What causes traumatic brain injury?

A: The most common causes of TBI are motor vehicle accidents and falls, but TBIs can occur whenever a sudden outside force is applied to a person's head. The brain can be injured whenever a trauma forces the head forward, backward or sideways violently. The force of the trauma can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull which can cause internal tears and bleeding. In infancy to early childhood, falls and motor vehicle accidents are the most frequent causes of brain injuries. Other causes are physical assaults such as child abuse or shaken baby syndrome and sports injuries.