Brain injury or concussion in Austin: care, proof and finding a brain injury lawyer

Dell Seton is a Level I trauma center, and Dell Children's says it is Central Texas's only children's hospital with a Level I designation. Concussion symptoms can show up hours or days later. Most Texas injury suits must be filed in 2 years. Government claims need 6-month notice, or 45 days for the City of Austin.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (36)

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Road map of central Austin showing the area around the city's trauma hospitals
Concussion symptoms can show up hours or days after an Austin crash. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Where do people go for a brain injury in Austin?

We are not ranking hospitals. This is who holds which designation, so you know what you are looking at.

PlaceWhat it is
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of TexasLevel I trauma center.
St. David's South Austin Medical CenterLevel II trauma center.
Dell Children's Medical CenterSays it is the only children's hospital in Central Texas with a Level I designation.
St. David's Rehabilitation HospitalHas a brain injury program for neurological and functional problems.
Dell Children's rehabilitationIntensive therapy for children with serious injuries.

Some brain injuries in Austin come from places you might not expect. In an Austin Public Health study, nearly half of 190 injured e-scooter riders had head injuries. Whatever the cause, write down how it happened and who was there.

How do I know if a concussion in Austin is serious?

A brain injury can look small at first. After an Austin crash, symptoms can show up hours or days later. Get emergency care for any of these.

  • A headache that keeps getting worse.
  • Repeated vomiting.
  • The person cannot be woken up.
  • Any of the symptoms the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke lists for the first 24 hours.

Mild does not mean minor. A person with a mild injury should still be seen by an Austin provider, and most feel better within a couple of weeks. When recovery takes longer, that is when good records start to matter.

How do you prove a brain injury after an Austin crash?

In an Austin claim, a clean CT scan is often the insurer's first argument. It does not end the case. CDC says a scan is not needed to spot a concussion, and MRI can find what CT misses.

  1. Tell every Austin provider about the crash or fall, and every symptom, each visit.
  2. Keep a simple daily log for your Austin doctor. Family can help, since the injured person may not notice problems.
  3. Ask about neuropsychological or neurocognitive testing.
  4. Save pay stubs and notes from work showing what you can no longer do.
  5. Get the crash report. Order it from LexisNexis BuyCrash, where the City of Austin sends buyers of APD reports.

What deadlines apply to a brain injury claim in Austin?

Who caused itDeadline
A private driver, store or companyGenerally 2 years to sue.
City of AustinA claim letter within 45 days. The charter says missing it excuses the city.
Other Texas government bodyNotice within 6 months.

A brain injury can stop the clock in some cases. Texas pauses time for a legal disability, such as unsound mind, that exists when the claim arises. A disability that comes later does not. This is hard to count on and easy to get wrong. Do not rely on it without a lawyer.

If an adult can no longer make decisions, Travis County's probate courts establish guardianships. Those courts also hear lawsuits tied to a ward's estate.

Who pays for brain injury care in Austin?

The other side's insurer pays only when a claim is settled or won, and care cannot wait for that. Central Health, Travis County's hospital district, is one local place to ask about the cost of care. These rules affect what you keep.

  • Medical bills: recovery is limited to amounts actually paid or owed.
  • Hospital lien: a Texas hospital can claim a lien if you were admitted within 72 hours of the crash.
  • Proving bills: a sworn affidavit can show charges were reasonable, but it does not prove the crash caused the injury.
  • Lost earning capacity is shown as after-tax income, so keep tax returns from your Austin job.
  • Social Security disability needs a condition expected to last a year, with a five-month wait.
  • Medicare must be repaid from any recovery.

Is there state help for brain injury in Austin?

Yes. Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services is a Texas program for people with traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. The Office of Acquired Brain Injury can point you to services at 512-706-7191. Eligibility rules apply, so call before you count on it.

What should I ask a brain injury lawyer in Austin?

  • Have you handled Austin claims where the CT scan was normal?
  • Who will you hire to show how this changes my work and life?
  • Is a government involved, and did we meet its deadline?

Questions

Can I have a brain injury with a normal scan?

Yes. CDC says a scan is not needed to spot a concussion.

How long do I have to sue for a brain injury in Austin?

Generally 2 years. A City of Austin claim needs a letter in 45 days.

Does a brain injury pause my deadline?

Only in limited cases, when the disability exists as the claim arises.

What hospitals treat serious head injuries in Austin?

Dell Seton is Austin's Level I center, St. David's South Austin is Level II, and Dell Children's treats children at Level I.

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Sources (36)

  1. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “DELL SETON MEDICAL CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 10/1/2028 O AUSTIN 78701”
  2. Dell Children's Medical Center, Pediatric trauma care, checked 2026-11-09. “is the only children’s hospital in Central Texas with a Level I Trauma Center designation by the American College of Surgeons.”
  3. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “others may not appear for hours or days after the injury”
  4. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  5. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-08. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  6. City of Austin, File a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “You must send this letter within 45 days of the incident.”
  7. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away”
  8. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Vomit repeatedly”
  9. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up”
  10. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “A person may not recognize or admit that they are having problems”
  11. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “A scan of your brain (such as a CT scan) is not needed to spot a mild TBI or concussion”
  12. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “These tests are called "neuropsychological" or "neurocognitive" tests”
  13. Texas HHS, Find Help through HHS, checked 2026-11-09. “contact the Office of Acquired Brain Injury at 512-706-7191”
  14. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “ST DAVIDS SOUTH AUSTIN MEDICAL CENTER 10/1/2028 O AUSTIN 78704”
  15. St. David's HealthCare, Inpatient physical rehabilitation, checked 2026-11-09. “Our brain injury care team addresses neurological and functional deficits”
  16. Dell Children's Medical Center, Rehabilitation, checked 2026-11-09. “provides intensive therapy for children with serious injuries.”
  17. Austin Public Health, e-scooter injury study memo, checked 2026-11-08. “Of the 190 injured riders, nearly half (48%) had injuries (e.g., fractures, lacerations, abrasions) to the head.”
  18. NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “especially within the first 24 hours after an injury to the head”
  19. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “most people with a mild TBI or concussion feel better within a couple of weeks”
  20. NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “MRI is more sensitive and can pick up more subtle brain changes that a CT scan may miss.”
  21. City of Austin, Purchase an APD online crash report, checked 2026-11-08. “Purchase online crash reports for the Austin Police Department jurisdiction with LexisNexis”
  22. City of Austin, Staff charter recommendations with charter text (May 2026), checked 2026-11-08. “shall exonerate, excuse and exempt the city from any liability whatsoever”
  23. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-09. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  24. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-09. “A disability that arises after a limitations period starts does not suspend the running of the period.”
  25. Travis County, Probate Courts, checked 2026-11-09. “establishes guardianships for incapacitated persons and minors”
  26. Travis County, Probate Courts, checked 2026-11-09. “These ancillary cases cover a wide range of topics, from products liability to fiduciary litigation to medical malpractice to family law.”
  27. Central Health, About, checked 2026-11-09. “As the county’s taxpayer-funded hospital district”
  28. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.0105, checked 2026-11-09. “recovery of medical or health care expenses incurred is limited to the amount actually paid or incurred by or on behalf of the claimant”
  29. Tex. Prop. Code § 55.002, checked 2026-11-09. “For the lien to attach, the individual must be admitted to a hospital not later than 72 hours after the accident.”
  30. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.001, checked 2026-11-09. “is sufficient evidence to support a finding of fact by judge or jury that the amount charged was reasonable or that the service was necessary”
  31. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.001, checked 2026-11-09. “The affidavit is not evidence of and does not support a finding of the causation element”
  32. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 18.091, checked 2026-11-09. “must be presented in the form of a net loss after reduction for income tax payments or unpaid tax liability”
  33. Social Security Administration, checked 2026-11-09. “has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year (12 consecutive months) or to result in death”
  34. Social Security Administration, checked 2026-11-09. “there is a five-month waiting period”
  35. CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “because it must be repaid to Medicare when a beneficiary receives a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment”
  36. Texas HHS, Find Help through HHS, checked 2026-11-09. “This program is for people who have traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries.”

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