Find a brain injury lawyer in Houston: where to get care and how to protect a claim

Houston adults with serious head injuries usually go to Ben Taub or Memorial Hermann, the Level I trauma centers. TIRR Memorial Hermann is a federally funded TBI Model System for rehab. You generally have 2 years to sue. If the City of Houston is involved, notice is due in 90 days.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (42)

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Road map of Houston around the Texas Medical Center, home to the city's Level I trauma hospitals
Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann are Houston's Level I trauma centers. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Where should someone with a brain injury go in Houston?

PlaceWhat it offers
Ben Taub HospitalLevel I trauma center and one of only two adult Level I trauma hospitals in Houston
Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical CenterLevel I trauma center
Texas Children's HospitalCalls itself the only freestanding Level I pediatric trauma center in the region
LBJ HospitalLevel III trauma center in Harris Health
TIRR Memorial HermannA TBI Model System, one of 14 centers around the country

A concussion can be missed. A CT scan is not required to spot a mild brain injury, and MRI can pick up changes that a CT may miss. Symptoms may not appear for hours or days.

Most people with a mild injury feel better within a couple of weeks, but the effects can still be serious. If a person worsens, especially in the first 24 hours, get care right away.

How do I prove a brain injury claim in Houston?

Insurers often argue that a normal scan means you are fine. Your job is to build a record that shows how life changed. Neuropsychological tests measure memory, attention and problem solving.

  1. Tell every Houston doctor about any blow to the head, and any change in memory or mood, even if it seems small.
  2. Ask for your records. Harris Health says clear requests go out in 15 business days and need a copy of photo ID. Memorial Hermann has a Release of Information Department.
  3. Keep a daily journal. A spouse or coworker's notes help too.
  4. Get the crash report. HPD reports cost $6 by mail or come through BuyCrash.
  5. Keep a list of missed work and ask your Houston employer for payroll records. Texas lost earning claims must be shown after income tax.

Does a brain injury give me more time to sue in Houston?

Maybe, and do not rely on it without advice. The usual deadline is two years. Time is paused for a person of unsound mind when the claim arises. Children get similar treatment. But a disability that arises later does not stop the clock. A person who was able to manage their own affairs a week after a crash may not qualify.

Government deadlines are shorter. The City of Houston needs verified written notice in 90 days. Harris County needs written notice in 180 days. METRO's form is due in 180 days. Texas's general rule is six months. Being unable to think clearly is a hard thing to prove later, so a family member should act.

Who pays for a brain injury in Houston?

SourceWhat to watch for
At-fault party's insuranceTexas minimum is $30,000 per person, far below what rehab can cost.
A government defendantCities are capped at $250,000 per person, other local governments at $100,000.
Hospital lienCan attach if you were admitted within 72 hours of the accident.
Texas rehabilitation programComprehensive Rehabilitation Services is for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
Social Security disabilityThe condition must last or be expected to last a year, with a five-month wait.

Medical bills in Texas are counted at what was actually paid or owed, not the full charge. A sworn billing affidavit can prove charges were reasonable, but it does not prove the crash caused the injury. Your share of fault reduces your award, and above 50 percent bars it.

For help finding services, call the Texas Office of Acquired Brain Injury at 512-706-7191.

What should I ask a brain injury lawyer in Houston?

  • Which Houston doctors and tests would you want to see for my claim?
  • How would you handle a normal CT scan?
  • Is there a government deadline in my case?
  • How do you plan for care that may last for years?

Questions

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

Generally 2 years. A person of unsound mind when the claim arises may have more time.

Which Houston hospitals treat serious brain injuries?

The Level I trauma centers are Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center.

Can I have a brain injury if my CT was normal?

Yes. A scan is not needed to spot a mild injury, and MRI can find changes a CT misses.

Is rehab at TIRR covered in my claim?

If the injury came from someone's negligence, rehab costs can be part of your damages. Texas counts what was actually paid or owed.

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Sources (42)

  1. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “HARRIS HEALTH BEN TAUB HOSPITAL 4/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
  2. Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “MEMORIAL HERMANN - TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER 5/1/2028 Q HOUSTON 77030”
  3. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, checked 2026-11-09. “TIRR Memorial Hermann has been designated as a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model System”
  4. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues”
  5. City of Houston Legal Department, Filing a Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “duly verified, within 90 days after the same has been sustained”
  6. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away”
  7. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Vomit repeatedly”
  8. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up”
  9. NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “MRI is more sensitive and can pick up more subtle brain changes that a CT scan may miss.”
  10. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “These tests are called "neuropsychological" or "neurocognitive" tests”
  11. Harris Health, Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “helps us send your records within 15 business days”
  12. Harris Health, About Us, checked 2026-11-09. “one of only two adult Level I trauma hospitals in Houston”
  13. Texas Children's, Trauma System, checked 2026-11-09. “the only freestanding Level I pediatric trauma center in the region”
  14. Harris Health, About Us, checked 2026-11-09. “Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital is a Level III trauma center”
  15. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, checked 2026-11-09. “The TBI Model System program now consists of 14 centers around the United States.”
  16. 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”
  17. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “others may not appear for hours or days after the injury”
  18. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “most people with a mild TBI or concussion feel better within a couple of weeks”
  19. CDC, checked 2026-11-09. “Even so, the effects of a mild TBI or concussion can be serious.”
  20. NINDS, checked 2026-11-09. “especially within the first 24 hours after an injury to the head”
  21. Memorial Hermann, Request Medical Records, checked 2026-11-08. “The Memorial Hermann Release of Information Department processes requests for protected health information.”
  22. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Send a check / money order for $6.00 (made payable to the City of Houston)”
  23. Houston Police, Public Information Requests, checked 2026-11-08. “Crash Reports can be purchased online from the Texas Department of Transportation at https://buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com”
  24. 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”
  25. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-09. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  26. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001, checked 2026-11-08. “the time of the disability is not included in a limitations period”
  27. 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.”
  28. Harris County, Claim Filing Procedures, checked 2026-11-08. “Written notice of your claim must be mailed or delivered in person within 180 days of the occurrence to: Harris County Commissioners Court 1001 Preston, Room 610 Houston, Texas 77002”
  29. METRO, Notice of Claim Form, checked 2026-11-08. “within 180 days of the incident by anyone desiring to make a claim against METRO”
  30. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  31. Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1), checked 2026-11-08. “(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision; (2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one collision, subject to the amount provided by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; and (3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision.”
  32. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.023, checked 2026-11-09. “Liability of a municipality under this chapter is limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $250,000 for each person”
  33. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.023, checked 2026-11-09. “liability of a unit of local government under this chapter is limited to money damages in a maximum amount of $100,000 for each person”
  34. 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.”
  35. Texas Health and Human Services, Find Help through HHS, checked 2026-11-09. “This program is for people who have traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries.”
  36. 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”
  37. Social Security Administration, checked 2026-11-09. “there is a five-month waiting period”
  38. 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”
  39. 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”
  40. 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”
  41. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001, checked 2026-11-08. “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent”
  42. Texas Health and Human Services, Find Help through HHS, checked 2026-11-09. “contact the Office of Acquired Brain Injury at 512-706-7191”

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