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Traumatic brain injury FAQs

What is a traumatic brain injury?

A TBI occurs when there is damage to your brain because of forceful contact. There are different types of TBIs, including:

• Contusion: An impact causing bleeding on your brain.
• Penetrative injury: An object piercing your skull and entering your brain.
• Diffuse axonal injury: When there are tears in your brain structure due to rotational or shaking forces.
• Concussion: Damage caused by a violent shaking of your head or a blow to your head.

There are also different kinds of brain injuries that you can acquire through health conditions, such as a stroke or infection, but these are not the same as TBIs.

How much do TBIs impact society?

Here are some shocking statistics about brain injuries:

• 2.8 million Americans went to the emergency room because of TBIs in 2013.
• TBI was contributed to approximately 50,000 people in the same year.
• There were TBI diagnoses in 2.5 million emergency room visits and 282,000 hospitalizations.

These are only the numbers when people go to receive treatment for TBIs. The statistics are much likely higher because, unfortunately, not everyone with a TBI will seek treatment.

What causes TBIs?

The leading causes are:

• Falls (47 percent)
• Being struck against or by an object (15 percent)
• Motor vehicle accidents (14 percent)

There are plenty of other causes of brain injuries, including blasts in war zones and intentional self-harm.

What are TBI symptoms?

There are various cognitive, physical and emotional signs of a TBI, such as:

• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Persistent and worsening headaches
• Fuzzy vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory loss
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Sleeping less or more than usual

Some TBI symptoms are present immediately, while others may not be noticeable until days or weeks later.

Can I bring a legal claim because of my TBI?

If you have a brain injury, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and emotional suffering. Depending on the cause of the injury, you may be able to file a personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit.