Traumatic brain injury, also called TBI, occurs when the brain is injured by a sudden force or trauma. The brain can be driven into the side of the skull by a sudden blow or by the force of shaking or whiplash. In either case, the brain can suffer bruising and swelling, and in some cases the impact will be sufficient to tear blood vessels, causing intracranial bleeding. Talk to a brain and spinal cord injury attorney in California today for a free, no obligation evaluation.