What Is Blunt Force Trauma to the Head?

Blunt force trauma is not your average injury. Not a scraped knee. Not a bad headache that will pass. Blunt force trauma has the ability to stop life in its tracks.

Maybe it was a car crash, a fall, or a blow to the head that no one saw coming. When doctors start using terms like blunt force trauma to the head or traumatic brain injury, it can feel unsettling, especially when those words don’t come with clear answers about what happens next.

At the Brain Injury Law Center, we have spent nearly 50 years working with people living this reality every day. We know that brain injuries are often misunderstood, underdiagnosed, and minimized. 

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to blunt force trauma, call us at (757) 244-7000 or fill out our online form. We don’t just take cases. We build strategies based on decades of experience to secure the resources and compensation you need to focus on recovery and daily life.

What Is Blunt Force Trauma to the Head?

To put it simply, blunt force trauma to the head occurs when an object hits the head with great force, or when the head hits a stationary object (like the ground or a dashboard) without the object breaking through the skull.

Unlike a "penetrating injury,” where something like a bullet or a piece of metal enters the brain, blunt force trauma is about impact and energy, like a shockwave. When the head is hit hard, the brain (which has the consistency of soft gelatin) bounces around inside the hard, bony walls of the skull. This movement can stretch brain cells, tear blood vessels, and cause swelling.

Common Causes of Blunt Force Trauma

Over nearly five decades of representing brain injury survivors, we’ve seen patterns emerge. Understanding the most common causes can help families recognize risks and, when necessary, seek the legal support they may need.

Here are the most common causes of blunt force trauma:

1. Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents are the leading causes of brain injuries. Even with a seatbelt on, the sheer force of a collision can cause your head to whip forward and back or strike the side window, dashboard, or steering wheel.

2. Slip and Falls

A wet grocery store floor or a poorly lit staircase can lead to a fall. When a person falls backward or sideways, they often cannot "catch" their head, leading to a direct impact with the hard ground.

3. Sports-Related Injuries

Contact sports, like football or soccer, carry a high risk. Multiple small hits can add up, or one "big hit" can cause permanent damage.

4. Physical Assaults

Unfortunately, violence is a frequent cause of blunt force trauma. Being struck by a fist or a blunt object (like a bat) can cause immediate and severe brain trauma.

5. Workplace Accidents

Construction sites and warehouses are high-risk zones. Falling debris, malfunctioning machinery, or falls from ladders often result in workers suffering blunt force trauma to the head.

Signs and Symptoms of Blunt Force Trauma: What to Watch For

One of the most challenging aspects of a brain injury is that symptoms aren’t always obvious or immediate. A person may feel “fine” right after a blow to the head, only to develop serious problems hours or even days later. 

That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to any changes in how someone feels, thinks, or behaves after a head injury.

Blunt force trauma can affect the body in very visible ways, but sometimes the signs are subtle. Watch for:

• Persistent headaches or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Nausea or vomiting
• Blurred or double vision
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Feeling unusually tired or weak
• Loss of consciousness—even briefly
• Memory problems, such as forgetting the accident or recent events
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions
• Feeling “foggy” or mentally slowed down
• Difficulty finding the right words when speaking
• Slurred speech or trouble organizing thoughts
• Irritability, anger, or sudden mood swings
• Anxiety or depression without a clear cause
• Changes in behavior or personality that seem “out of character”
• Sleeping much more than usual

Some signs indicate a potentially life-threatening injury. Seek medical attention immediately if someone experiences:

• Loss of consciousness for more than a few seconds
• Unequal pupil sizes
• Extreme confusion, agitation, or disorientation
• Repeated vomiting or worsening headache
• Seizures

Even if symptoms seem mild, it’s important to have a medical professional evaluate a head injury. Brain injuries can worsen over time if left untreated, and early intervention can make a critical difference in recovery.

Types of Blunt Force Trauma to the Head

Not all head injuries are the same. Blunt force trauma can affect the brain in different ways, and understanding the type of injury is important for treatment and recovery.

Concussions

A concussion occurs when the brain shakes rapidly inside the skull after a blow, jolt, or fall. While often called “mild,” any concussion is a serious brain injury. 

Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, confusion, or memory problems. Repeated concussions can lead to long-term issues, including cognitive and emotional changes.

Contusions

A contusion is a bruise on the brain tissue itself. Like a bruise on the skin, it involves bleeding and swelling, but inside the skull, swelling can quickly become dangerous. Severe contusions can increase pressure on the brain, potentially threatening critical brain function.

Skull Fractures

Sometimes the impact is so strong that the skull cracks or breaks. Fractures can range from thin, linear cracks to depressed fractures, where a piece of bone is pushed toward the brain. 

Skull fractures may be accompanied by bleeding, swelling, or cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which can complicate recovery.

Hemorrhages and Hematomas

Blunt force trauma can rupture blood vessels inside the brain (hemorrhage) or create a pooled collection of blood outside vessels (hematoma). Both can increase pressure in the skull, potentially causing seizures, loss of consciousness, or permanent damage. Some cases require emergency surgery to relieve pressure and prevent further injury.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

DAI occurs when nerve fibers in the brain are stretched or torn, often after high-speed impacts like car accidents. This type of injury can cause widespread brain damage, coma, or long-term disability, even if no bleeding or fracture is visible on scans.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

CTE is a progressive condition linked to repeated head injuries over time. Symptoms may not appear until years later and can include memory loss, mood swings, impaired judgment, and personality changes. 

When blunt force trauma to the head is caused by someone else’s negligence, the legal system can be a critical source of protection, not just accountability. The right legal action can help secure compensation for medical treatment, lost income, long-term care, and the resources needed to rebuild life after a brain injury. 

At the Brain Injury Law Center, this is all we do. If you or someone you love is living with the effects of a brain injury, call (757) 244-7000 or fill out our online form to speak with a team that has spent nearly five decades fighting for brain injury survivors and their families.

What Can Blunt Force Trauma to the Head Cause?

When blunt force trauma injures the brain, the damage can change who someone is, not just how they feel physically. A person may survive the accident, but return home unable to think clearly, control emotions, or recognize the life they once lived.

Some changes are immediate and undeniable. Others creep in quietly, such as missed words, sudden anger, forgotten names, or an inability to plan a simple day. 

Blunt force trauma to the head can lead to profound long-term changes in a person, including: 

• Chronic headaches or migraines
• Seizures
• Weakness or paralysis in parts of the body
• Loss of balance or coordination, sometimes requiring mobility aids
• Memory loss or difficulty learning new information
• Trouble concentrating or staying focused
• Slower thinking or difficulty processing information
• Problems with planning, organization, and decision-making (often called executive dysfunction)
• Changes in vision or hearing
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Increased sensitivity to light or noise
• Altered sense of taste, smell, or touch
• Mood swings or irritability
• Anxiety or depression
• Impulsive behavior
• Personality changes that make a loved one seem like a different person

Treatment Options and Recovery

Recovery from a brain injury is rarely straightforward. Unlike a broken bone, the brain does not heal on a predictable schedule, and progress often comes in small, uneven steps. Treatment typically involves a team of medical professionals working together over time.

• Surgery: In more serious cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve pressure on the brain, repair skull fractures, or remove blood clots caused by bleeding in or around the brain. 
• Medication: Doctors may prescribe medications to manage symptoms such as seizures, chronic headaches, anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances during recovery.
• Therapy: Rehabilitation is often the longest and most demanding part of recovery. Physical therapy can help restore strength, balance, and coordination. Speech therapy addresses communication and swallowing difficulties. Occupational therapy helps survivors relearn everyday skills, such as dressing, cooking, or managing daily routines.

The Financial Toll of a Brain Injury

While medical care comes first, the financial impact of a brain injury is impossible to ignore. Blunt force trauma to the head often triggers a chain reaction of expenses that can overwhelm even the most financially stable families.

• Immediate Medical Costs: Ambulance transport, emergency imaging, neurological testing, and surgery can push medical bills into the five- or six-figure range within days. These costs often arrive long before there is clarity about recovery.
• Long-Term Treatment and Care: Many brain injury survivors require months or years of physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health support. Some need in-home care, assistive devices, or modifications to their home just to live safely and independently.
• Loss of Income and Earning Power: Brain injuries can make it impossible to return to work—sometimes temporarily, sometimes permanently. In many households, a spouse or family member must reduce hours or leave a job entirely to become a caregiver.
• Lifelong Financial Strain: Even after initial treatment ends, brain injuries can bring ongoing costs for medication, follow-up care, and support services. 

Why Blunt Force Trauma Cases Demand a Lawyer Who Knows Brain Injury Law

When blunt force trauma to the head is caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation. But brain injury cases are not like other injury claims. They involve complex medical evidence, long-term consequences, and legal rules that can quietly destroy a case if they aren’t handled correctly.

Deadlines That Can End a Case Before It Begins

Every state has a statute of limitations, which is a strict deadline for filing a lawsuit. If that deadline is missed, the case is over, no matter how severe the injury is.

Brain injury cases are especially challenging because symptoms may worsen over time, and the full impact may not be clear right away. An experienced brain injury attorney knows how to act early, preserve evidence, and protect your right to pursue justice before the window closes.

Attempts to Shift the Blame

Insurance companies often try to reduce their financial responsibility by blaming the injured person. They may argue that you were partially at fault, claiming, for example, that you weren’t wearing a seatbelt or didn’t notice a hazard. 

Under comparative negligence laws, these arguments can reduce the compensation you receive. Brain injury lawyers understand these tactics and know how to push back using medical evidence and expert testimony.

Limits on Compensation and How to Work Around Them

Some states place caps on certain types of damages, particularly non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. These limits can severely undervalue the lifelong impact of a brain injury. An attorney who focuses on brain injury law knows how to pursue every available category of compensation.

Why Choose the Brain Injury Law Center

You may be thinking: why not just hire a general personal injury lawyer for 

The truth is, brain injury cases are different. They require a deep understanding of neurology, neuropsychology, and long-term care planning. At the Brain Injury Law Center, led by internationally recognized brain injury attorney Stephen M. Smith, we don’t just take these cases "occasionally." This is our singular focus.

We have over 70+ years of combined experience. When other attorneys have a case involving a brain injury that is too complex for them, they often call us.

We understand that a brain injury is "invisible." We know how to explain your pain to a jury so they see the full impact of what you have lost. Reach out to us today online or by calling (757) 244-7000.