Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Occur after a Florida Car Accident?

Road safety should be every driver’s priority. Many people get into minor accidents and walk away just fine, but severe and even catastrophic injuries are more frequent than you might expect. If you have ever witnessed reckless driving, you may have wondered how badly someone could be injured in an accident like that. Unfortunately, it is entirely possible for car accident victims to suffer a traumatic brain injury, even in a crash that looks minor from the outside.

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are among the most serious injuries a car accident victim can endure. They are often difficult to live with and expensive to treat. If you are a victim of reckless or negligent driving, you should not be financially responsible for dealing with the aftermath of an accident that was not your fault. Consider talking to an experienced car accident attorney in Davie, FL, who can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.

What Injuries Can You Get After a Car Accident?

Injuries sustained in a car accident vary greatly depending on the circumstances. Factors such as vehicle speed, the direction of impact, and whether safety restraints were used all play a significant role in the type and severity of injuries a person receives.

Usually, people suffer from neck and back pain, broken bones, bruising, chest injuries, and sprains. Your head and neck are particularly vulnerable to injury because of how the body moves during a sudden impact, which is why head and spine injuries are so prevalent after car accidents.

How Do Traumatic Brain Injuries Occur?

Whenever your head is at risk of being struck or jolted violently, you are susceptible to a traumatic brain injury. Car and truck accidents account for a significant number of traumatic brain injuries because they often occur when a driver’s or passenger’s head collides with something inside the vehicle, such as the steering wheel, window, or dashboard, or when the brain is jolted violently within the skull during whiplash. Even without any visible external injury, this internal movement can bruise brain tissue and damage nerve fibers. TBIs are generally classified into three levels of severity: mild, moderate, and severe.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries

Mild TBIs are more commonly known as concussions. They are typically temporary conditions, and most people fully recover after a period of rest. A mild TBI typically occurs following a moderate blow to the head that may or may not cause a brief loss of consciousness. After a mild TBI, the brain becomes more vulnerable to the effects of another concussion, which can lead to more severe problems if a second head injury occurs before the first has fully healed.

Moderate Traumatic Brain Injuries

Moderate TBIs are sometimes referred to as post-concussion syndrome. Unlike mild TBIs, people with a moderate TBI do not recover after a short rest period. At this level, symptoms can linger anywhere from a few months to more than a year following the head injury, and in some cases they can worsen over time rather than improve.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

There are two general types of severe TBIs: closed brain injury and penetrating brain injury. A closed brain injury occurs when the brain is harmed from moving around and striking the inside of the skull. A penetrating brain injury occurs when a foreign object breaks through the skull and pierces the brain tissue directly. Both types can result in permanent cognitive, physical, or emotional impairment.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of a TBI

One of the most difficult aspects of a traumatic brain injury is that symptoms do not always appear immediately. It is common for a TBI to go unnoticed for hours or even days after a crash, which is one of the reasons medical evaluation matters even when you feel fine at the scene. Watch for the following symptoms in the days and weeks after any car accident:

• Persistent headaches or a feeling of pressure in the head
• Dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
• Confusion, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating
• Slurred speech or trouble finding the right words
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Mood swings, irritability, or noticeable behavioral changes
• Sleep disturbances, including sleeping much more or much less than usual

Emergency room paperwork does not always use the term “TBI.” A diagnosis may instead be listed as a concussion, post-concussion syndrome, or a closed head injury. These are still brain injuries, and they should be taken just as seriously as a diagnosis that explicitly uses the word “traumatic.”

How Doctors Diagnose a Traumatic Brain Injury

Diagnosing a TBI is rarely a single test or a one-time exam. It is typically a multi-step process that begins with an emergency room or primary care evaluation, often followed by a referral to a neurologist to assess motor and sensory function. In many cases, a neuropsychological evaluation is also used to test memory, orientation, and information processing over time. This layered approach helps doctors determine whether an injury is likely to resolve on its own or whether it may lead to longer-term or permanent effects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of TBI-related hospitalizations in the United States, and brain injuries of all kinds contribute to tens of thousands of deaths nationwide each year. That data underscores why any head injury from a car accident deserves a full medical workup, not just a quick check at the scene.

Florida Insurance Coverage and the Cost of Treating a TBI

Florida’s no-fault insurance system requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, coverage, which generally pays a portion of your medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. However, PIP coverage is capped at a relatively modest amount and typically covers only a percentage of your medical costs, which is rarely enough to fully cover the cost of treating a moderate or severe TBI. Brain injury treatment can involve emergency care, imaging, neurology follow-up, rehabilitation, and, in some cases, long-term care, all of which can quickly exceed available PIP benefits.

Once PIP limits are exhausted, a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, or your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, may be necessary to cover the remaining costs. Because Florida also applies a modified comparative negligence standard to these claims, it can help to understand how Florida’s comparative negligence law may affect the compensation you are entitled to pursue.

Get Legal Representation to Secure Compensation for Your Injuries

Dealing with a car accident can be a complex process, and a traumatic brain injury can affect you for the rest of your life in ways you might never expect. You should not have to bear the financial burden of an injury you would not have suffered if not for someone else’s negligence. Filing a claim is often the first step toward recovering compensation for your medical bills and other losses.

The Law Offices of Scott Sobol can help you take that first step and will be there for you through every stage of your claim as we work to pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries. Throughout his career, Scott Sobol has represented thousands of car accident victims, so he understands how devastating these injuries can be for a family. Learn more about how our personal injury team can make a difference in your case by completing our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traumatic Brain Injuries After a Car Accident

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY:
Scott Sobol
July 28, 2026

Scott Sobol is a dedicated personal injury attorney with over two decades of experience representing injured clients across South Florida. He has handled more than 1,000 cases involving serious car accidents, unsafe premises, and denied insurance claims. Known for his client-focused approach, Scott prioritizes open communication to guide clients confidently through complex legal challenges. Licensed in Florida, Illinois, and Texas, his extensive knowledge of the law ensures a strong pursuit of justice for those affected by negligence.

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