Automobile accidents account for more than half of all traumatic brain injury (TBI) victims. A traumatic brain injury occurs when a person suffers a sudden, violent blow to the head causing injury or damage to the brain. In an automobile accident, this blow can occur when a person's head collides with an unyielding object inside or outside the automobile.

         An automobile defect may be the cause, or a contributing factor to, the traumatic brain injury suffered in a car crash. In addition, a pedestrian can suffer a TBI when struck by an automobile. 

         Defective parts on, or design of, an automobile may also result in injuries. These may include faulty door latches or improperly designed roofs which can crush in during a rollover automobile accident.

         Some TBI victims injured in an auto accident may have permanent debilitating injuries severely affecting their way of life. Some have high medical bills and may not be able to return to work after the automobile accident. If a negligent or reckless driver causes a car accident, victims are ordinarily entitled to compensatory damages. These include the cost of medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Victims may also be entitled to punitive damages, which are designed to punish the defendant for their reckless behavior.