What is TBI?

Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Such a violent blow can send the brain on a collision course with the inside of the skull, affecting a wide range of functions including behavior, thinking, speech, sensation, language, memory, and emotions. Chances are, you, or someone you know, will sustain a TBI during your lifetime. Approximately 1.4 million Americans suffer a TBI each year.

A traumatic brain injury can range from a mild concussion to a severe or fatal injury, but even minor injuries have the potential to cause long-term complications. Symptoms of TBI can range from mild to moderate to severe, depending on the type and level of injury. It is imperative to seek medical attention at the first sign of TBI symptoms. Prompt treatment may help to minimize long term consequences since little can be done to reverse the initial damage caused by brain trauma.

Although a traumatic brain injury is confined to a person’s head and brain, it is rarely an isolated incident. A serious TBI will impact everything associated with the survivor including family, friendships, business and community. A person’s brain is the center of his nervous system. It dictates everything, from the ability to control the movement of arms and legs, to sensations, memory, emotions, thoughts and behaviors.

Any injury to this complex organ has the potential to erase precious memories, alter behaviors, cause crippling seizures and destroy lives. A traumatic event to the head, even a seemingly minor one, can lead to serious, long term, injury.

Animations help judges and juries better understand the extent of brain injuries. This animation was created by one of our brain injury experts for use at trial. It shows the organic injury that occurred to our clients brain as a result of a collision with a tractor-trailer. In his case, a Freightliner tractor-trailer, hauling tomatoes, drifted into our clients lane on the highway and ultimately crashed into the driver’s side corner of our clients pick-up truck, catapulting his vehicle into a drainage ditch on the side of the highway.