Traumatic Brain Injury Causes: Understanding the Key Factors

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is more common than most people realize. The current number of people living with disabilities from TBI exceeds 5.3 million. Some suffer mild complications, such as difficulty with concentration. Others are unable to function independently and require full-time care.

Life changes in an instant after a traumatic brain injury. At the Brain Injury Law Center, we understand that you're likely going through a tough time, and we're here to help you understand what happened and what steps you can take next. Many of our clients tell us they feel lost and overwhelmed, but you don't have to face this alone. We're here to listen, answer your questions, and guide you through the legal process.

At our firm, brain injuries aren’t just one of the cases we take; they’re the only cases we take. For nearly 50 years, our team has focused solely on helping brain injury survivors and their families. Reach out today online or by calling (757) 244-7000 for a free conversation with a team that truly understands what you're going through and knows how to help.

“When the doctors explained that I had some slight but significant brain damage, my wife called the Brain Injury Law Center. Not only did Stephen Smith pick up the phone, but the number we called went directly to his cell phone. From that moment on, we knew we had called the right guy. His professionalism and order-of-procedure ended up making a difference in court and ultimately making a difference in my quality of life moving forward. Stephen and the Brain Injury Law Center were the only lawyers educated and sophisticated enough to try my case. I have no idea where I’d be today without them.”

- Tommy B. | Client

What Causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Many people assume these brain injuries happen only when a person suffers a direct blow to the head and loses consciousness. This misunderstanding may stem from the fact that most brain injuries result from car accidents, firearms, and falls. Such events often involve damage caused by blunt force to the head, which is likely the reason for the public misconception.

Even when no direct blow strikes the head, a car accident or other sudden deceleration can jar the brain. An injury may occur even without loss of consciousness. The soft tissue of the brain suffers damage anytime it contacts the inner wall of the skull, whether that is from external impact or sudden deceleration.

Leading Cause of TBI

Every year, an estimated 2.8 million people in the U.S. suffer a new brain injury, according to the Brain Injury Association of America. These injuries can happen in many ways, often during everyday activities that no one expects to turn dangerous. 

Some of the most common causes of a TBI are:

• Falls: 40.5%
  The leading cause of TBI, especially among children and older adults. This includes falls at home, on stairs, at work, or in public spaces.
• Being struck by or against an object: 15.5%
  This can include getting hit during sports, on the job, or even in daily life, such as bumping your head on something hard.
• Motor vehicle crashes: 14.3%
  Car, truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents can all lead to serious brain trauma, even if the head is not directly struck.
• Assaults: 10.7%
  Brain injuries caused by acts of violence, such as being hit, shaken, or otherwise harmed by another person.
• Unknown or other causes: 19.0%
  Sometimes the cause is not clear, or the injury happens in an unusual situation that does not fit neatly into one category.

Even when a traumatic brain injury seems mild at first, it can lead to serious and lasting damage. One of the biggest dangers is that the symptoms may not be obvious right away, which can lead people to return to high-risk activities too soon. A second injury, even a small one, can cause permanent damage or even be fatal.

Traumatic Brain Injury Causes: Who Is Most at Risk?

While a brain injury can happen to anyone, some groups are more vulnerable. We often see young children, especially newborns and those under 5, at higher risk, often due to falls or child abuse. 

Teenagers and young adults, typically between 15 and 24, also have a higher chance of TBI, often from car accidents or sports. Sadly, adults over 60 are also very susceptible, mainly due to falls. Also, it's been found that men are more likely to experience serious TBIs than women.

Causes of TBI Can Determine Types of Injury‍

Not all brain injuries are the same. The type of trauma someone experiences often depends on what causes a traumatic brain injury in the first place. Some brain injuries involve a direct hit to the head, while others result from a sudden stop, lack of oxygen, or even infections.

In general, brain injuries fall into two main categories: penetrating and non-penetrating.

Penetrating brain injuries, sometimes called “open head injuries,” happen when an object breaks through the skull and damages brain tissue. This might be caused by a bullet, a sharp object, or a piece of bone. These injuries usually affect a specific area of the brain.

Non-penetrating brain injuries, also known as “closed head injuries” or blunt trauma, occur when a force causes the brain to move inside the skull without breaking it. This kind of injury can happen in various ways, specifically in many of the situations listed in the previous section.

Each type of incident is likely to result in a different type of brain injury. Patients may suffer from open head injuries, deceleration trauma, hypoxia or anoxia (oxygen loss), tumors, infections, or stroke.

Open Head Injuries‍

An open head injury happens when a portion of the skull is penetrated. In some cases, a closed head injury will be treated by purposefully removing a portion of the skull to make room for swelling. 

If the brain swells within the skull cavity and has no room to expand, serious permanent damage, even death, can result. Only a direct impact can fracture the strong bones of the skull. All other types of head injuries are called “closed head injuries.”

Deceleration Trauma‍

Deceleration can often cause brain injury without any direct impact to the skull. When the soft tissue of the brain is forced against the hard inner surface of the skull, broad sections of the brain experience injury. In most instances, the brain collides several times with the skull surface, caught in the motion of the protective fluids that surround it. 

Brain tissues become alternately stretched and compressed. In some cases, nerve connections can be stretched so far that they break, a condition known as axonal shearing. When this shearing happens to many areas of the brain, the effects can be deadly.

Hypoxia and Anoxia‍

Hypoxia refers to a lack of oxygen. In the brain, hypoxia prevents cells from getting the oxygen they need, leading to brain damage. Any event that reduces blood flow or the level of oxygen in the blood can cause permanent brain injury. 

Anoxia is the term used when there is a total lack of oxygen to brain cells. Depending on a patient’s age and medical condition, anoxia can kill within seconds or minutes. Infants can suffer severe brain damage if they lose oxygen for even a few seconds. Anoxia can come from: 

• Childbirth complications
• Chemical exposure
• Drug overdose
• External injuries

The human body can bounce back from a lot. Bones heal, muscles rebuild, and even after illness or injury, we often find ways to adapt. But when the brain, the very center of thought, movement, memory, and personality, is injured, the impact can change everything.

No matter how the injury happens, a traumatic brain injury is never something to take lightly. Call (757) 244-7000 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.

Natural Traumatic Brain Injury Causes

Tumors, infections, and strokes are natural causes of brain damage. However, these causes sometimes come from human sources, including defective drugs, environmental pollution, and medical malpractice.

Tumors‍

Cancer tumors can grow in the brain, invading the space occupied by healthy cells and cutting off their blood supply. Some drugs or types of pollution can cause brain tumors or brain cancers. A doctor may accidentally damage the brain if they made a mistake when treating a brain tumor.

Infections‍

Infections in the brain and surrounding membranes can be deadly. Although some naturally occurring diseases lead to infections like meningitis, they can also come from inadequate sterilization during surgical procedures.

Stroke‍

Any time that blood stops flowing in the brain, a stroke occurs. The most common culprit is a blood clot, but other causes exist as well. Cells die in areas that lack blood. Strokes are often accompanied by bleeding in the brain when a tear in an artery or vein occurs. 

Strokes may also happen as a result of certain medications or when a healthcare provider fails to recognize warning signs or diagnose a condition early enough.

"The Brain Injury Law Center is the only law firm in the United States dedicated exclusively to representing brain injury victims, survivors, and their families. I have dedicated both my personal and professional life to helping brain injury survivors and their families and other victims of catastrophic events."

- Attorney Stephen M. Smith | Founder of the Brain Injury Law Center