Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. These personal injuries are often the subject of legal liability claims arising from motor vehicle accidents, physical altercations (fights), and other incidents that may create liability.

Persons who survive a TBI can face effects that last a few days, or the rest of their lives. Effects of TBI can include impairments related to thinking or memory, movement, sensation (vision or hearing), or emotional functioning (personality changes, depression).

A TBI is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of a TBI may range from mild (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to severe (an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss after the injury). Most TBIs that occur each year are mild, commonly called concussions.

The leading cause of TBI-related emergency department (ED) visits vary by age:

• Falls are the leading cause of ED visits among young children aged 0 to 4 years and older adults 65 years and older.

• Being struck by or against an object are highest among those 5 to 14 years of age.

The leading cause of TBI-related hospitalizations also vary by age:

• Falls are the leading cause of hospitalizations among children 0 to 17 years and adults 55 years of age and older.

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of hospitalizations for adolescents and adults aged 15 to 44 years of age.

In California, traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims are governed by personal injury law. When a TBI is the result of another party's negligence, such as in motor vehicle accidents or falls due to unsafe premises, the injured party may seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. California follows a comparative negligence rule, which means that a plaintiff can recover damages even if they are partially at fault, although their recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is generally two years from the date of the injury. For TBI claims involving minors, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the minor reaches the age of 18. In cases of medical malpractice leading to TBI, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of injury or one year after the plaintiff discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first. It is important for individuals who have suffered a TBI to consult with an attorney to understand their rights and the applicable time limits for filing a claim.