San Diego Brain Injury Attorneys

What Causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by external trauma. It usually results from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. TBI can also be caused by a penetrating injury, such as a bullet wound or a piece of shattered skull. While mild traumatic brain injury affects brain cells temporarily, severe TBI can have lifelong consequences for the victim.

Any blow or traumatic injury to the head or body can result in traumatic brain injury. The most common causes include the following:

• Falls: This is the leading cause of TBI overall. It includes falls from ladders or scaffolding, falls down stairs or out of bed, and slip or trip and fall accidents. Children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to traumatic brain injury from falls.
• Motor vehicle accidents: Vehicle-related crashes are a leading cause of TBI, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents.
• Violence: Gunshot wounds, domestic violence, and other types of assault frequently cause traumatic brain injury.
• Sports injuries: High impact and extreme sports are a common cause of TBI, particularly among youth. High-risk sports for traumatic brain injury include football, baseball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, skateboarding, and boxing.
• Explosive blasts: This is a common cause of traumatic brain injury among active-duty military personnel. TBI is caused by explosions, as well as by penetrating wounds, blows to the head with shrapnel and debris, and falls or bodily collisions with objects following a blast.

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What Are the Common Forms of Brain Injury?

All brain injuries are unique, and the brain can sustain several different types of injuries in a single incident. Typical forms of brain injury include:

• Concussion: A concussion is a common type of brain injury that can take months or even years to heal. It can be caused by a direct blow to the head, a gunshot wound, violent shaking of the head, or the force of a whiplash-type injury.
• Contusion: A contusion is a bruise or bleeding on the brain. It can occur because of a direct impact to the head. More severe contusions may require surgical removal.
• Coup-Contrecoup: This describes a type of brain contusion appearing both at the site of impact and on the opposite side of the brain. It occurs when the force of impact is significant enough to cause a contusion at the site and also move the brain, causing it to slam into the opposite side of the skull.
• Diffuse Axonal: This type of brain injury is caused by shaking or strong rotation of the head. It can happen in car accidents, or with shaken baby syndrome. Trauma occurs when the brain lags behind the movement of the skull, causing structures to tear.
• Penetration: Penetrating brain injury is caused by the impact of a bullet, knife, or other sharp object penetrating the skull and forcing skin, bones, hair, and fragments from the object into the brain. This type of brain injury is responsible for a large portion of firearm-related deaths.

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What Are the Consequences of TBI for Victims?

Severe traumatic brain injury can have life-altering consequences for victims and their families. TBI symptoms fall into four different categories, as reported by the CDC:

• Physical: Headaches; blurry or fuzzy vision; nausea or vomiting early on; dizziness; sensitivity to noise or light; balance problems; tiredness and lack of energy.
• Cognitive: Difficulty thinking clearly; feeling slowed down; difficulty concentrating; trouble remembering new information.
• Sleep: Sleeping more or less than usual; difficulty falling asleep.
• Emotional: Sadness; irritability; nervousness or anxiety; overly emotional.

These symptoms can affect a TBI victim’s ability to hold down a job, relate to others, and function in life. They can have profound, long-term effects on the victim and his or her entire family.

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Why You Should Hire an Attorney

Severe traumatic brain injury is devastating for the injured as well as their families. If you or your loved one has suffered TBI through someone else’s negligence, speak with an experienced lawyer right away for your best chance of recovering full and fair compensation. Call jD LAW at (760) 630-2000 today for a free consultation. Our San Diego personal injury attorney can explain your options under the law.

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Additional Information

• Traumatic Brain Injury - Mayo Clinic
• About Brain Injury - Brain Injury Association of America
• Traumatic Brain Injury Information - NIH