Concussion From a Texas Car Accident: Maudie’s Story and What Claims Can Be Worth

How a merging semi-truck left Maudie with a concussion

Maudie was driving home from a doctor’s appointment when a semi-truck to her left moved into her lane. She tried to let the truck pass and move safely, but the truck continued into her lane and struck her car.

He ended up crashing into me and slamming me into a curb. I projected out into oncoming traffic and spun out of control.

Maudie left the scene without obvious visible injuries, but over the following days and weeks she developed classic concussion symptoms: getting lost while driving even when using GPS, difficulty concentrating, and light sensitivity.

A crash with enough force to push a car into oncoming traffic can injure the brain even when CT scans and MRIs are normal. The fact that a semi-truck was involved also changes how much insurance coverage may be available.

First steps to protect a concussion claim after a Texas crash

After any crash where you experience headache, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, sensitivity to light or noise, trouble concentrating, or balance issues:

1. See a doctor promptly Concussion symptoms can appear or worsen over hours or days. A normal CT or MRI does not rule out a concussion.
2. Tell your doctor all symptoms Explain confusion, sensitivity to light or noise, memory issues, irritability, sleep changes, and getting lost while driving.
3. Follow up with specialists Neurology and neuropsychological testing often play a key role in diagnosis and documentation.
4. Avoid recorded statements An adjuster for the at-fault insurer can use “I feel fine” against you later.
5. Do not accept an early number Claims should be valued after doctors understand the course of the injury, including any post-concussion syndrome.

J. Alexander Law Firm followed these steps with Maudie’s case: immediate medical evaluation, thorough documentation of symptoms, specialist care, and controlled communication with the trucking insurer.

What a concussion is, and why CT and MRI scans miss it

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI). It occurs when a blow or jolt to the head or body causes the brain to move within the skull and disrupts normal brain function.

• A concussion is a brain injury, even when providers describe it as “mild.”
• You do not need to black out or strike your head to have a concussion.
• Standard CT and MRI scans are designed to detect bleeding and structural damage, not the functional changes caused by a concussion. Many concussions occur with normal imaging.
• Diagnosis relies on symptoms, examination, and, in appropriate cases, neuropsychological testing.

Mild TBI, concussion, and post-concussion syndrome refer to the same injury at different stages. The longer symptoms persist, the more serious the injury and the claim may be.

How long concussion symptoms last, and why Maudie’s ran for months

Most people recover from a concussion in days to a few weeks. Some develop post-concussion syndrome, where symptoms continue for months or longer.

Maudie’s symptoms lasted for months and required multiple rounds of physical therapy.

Persistent symptoms can justify additional medical care and may delay settlement until providers understand whether the injury has lasting effects. Ongoing issues with memory, concentration, mood, sleep, and balance can significantly affect work and daily life.

What concussion care costs, and who should pay for it

Concussion care often involves multiple visits and services. Reported billed-cost ranges from national sources and provider data include:

These ranges vary by region and provider and are not quotes. A normal scan still generates a bill and shows that a brain injury work-up occurred. Neuropsychological testing can provide objective data on memory, attention, and processing speed, which often makes a concussion claim stronger.

What a concussion or mild TBI settlement is worth in Texas

There is no single “average” number; settlement ranges depend on severity, duration of symptoms, impact on work and life, fault, and available insurance. Industry sources and Texas-specific discussions report ranges roughly consistent with:

These ranges are illustrative, not promises. A mild brain injury settlement is commonly reported from $15,000 to $300,000, and a post-concussion syndrome settlement value, when symptoms pass three months, from $75,000 to $150,000 or more, whether the crash is called a car accident or an auto accident. A mild concussion may settle for tens of thousands of dollars. A documented mild TBI with long-term effects can reach six figures. More severe, permanent injuries can reach hundreds of thousands or millions when they significantly affect a person’s earning capacity, independence, and quality of life.

A concussion claim is valued based on several types of damages. Economic damages are documented financial losses, such as medical bills, lost income, and any reduced ability to earn money in the future. Non-economic damages cover losses without a receipt, including headaches, difficulty concentrating, pain, and limits on everyday activities.

Evidence matters. Neuropsychological testing can help document the extent of a brain injury and may support a higher settlement value. At the same time, the available insurance policy limits can restrict the amount you can recover, and any percentage of fault assigned to you may reduce your compensation.

Many crashes that cause concussions also result in whiplash or other neck injuries. When that happens, those injuries are included in the same personal injury claim and can increase its overall value. Learn more in our guide to whiplash injury settlements.

Doctors grade the injury, often using tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale and loss-of-consciousness history, before anyone values the claim. The severity grade and length of symptoms influence settlement ranges.

Who pays after a Texas truck-crash concussion

Concussion and brain injury claims typically seek compensation from:

• The at-fault driver’s liability insurance.
• The trucking company’s commercial liability insurance, for crashes involving vehicles used in commerce.
• A vehicle or parts manufacturer, in appropriate defect cases.
• A government entity, when a dangerous road condition or missing signage contributes, subject to special notice rules.
• A bar or alcohol provider, in qualifying Texas dram-shop cases.
• Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage and personal injury protection (PIP), when available.

For interstate motor carriers, federal rules set minimum financial-responsibility levels. Many for-hire carriers of property must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, with higher minimums for certain hazardous cargo. A typical Texas personal auto policy has much lower per-person limits, such as $30,000. The same injury can have very different settlement ceilings depending on the available insurance.

Texas uses a modified comparative-fault rule. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you generally cannot recover damages. If you are 50 percent or less at fault, your recovery may be reduced in proportion to your responsibility.

How our Dallas team handled Maudie’s concussion claim

J. Alexander Law Firm managed communication with the trucking insurer, gathered Maudie’s medical records, documented her symptoms over time, and evaluated the insurance policies available.

The firm’s goal was for Maudie to focus on treatment while attorneys and staff handled the insurance, medical documentation, and claim strategy.

How Texas insurers fight concussion claims, and how records beat them

Many concussions occur with normal imaging, and insurers use that to argue:

• A normal CT or MRI means “no brain injury.”
• A person who walked and talked at the scene must be unharmed.
• Persistent symptoms are “subjective” or “exaggerated.”

Medical research and guidance recognize that mild TBIs and concussions can cause real, sometimes lasting problems even with normal scans. Objective testing, consistent symptom documentation, and corroborating accounts from family members or coworkers can move a concussion from a disputed complaint to a documented injury.

Laura Rivas

Senior Associate Attorney · J. Alexander Law

From the attorney’s desk · reviewed for this story

Texas law’s “eggshell skull” principle requires at-fault drivers to take injured people as they find them, including those more susceptible to injury. That rule undercuts “she shouldn’t be hurt by this crash” arguments.

How long a Texas concussion claim takes, and what you keep

How long a concussion claim takes to settle

A concussion claim is typically valued after you reach maximum medical improvement, when providers better understand whether symptoms are temporary or lasting. Many concussion claims resolve in roughly 6 to 18 months; lasting brain injuries often require more time.

Time away from work with a concussion

Time away from work depends on the job, severity of symptoms, and doctor recommendations. Some people miss days to a few weeks; others miss months if cognitive demands or screen use are central to their work. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity are part of the claim, not extras.

What you keep after fees and liens

Settlement proceeds usually go to the attorney’s contingency fee (often a percentage of recovery), case expenses and medical liens (amounts owed to providers and insurers), and the client’s net share. For illustration only, not a quote: on $50,000, a person might net $25,000 to $30,000 after a one-third fee and negotiated liens; on $25,000, $12,000 to $15,000; on $20,000, $10,000 to $12,000. Actual numbers depend on your fee agreement and medical bills.

The Dallas firm behind Maudie’s case

Josh Alexander has been named to the Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list each year from 2022 through 2026 and is a lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. J. Alexander Law Firm reports a strong client-review history at its Dallas office and has secured substantial recoveries in Dallas car accident cases, including settlements in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Examples shown on firm materials are anonymized. Every case depends on its own facts, evidence, and available insurance. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. You do not pay an upfront fee. The firm’s fee is contingent on recovering money for you.