When a workplace injury or vehicle accident occurs, many people choose to seek damages for their injury and “pain and suffering.” In the legal world, “pain and suffering” refers to the physical and emotional stress stemming from the injury. It’s a vague concept that can be hard to quantify.

Every year, common work injuries prevent employees from clocking their normal hours. The U.S. Bureau of Labor reports that there are over a million work-related injuries or illnesses each year. That’s nearly one injury for every hundred full-time workers.

While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) seem fairly different, they share many similarities, and this can make the proper diagnosis challenging. It's not uncommon for individuals to be diagnosed with both, and that can make it difficult to properly recognize, treat, and determine the life-altering effects of each disease. Being diagnosed with PTSD and TBI challenges an individual’s ability to navigate life the same way that they did before the injury.