designed, leading to the children's injuries. The jury found the car manufacturer negligent and responsible for a design defect. The jury awarded the family $242,100,000.
A family was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was rear-ended. They sued the manufacturer of their car, alleging it was defectively designed and marketed. The plaintiffs claimed the car's front seats were designed to yield rearward in collisions, causing front-seat occupants to move into the rear, injuring the children in the back. The manufacturer argued the other driver was solely responsible and that the injuries resulted from the severity of the impact.
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind. The impact caused the driver's seat to fail and collapse backward, leading the driver's head to strike a child in the back seat. The child suffered a severe brain injury, resulting in blindness and partial paralysis.
A child suffered a severe brain injury, blindness, and partial paralysis after a collision. The plaintiff alleged that the driver of the striking vehicle was negligent and that the vehicle manufacturer defectively designed the driver's seat, causing it to collapse during the impact. The defendants denied these claims and argued that seat belts were not used. The jury found in favor of the plaintiff, assigning fault to the striking driver, the manufacturer, and the plaintiff driver.
One driver drove the wrong way on a freeway exit ramp while intoxicated, causing a head-on collision. The other driver suffered severe head and neck injuries, fell into a coma, and passed away two weeks later. The jury found the intoxicated driver negligent and awarded damages.
One driver was intoxicated and drove the wrong way on a freeway exit ramp, causing a head-on collision. The other driver suffered severe injuries and passed away two weeks later. The crash occurred after the intoxicated driver was allegedly over-served alcohol at a bar.
A 9-year-old boy was injured when a modified golf cart he was driving tipped over. The boy's parents sued the golf cart manufacturer and the homeowners for alleged design defects, warning deficiencies, and negligent supervision. The jury found the manufacturer liable for design and warning defects but also found the homeowner partially responsible. The case resulted in a jury award.
A driver was stopped, waiting to turn, when a pickup truck rear-ended her vehicle. The impact pushed her car into an oncoming van. The driver sustained a fractured arm, and her infant son suffered a severe brain injury. The truck driver admitted to falling asleep at the wheel due to a disrupted sleep schedule from long work hours.
One driver rear-ended another vehicle, causing the front seats to collapse. The occupants of the rear-ended vehicle were thrown forward, injuring their children. Both children suffered traumatic brain injuries, and one fell into a coma. They required extensive rehabilitation and will face lifelong issues. The parents sued the car manufacturer, alleging the seat belt system was defectively designed. They also sued the driver who caused the initial collision.
A college student's SUV began smoking and decelerating on Interstate 10. A tanker truck, traveling at high speed and carrying hazardous material, rear-ended the SUV. The collision propelled the SUV into a retaining wall. The driver of the SUV suffered injuries and claimed the truck driver was negligent due to speeding and fatigue. The defense argued the injured driver was also negligent for not moving to the shoulder.
What is Head/Brain Injury?
Head and brain injuries from motor vehicle accidents range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries affecting cognitive function, memory, and personality. These injuries occur when the head strikes objects during collision or when the brain moves violently within the skull due to rapid acceleration/deceleration forces. Symptoms include headaches, confusion, memory problems, mood changes, sensitivity to light and sound, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness or coma.
Common causes in motor vehicle accidents
Motor vehicle accidents cause head injuries through direct impact (striking steering wheel, dashboard, windows, or other vehicle components), rapid deceleration causing the brain to slam against the skull interior, rotational forces twisting the brain within the skull, and penetrating trauma from shattered glass or metal. Unrestrained occupants, motorcycle riders, and pedestrians struck by vehicles face the highest risk. Even with airbag deployment and seatbelts, high-speed collisions generate forces sufficient to cause significant brain trauma.
Treatment and recovery
Mild concussions require cognitive rest (limiting screen time, reading, and mental exertion), gradual return to normal activities, and monitoring for worsening symptoms. Moderate to severe brain injuries may require emergency neurosurgery to relieve intracranial pressure, remove blood clots (hematomas), or repair skull fractures. Rehabilitation typically includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and psychological counseling. Some patients recover fully within months, while others require years of treatment or face permanent cognitive deficits requiring lifetime support and supervision.
Legal considerations in Texas
Head and brain injury cases in Texas require extensive medical documentation including emergency room records, CT scans, MRIs, neuropsychological testing, and expert testimony from neurologists, neurosurgeons, or neuropsychologists. Insurance companies often dispute mild TBI claims, arguing symptoms are subjective or pre-existing. Strong cases include documented loss of consciousness or post-traumatic amnesia at accident scene, consistent symptom reporting across medical providers, objective test results showing cognitive impairments, employment records showing decline in work performance, and testimony from family members describing personality or functional changes. Cases involving permanent disabilities require life care plans and vocational expert testimony to establish future medical needs and lost earning capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about motor vehicle accident cases in Texas
Important: The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Case outcomes vary significantly based on individual circumstances. Past results are not guarantees of future outcomes. Always consult with a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.