Traumatic brain injuries occur all too frequently in the United States. In the country annually, 1.7 million individuals suffer from this injury. In some cases–roughly 30 percent of the time–they are a contributing factor in deaths. There are many situations in which a TBI might occur, including car accidents.

There are two different types of TBI. The first is a closed head injury and the other is a penetrating or open head injury.

A closed head injury is the result of the head receiving a blow. This could be due to an object hitting a person’s head or in the alternative, a person’s head striking an object. In a car accident for example, an occupant’s head could hit the dashboard or windshield.

Penetrating or open head injuries are the result of an object actually entering the brain. The way in which that injury will impact the person who suffers it depends on exactly which part of the brain the object damages.

Someone who suffers from a TBI could face numerous symptoms. Some of them impair that person’s ability to speak. Cognitive skills can also be impacted. In some cases the TBI will manifest in behavioral changes including mood swings, depression and anxiety. Physical problems such as headaches, seizures, coordination and even paralysis could also be the result of a TBI.

The treatment necessary following a TBI will vary depending on the specific situation. In some cases the injury could require treatment from a specialist such as a speech-language pathologist. It likely does not come as a surprise to readers that treatment following a TBI can be expensive. For that reason, when the injury is the fault of another person, a personal injury lawsuit is often appropriate.

Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI),” Accessed Nov. 14, 2014