Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can happen in a split second, but their effects can last for months or even years. There are several common causes of TBI and a TBI can change a person’s life in ways that are both visible and hidden. Survivors may face a wide range of challenges that can affect work, school, relationships, and everyday activities, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming. That’s why having the right support with proper medical care, rehabilitation, and legal guidance is crucial.
If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of a traumatic brain injury, a consultation with an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney can help you recover a full and fair settlement, get the care you need to deal with the short and long-term impacts, and protect your legal rights.
What is a TBI?
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are a type of brain injury typically caused by an outside force, such as a blow, jolt, or heavy bump to the head or body that is strong enough to move the brain within the skull. This type of TBI is called a non-penetrating TBI, a closed head injury, or a blunt TBI.
In some cases, TBI is caused by an object piercing the brain such as a bullet or bone fragment. This type of TBI is called a penetrating TBI or open TBI and typically only damages the part of the brain where the intrusion took place.
Symptoms of TBI
Traumatic brain injuries can affect brain function, creating challenges for how a person thinks, communicates, acts, feels, and moves. There are a range of symptoms associated with TBI:
- Less severe TBIs may result in temporary symptoms, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light or noise.
- Moderate TBIs can cause persistent headaches, memory problems, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
- More serious TBIs can lead to severe and permanent disability—and even death.
7 Common Causes of TBI
Here are the seven most common causes of TBI:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle collisions that jolt or impact the head.
- Falls from ladders, trips on stairs, slip & fall accidents. (Especially among older adults and children).
- Sports injuries. (Especially common in high-contact sports like football, hockey, soccer, and boxing).
- Workplace accidents in construction, manufacturing, or jobs with heavy machinery.
- Assaults or physical violence that cause blows to the head from fights or domestic violence.
- Bicycle or pedestrian accidents, including collisions with vehicles or falling while riding.
- Explosive blasts that cause concussive injuries. (Common in military settings).
How Negligence Leads to TBIs—and the Role of Personal Injury Law
Many traumatic brain injuries happen because another person was careless or failed to take proper safety measures in a situation where they owed a duty of care. This is called negligence. For example, a driver who runs a red light, a property owner who ignores a dangerous floor, or an employer who skips safety rules all owed a duty of care to others. When someone fails to meet this duty of care, it can create situations that lead to a TBI. Personal injury law exists to hold these negligent parties responsible.
With the help of a personal injury attorney, a personal injury claim for traumatic brain injury allows victims to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, and other costs caused by the injury. Having an experienced personal injury attorney fight for your rights can help ensure victims get the support and resources they need to recover and protect their future.
Seek the Help of a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
