High-energy injuries to the head occur when the head hits against another object with great force or pressure. This type of injury puts a person at increased risk for a brain injury, even when there is no visible external bleeding or other obvious sign of injury.

High-energy injuries to the head can occur in a variety of ways, including:

• Falls in which the head strikes an object with significant force. A fall from a height of 4 ft (1.2 m) may be enough to cause an injury.
• Motor vehicle accidents in which the head strikes and cracks or breaks the windshield or dents the inside of the vehicle.
• Sports injuries, such as striking the head after falling from a fast-moving bicycle.
• Direct blows to the head with a hard object, such as a fist or a baseball bat swung with significant force.

Injuries to the neck or face are more likely to occur with a high-energy head injury.