Bernard Layne | December 15, 2025 | Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when an external force causes the brain to twist or shift within the skull. They have the potential to be catastrophic injuries that can result in long-term health consequences.
Even concussions, which are the mildest of brain injuries, can take days or weeks to resolve. Keep reading to learn more about the types of TBIs you can suffer and what your legal options may be.
Concussions
A concussion is an injury that occurs when the brain shifts suddenly inside the skull. It is the most common form of TBI. These injuries damage nerves and blood vessels, resulting in chemical changes that can impact cognitive function, mood, and personality for days or weeks.
Most of the time, suffering a single concussion won’t leave you with permanent damage. Repeated concussions, however, can lead to serious conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Brain Contusions
A brain contusion is a bruise that affects brain tissue, leading to swelling and bleeding. They often occur as a result of car accidents, falls, or other incidents in which your head sustains a direct hit. The impact results in blood vessels bursting, causing swelling and bleeding.
Brain contusions are more severe than concussions because they involve actual structural damage to the brain. In the most severe cases, they could require surgery to remove blood clots and relieve pressure.
Diffuse Axonal Injuries
Diffuse axonal injuries (DAIs) occur from rapid head movement, like shaking, that stretches and tears the nerve fibers, which are called axons. This disrupts vital connections between brain regions and could result in brain damage, coma, or death. The tears to the axons can often be so small that they’re difficult to spot in diagnostic scans, leading to treatment delays.
DAIs often cause immediate confusion, memory loss, and loss of consciousness. The long-term consequences can include balance issues, memory problems, learning difficulties, and cognitive impairment.
Hematomas
Hematomas are a collection of blood. Epidural hematomas occur when blood collects between the skull and the dura mater, while subdural hematomas involve blood pooling between the brain’s surface and the dura mater. When there’s bleeding within the brain tissue itself, it’s an intracerebral hematoma.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhages
A subarachnoid hemorrhage refers to a sudden and severe bleed that occurs between the brain’s surface and the membranes that protect it, called the meninges. It’s a type of stroke that can present as a severe headache. It demands urgent medical attention.
Legal Options After a Traumatic Brain Injury
If you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury because of another party’s misconduct, you may be entitled to begin a personal injury claim to receive compensation. You generally must demonstrate that the other party owed you a duty of care that they breached, causing injuries for which you can be compensated.
For most types of TBIs, there may be lasting cognitive issues that could impact you or your loved one for life. Because of this, it’s essential to work with an attorney to fight for the amount of compensation needed if working is no longer an option or if extensive medical care will be necessary for years to come.
Contact Our Columbus Brain Injury Lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI, it’s essential to work with experienced Columbus brain injury lawyers who can assist you in fighting for your rights. The right representation can help you obtain the economic and non-economic damages you deserve for what you’ve suffered. Call an experienced lawyer at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Columbus, OH, and Charleston, WV.
Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Columbus, OH Office
20 E Broad St Suite 1000, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 587-8423
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Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Charleston, WV Office
10 Hale St Suite 501, Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 720-1000
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