Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) From Minor Collisions: Why Even Small Accidents Can Cause Big Damage
Yes, you can absolutely suffer a traumatic brain injury from a minor car accident, and you can hire a specialized TBI attorney in Mississippi to help you recover compensation. Even low-speed collisions under 30 mph can cause your brain to move violently inside your skull, resulting in concussions and other brain injuries that may not produce immediate symptoms or appear on standard medical scans. Mississippi law allows you to seek damages from the at-fault driver’s insurance, but proving these “invisible” injuries requires specific medical documentation and legal expertise.
Many accident victims dismiss their symptoms after minor collisions, not realizing they may have sustained a serious brain injury. Insurance companies often use normal CT scans or MRIs to deny claims, even though most mild TBIs involve microscopic damage that these tests cannot detect. Understanding your rights and the steps to protect your claim becomes critical when dealing with delayed symptoms and skeptical insurance adjusters.
This guide explains how minor accidents cause brain injuries, what symptoms to watch for, how to prove your case in Mississippi, and what compensation you can recover.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is any disruption to your brain’s normal function caused by a blow, jolt, or penetrating injury to your head. This means your brain gets shaken, twisted, or damaged inside your skull, affecting how it works.
Doctors classify traumatic brain injuries into three levels of TBIs: mild, moderate, and severe. Don’t let the word “mild” fool you – even mild TBIs can cause serious, long-lasting problems that affect your daily life.
Your brain can get injured in several different ways during an accident:
- Concussion: Your brain gets shaken inside your skull, causing temporary dysfunction
- Contusion: Your brain tissue gets bruised, which can cause bleeding and swelling
- Diffuse Axonal Injury: The nerve fibers in your brain get stretched or torn from violent head movement
- Coup-Contrecoup: Your brain slams into one side of your skull, then bounces back to hit the other side
Many people think you need a high-speed crash to get a brain injury. That’s not true, and this misconception can be dangerous.
Can a Low-Speed Crash Cause a TBI?
Yes, you can absolutely get a traumatic brain injury in a low-speed or minor collision. Even relatively minor crashes can produce forces that may cause brain injury.
The key isn’t just how fast you’re going – it’s the sudden stop or change in direction. When your car stops suddenly, your brain keeps moving inside your skull until it hits the bone. This impact can damage brain tissue even in what seems like a “fender bender.”
You don’t need to hit your head on anything to get a TBI. The whiplash motion alone – when your head snaps forward and backward – can cause your brain to bounce around inside your skull. This is why a concussion injury lawyer in Mississippi often sees clients who never made contact with any part of the car.
Your brain floats in fluid inside your skull, and sudden movements can cause it to strike the hard bone repeatedly. Even a rear-end collision at a stoplight can generate enough force to cause this type of injury, and motorcycle accidents create particularly severe impact forces without the protection of a vehicle frame.
Why Can Imaging Be Normal With a TBI?
CT scans and MRIs look for structural damage like bleeding, skull fractures, or large bruises on your brain. Most mild TBIs involve microscopic damage to brain cells that these scans simply cannot see.
Think of it like this: if you sprained your ankle, an X-ray might look normal even though you’re in pain and can’t walk properly. The same thing happens with mild brain injuries – the damage occurs at a cellular level that’s invisible to standard imaging.
This creates a major problem when dealing with insurance companies. They often point to normal scan results and claim you’re not really injured. A Mississippi head injury attorney knows how to fight this argument by focusing on your symptoms and how the injury affects your life.
Your symptoms tell the real story of your injury, not the pictures from a machine. Many people with severe, life-changing symptoms have completely normal brain scans.
What Symptoms Should I Watch After a Minor Collision?
TBI symptoms don’t always show up right away. They can develop hours or even days after your accident, so you need to pay close attention to how you feel.
Physical symptoms you might notice:
- Headaches that won’t go away or keep getting worse
- Feeling dizzy or having trouble with your balance
- Nausea or throwing up
- Extreme tiredness even after resting
- Eyes that hurt in bright light or ears that hurt with normal sounds
Mental symptoms that signal a problem:
- Feeling “foggy” or like you’re in a haze
- Trouble remembering new things or concentrating on tasks
- Taking longer to answer questions or make decisions
- Getting confused about where you are or what day it is
Emotional changes that might surprise you:
- Getting angry or upset more easily than usual
- Feeling sad or anxious for no clear reason
- Having mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere
Don’t ignore these symptoms or assume they’ll go away on their own. Getting medical attention quickly protects both your health and your legal rights. Keep track of every symptom – this documentation becomes crucial evidence in your case.
How Do I Prove a Mild TBI in Mississippi?
Proving a mild TBI is challenging because you can’t see the injury on scans or X-rays. We build your case by collecting evidence that shows how the injury has changed your life.
Step 1: Get Targeted Medical Care
See a doctor immediately after your accident, even if you feel okay at first. Ask your doctor to refer you to a neurologist or brain injury specialist who understands these types of injuries.
A specialist’s diagnosis carries much more weight than an emergency room doctor saying you’re “fine” and sending you home. These experts know what to look for and how to document your injury properly.
Step 2: Document Symptoms Daily
Start keeping a detailed journal right away. Write down every headache, moment of confusion, memory problem, and mood change you experience.
Note how these symptoms affect your daily activities:
- Can you concentrate at work like you used to?
- Do you get lost driving to familiar places?
- Are you more irritable with your family?
- Do you feel exhausted after simple tasks?
This daily record becomes powerful evidence of how your injury impacts your real life.
Step 3: Capture Third-Party Observations
Ask your family members, close friends, and coworkers to write down changes they’ve noticed in you since the accident. Their independent observations provide crucial evidence that you’re not making up your symptoms.
People close to you often notice changes before you do:
- Your spouse might notice you’re more forgetful or easily frustrated
- Coworkers might see that you’re making more mistakes or seem confused
- Friends might observe that you’re not acting like yourself
Step 4: Preserve Work and School Records
Collect any records that show a decline in your performance after the accident. This includes missed days, lower grades, negative performance reviews, or requests for accommodations you never needed before.
These objective records prove that your injury has real consequences in your life. They’re especially important when pursuing severe brain injury compensation.
Step 5: Let Us Coordinate Experts
We work with neuropsychologists who perform specialized tests to measure your cognitive abilities. These tests can objectively show problems with memory, attention, and processing speed that regular medical tests miss.
Expert testing provides scientific evidence of your injury when insurance companies try to deny your claim.
Who Pays for a TBI From a Minor Car Accident?
Mississippi follows an “at-fault” system, which means the driver who caused your accident is responsible for paying your damages. Their auto insurance policy typically provides the money for your medical bills and other losses.
However, several insurance sources might apply to your case:
- The other driver’s liability insurance: This is usually the primary source of compensation, though Uber accident attorneys handle cases with additional insurance layers from rideshare companies
- Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This kicks in if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your damages
- Commercial insurance policies: If a business vehicle was involved, a truck accident TBI lawyer can pursue the company’s larger policy limits
Sometimes multiple parties share responsibility for your accident. This might include other drivers, vehicle manufacturers if equipment failed, government entities responsible for dangerous road conditions, or multiple defendants in commercial vehicle cases where 18-wheeler accident lawyers in Biloxi MS help sort out complex liability issues.
The key is identifying all possible sources of compensation to make sure you get fully paid for your injuries.
What Damages Can I Recover in Mississippi?
You can seek compensation for both the money you’ve lost and the personal suffering you’ve endured. We help clients recover damages for all aspects of their TBI from car accident claims.
| Economic Damages (Money Losses) | Non-Economic Damages (Personal Losses) |
|---|---|
| Medical bills (past and future) | Pain and suffering |
| Lost wages and income | Emotional distress |
| Reduced earning capacity | Loss of enjoyment of life |
| Rehabilitation costs | Mental anguish |
| Home modifications needed | Loss of consortium (impact on marriage) |
TBI cases often involve substantial future damages because symptoms can last for years or even permanently. You might need ongoing therapy, medication, or accommodations at work that cost money for decades.
Mississippi doesn’t cap damages in most personal injury cases, which means you can recover the full amount of your losses. This is especially important for severe brain injuries that affect your ability to work and enjoy life, and families pursuing wrongful death claims after fatal accidents.
How Long Do I Have to File in Mississippi?
You must file your lawsuit within specific time limits, called statutes of limitations. Missing these deadlines means you lose your right to compensation forever.
The general rule: You have a three-year statute of limitations from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit in Mississippi.
Critical exceptions that shorten your time:
- Government claims: You must give written notice within one year if a government employee or entity caused your accident
- Uninsured motorist claims: Your insurance policy might require you to file within one or two years
- Workers’ compensation: Different rules apply if you were injured while working
Don’t wait to take action. Evidence disappears, witnesses move away, and memories fade over time. The sooner you start building your case, the stronger it becomes.
What Should I Do After a Minor Collision Head Injury?
The steps you take right after your accident can make or break your case. Here’s what you need to do to protect your health and legal rights.
Immediate actions at the scene:
- Call 911 even if the damage seems minor – you need an official police report
- Take photos of all vehicles, the accident scene, and any visible injuries
- Get contact information from witnesses
- Don’t apologize or admit fault to anyone
Within the first 24 hours:
5. See a doctor even if you feel fine – adrenaline can mask pain and symptoms
6. Start documenting any symptoms you notice, no matter how minor
7. Report the accident to your insurance company
8. Contact a Mississippi TBI attorney before giving any recorded statements
Ongoing protection:
- Keep all medical appointments and follow your treatment plan exactly
- Save all receipts related to your accident and injury
- Don’t post about your accident or activities on social media
- Avoid signing any documents from insurance companies without legal review
These steps create the foundation for a strong legal case while protecting your health.
Injured in a Minor Collision? Speak With a Mississippi TBI Lawyer Today
At Maloney-Lyons Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, you work directly with experienced attorneys from your first call through your case resolution. We don’t pass you off to case managers or junior staff members.
Our offices in Mobile and Biloxi serve clients throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
We handle all TBI cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and we only collect fees if we win your case. You have nothing to lose by calling us for a free consultation.
Don’t let insurance companies minimize your injury or pressure you into a quick settlement. Biloxi personal injury lawyers can protect your rights and help you understand all your legal options.
FAQs: Minor Collisions and Mississippi TBI Claims
Can a TBI occur without hitting my head directly?
Yes, violent head movement alone can cause your brain to move inside your skull and strike the bone, causing injury even without direct impact to your head.
How does Mississippi’s fault system affect my TBI claim?
Mississippi is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused your accident is responsible for your damages through their insurance coverage.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Yes, Mississippi follows pure comparative negligence, which means you can recover damages reduced by your percentage of fault – if you’re 20% at fault, you get 80% of your damages.
Do I need abnormal brain scans to win my TBI case?
No, many successful TBI cases rely on clinical diagnosis, symptom documentation, and neuropsychological testing rather than imaging results.
How much does it cost to hire a Mississippi TBI attorney?
We work on contingency, so you pay no upfront costs and only pay attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for your case.
How long will my Mississippi TBI case take to resolve?
Case timelines vary—some resolve through settlement fairly quickly, while complex matters that require litigation can take considerably longer to reach trial or final resolution.
