The brain regulates behavior, emotions, body movement, and intelligence. Any damage to it is devastating.
Unfortunately, brain injuries are common. More than 2 million Americans suffer from brain injury every year.
Some are relatively minor, like concussions, while others are major, causing long-term damage and complications such as mobility issues, behavioral issues, loss of muscle control, and more.
Most brain injuries are caused by slip and fall accidents, while auto accidents cause many others. Falling objects, flying debris, explosions, gunshots, assaults, and violent crimes also cause brain damage.
In many cases, these injuries are caused by a negligent third party. In these situations, it is possible to file a compensation claim.
However, these cases are not always easy to handle on your own.
Get the help you need from the experienced Baltimore brain injury lawyers from Furman | Honick Law.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect millions of individuals each year and often result in severe, long-term consequences. These injuries frequently stem from another party’s negligent or intentional actions.
Understanding the common causes of traumatic brain injuries helps brain injury victims recognize when they have grounds for a claim.
Our Baltimore brain injury lawyers are committed to helping you seek justice and recover fair compensation for your injuries.
Car accidents
Car accidents play a crucial role in traumatic brain injuries. High-impact collisions often lead to brain injuries, as sudden movements or head impacts damage brain tissue.
Victims of car accidents who suffer brain injuries may require extensive medical care and even lifelong support, leading to significant medical bills and financial losses.
Slip and fall accidents
Slip and fall accidents frequently involve traumatic brain injuries, especially among the elderly and in workplaces. Falls from unsafe surfaces, wet floors, or poor lighting conditions often lead to brain damage and the need for immediate medical treatment.
Proving negligence in these cases is essential for securing a fair settlement, covering medical expenses, and addressing the long-term care needs of brain injury victims.
Medical malpractice
Brain injuries also result from medical malpractice, where a medical professional’s error or neglect causes brain damage. Proving medical negligence is necessary to win a brain injury claim.
Medical malpractice cases involve errors during surgery, misdiagnosis, or anesthesia mistakes, all of which may cause permanent brain damage.
Experienced attorneys work closely with medical experts to evaluate medical records, establish negligence, and help victims secure compensation for their losses.
Assaults and intentional acts
Intentional actions, such as physical assaults or violent crimes, are another cause of traumatic brain injuries. Victims of such incidents face not only physical trauma but also emotional distress and non-economic damages that impact their quality of life.
Brain injury lawyers help victims of intentional harm explore legal options, including traumatic brain injury lawsuits, to seek justice and recover the compensation they deserve.
Workplace accidents
Numerous workplace accidents, including construction site falls, struck-by incidents, and heavy machinery mishaps, frequently result in traumatic brain injuries.
Employers have a legal duty to maintain safe working conditions, and failing to do so often leads to life-altering injuries for employees. Injured workers may pursue a brain injury claim to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other economic damages.
Our experienced Baltimore brain injury lawyers provide a free case evaluation to determine whether negligence caused the accident.
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries, particularly from high-contact activities like football, boxing, and wrestling, also contribute to traumatic brain injuries.
Repeated head impacts often cause severe damage over time, leading to conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and requiring lifelong care.
Injury lawyers work with brain injury victims to navigate the unique challenges of sports-related brain injury cases, securing financial compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation, and the long-term consequences of these injuries.
Each situation requires an in-depth understanding of brain injury law and an injury attorney skilled in settlement negotiations and proving negligence.
The experienced Baltimore brain injury lawyers at Furman | Honick Law are dedicated to helping you and your family recover compensation for the lasting impact of a traumatic brain injury.
Schedule an initial consultation or a free case review today to discuss your legal rights and options.
Signs of a Brain Injury
A brain injury may exhibit various symptoms, such as:
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Vomiting and nausea
- Constant headaches
- Dilated pupils
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Cognitive issues
- Memory loss
- Speech difficulties
- Decreased intellectual abilities
- Behavioral changes
- Onset of personality disorders
You must immediately seek medical treatment if you develop any of these symptoms after an accident. The longer you go without treatment, the worse your injuries could be. Prompt care reduces the severity.
Types of Brain Injuries
Common brain injuries include:
- Diffuse axonal injury. This refers to the tearing of the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers. This often results in damage to multiple parts of the brain and even leads to coma.
- Acquired brain injury. An illness or stroke often causes this. It is not hereditary or degenerative, like Alzheimer’s disease.
- Closed brain injury. This injury is caused by the brain’s rapid forward or backward movement and shaking.
- Penetrating brain injury. This is when an object enters the skull and damages the brain, such as a bullet from a gunshot.
- Skull fractures. Linear fractures, depressed fractures, and compound fractures damage the skull.
- Brain hemorrhage. This refers to internal bleeding caused by a high-force impact on the head. These are common in auto accidents and slip-and-fall accidents.
- Repetitive brain impact. This is caused by repeated blows to the head, often due to sports activities such as boxing, MMA, and football.
Long-Term Effects and Complications of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries often lead to lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. The effects extend beyond immediate medical treatment, affecting daily life and requiring ongoing care.
Familiarizing yourself with these long-term complications helps in pursuing fair compensation in a brain injury case.
Cognitive impairments
Brain injuries frequently cause cognitive issues like memory loss, decreased intellectual abilities, and speech difficulties.
These impairments limit victims’ ability to perform routine tasks and may affect their career and personal relationships.
Physical limitations
Traumatic brain injuries often lead to physical limitations, such as loss of muscle control, chronic fatigue, and even paralysis in severe cases.
Lifelong care for these conditions, including physical therapy and assistive devices, incurs significant costs. Injury claims address these financial burdens, helping victims access the necessary medical care and support.
Emotional and behavioral changes
Many brain injury victims experience emotional distress, mood swings, and behavioral changes. These complications may lead to new personality traits or disorders, impacting their interactions with family and friends.
Financial burdens
The financial toll of a brain injury extends beyond medical bills, as victims often face lost wages and a diminished earning capacity.
Compensation through a brain injury claim or lawsuit offsets these financial losses, ensuring victims and their families maintain stability amid ongoing medical expenses.
Increased risk of medical complications
Brain injuries also lead to a higher risk of seizures, infections, and other medical complications. Long-term medical monitoring becomes essential to managing these conditions, which adds to the overall cost of care.
Recovering fair compensation through legal avenues enables victims to receive ongoing medical support and manage potential health issues effectively.
Each complication emphasizes the importance of working with experienced brain injury lawyers.
At Furman | Honick Law, our injury lawyers are committed to helping clients secure financial compensation to manage the lasting effects of brain injuries. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case and explore your legal rights.
Importance of Working with a Brain Injury Lawyer
Pursuing compensation for brain injuries involves unique challenges. Brain injury cases often require in-depth legal knowledge, medical expertise, and a thorough understanding of how these injuries impact a victim’s life.
A brain injury lawyer builds a strong claim and guides victims toward fair compensation for their losses.
Navigating complex medical evidence
Brain injury cases rely on detailed medical records, expert testimony, and specialized knowledge to prove the extent of brain damage and its impact.
Injury lawyers work closely with medical professionals to interpret complex medical evidence, strengthening the case and ensuring all injuries are accurately represented.
Establishing liability and proving negligence
Proving negligence is essential in a brain injury claim. Experienced attorneys investigate incidents involving car accidents, medical malpractice cases, or intentional actions.
They identify the party’s negligent behavior, establish legal duty, and build a case to hold responsible parties accountable, supporting the victim’s right to recover compensation.
Maximizing financial recovery
Brain injuries often require extensive medical treatment, lifelong care, and involve substantial medical expenses. A brain injury attorney assesses economic and non-economic damages, including lost wages, medical bills, emotional distress, and non-economic damages.
Skilled in settlement negotiations
Insurance companies frequently undervalue brain injury cases, offering settlements that fail to cover long-term costs. An experienced brain injury lawyer knows the strategies insurers use and negotiates to secure a fair settlement that addresses the full scope of the injury. If necessary, they will pursue a traumatic brain injury lawsuit to protect the victim’s legal rights.
Providing peace of mind
Managing a brain injury claim alone is nearly impossible, especially while dealing with the injury’s effects. A knowledgeable attorney handles each legal aspect, giving brain injury victims and their families peace of mind.
Furman | Honick Law is dedicated to supporting brain injury victims through every step of their injury claim, ensuring they have the resources needed for long-term recovery.
Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you today.
Contact Furman | Honick Law Today
Brain injuries are costly to treat. You could be looking at millions of dollars for a brain injury. A legal claim gets you adequate compensation.
The Furman | Honick Law team will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Let us handle your claim from start to finish. Call (410) 844-6000 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation with a Baltimore personal injury lawyer.
FAQ
1. What should I do immediately after a brain injury occurs?
If a brain injury occurred, seek medical treatment immediately. Prompt medical care is crucial to assess the extent of brain damage, minimize long-term effects, and establish medical records, which are essential for a brain injury case.
2. How do I know if my brain injury qualifies for a claim?
Brain injury claims often involve proving negligence by another party. Whether the injury was due to car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, or intentional actions, consult a brain injury attorney to determine if negligence played a role.
3. What types of compensation are available for brain injury victims?
Brain injury victims may recover economic damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and future earning capacity. Non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and pain and suffering, are also available.
4. How long do I have to file a brain injury claim?
The time limit to file a brain injury claim varies based on the type of accident and Maryland’s statute of limitations. Generally, personal injury claims have a three-year limit.
5. What if my brain injury resulted from medical negligence?
Medical malpractice cases involving brain injuries require specific proof of negligence by medical professionals. In these cases, a brain injury lawyer collaborates with medical experts to analyze records, evaluate the standard of care provided, and build a strong case for compensation.
6. Why is working with an experienced brain injury lawyer important?
Experienced attorneys play a crucial role in gathering evidence, proving negligence, and handling settlement negotiations. They work with medical professionals, understand the unique challenges of TBI cases, and pursue fair compensation on behalf of brain injury victims.
A knowledgeable lawyer provides peace of mind and manages all legal aspects while you focus on recovery.
If you have further questions about your rights and options, the experienced Baltimore brain injury lawyers at Furman | Honick Law offer a free consultation to help you understand your case and the compensation available.