What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI can vary greatly depending on what injuries occurred to create the condition. Simply put, a TBI is an injury to the brain due to a sharp blow or bump to the head. Blunt force trauma or penetrating trauma can also cause a TBI.

The brain can crash back and forth in the skull, and this can result in bleeding, bruising, or sheering of nerve fibers in the brain called axons. The brain typically swells due to the abovementioned symptoms, leading to further problems.

Are All TBIs the Same?

TBI is divided into three main categories; mild, moderate, and severe. A secondary type is if the TBI causes a persistent vegetative state. Below we will briefly discuss the three main categories and what they involve.

Mild TBI can includes fatigue or drowsiness, headache, vomiting, dizziness, difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual, mood changes or abrupt mood swings, ringing in the ear, blurred vision, and more.

Moderate to severe TBI typically include loss of consciousness for several minutes to hours, convulsions or seizures, loss of coordination, slurred speech, persistent or worsening headache, confusion, numbness, and more. It can be complicated for doctors to predict the full extent of the injuries to the brain and what symptoms may present over time due to the brain being the most critical and complex system in the human body.

What are the Different Types of TBI?

There are several different types of TBI. We will briefly summarize several of them below.

Concussions are the most common type of TBI. Sports injuries, falls, car accidents and more are all common ways a concussion can occur. When your head is slammed against a strong force like the ground or a windshield, it can result in a concussion.

Brain hemorrhages occur when uncontrolled bleeding occurs in the brain, either within the brain tissue or on the surface. Because these are typically in a specific area of the brain, they tend to be less severe but can still cause death if not treated quickly.

Penetrating Brain Injury is what it sounds like and involves something penetrating the skull and piercing the brain. This can be things like a bullet, a nail, pieces of the individual’s skull, and more.

Second Impact Syndrome occurs when an individual has endured a second injury to the brain shortly after the first one. The second injury typically causes more damage than the first as the brain struggles to heal and is wounded again. Multiple concussions, for example, can create Second Impact Syndrome or recurrent TBI.

Diffuse Axonal Injury or DAI is one of the most severe types of TBI. They can result when the brain is twisted or shaken in the skull, leading to axonal shearing, disrupting the messages that neurons send. This can result in severe loss of function or even death.

Should I Consult an Attorney?

TBI is tough to deal with for anyone, and handling it alone may be intolerable to some. If you or a loved one has experienced a TBI and you want to learn more about your options, contact our office at (608) 448-6242. You may be entitled to compensation to help recover some of the medical costs or lost time at work while you or your loved one heals. We have multiple years of helping clients determine their options based on their specific situations, and we can also help you.