Baltimore Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers In Baltimore, MD

A sudden blow to the head can damage the brain and cause a traumatic brain injury that can alter your life forever. A traumatic brain injury can disrupt the standard functions of the brain and turn everyday activities into challenges for victims. Luckily, a Baltimore traumatic brain injury lawyer can assist those who have suffered this serious injury due to someone else’s negligence. If someone else was at fault and caused you pain and suffering, you have a right to file a personal injury claim. Hyatt & Goldbloom has been representing the injured people of Baltimore, MD for over 30 years and has the experience and resources needed to help you secure maximum compensation in your case. Don’t be a victim twice, call our office today for a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries, also referred to as TBIs, commonly occur when an individual is involved in a motor vehicle accident. Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to severe, but the circumstances of your accident will determine the seriousness of your injuries. When a mild TBI occurs, a patient’s recovery time could be as short as a few weeks, and expect to make a full recovery. However, in more serious TBI cases, the patient’s injuries and impairments can last a lifetime and completely alter how they live their life. Unfortunately, these injuries are more common than you might think. In fact, nearly 1.5 million people in the United States suffer from traumatic brain injuries every year. This essentially means that someone, somewhere in America, sustains a traumatic brain injury every 21 seconds. These types of brain injuries can be devastating and require skilled legal representation to hold those at fault accountable. If you suspect that you have sustained a TBI, speaking with a Baltimore traumatic brain injury attorney is highly recommended.

Common Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Maryland

Traumatic brain injuries commonly occur when a powerful external force is applied to a person’s head, forcing the person’s brain to smack the front or back of the inside of the skull. During these high-impact events, the internal wiring of the person’s brain is frequently harmed, and this may lead to short or long-term cognitive impairments, such as memory loss and disorientation. Any type of violent accident can cause a traumatic brain injury. However, the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in Baltimore include the following:

• Slip and Falls
• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Assaults
• Boating accidents
• Drowning accidents
• Uber/Lyft accidents
• Violence or gunshot wounds
• Military attacks or bomb blasts

Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms

Traumatic brain injuries can significantly range in their severity and the way they affect victims. Although most serious brain injuries in Maryland are mild or moderate, there are plenty of instances of severe TBIs that can affect a person for the rest of their life or even result in wrongful death. When on the milder side of the spectrum, these injuries can resolve themselves in a few days’ time. Although these injuries are not always life-threatening, they can still have significant impacts on a person’s central nervous system and its functioning. No matter the severity of your brain injury, if you’ve suffered from someone else’s negligence, you must contact an experienced Baltimore traumatic brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. Common symptoms of mild or moderate traumatic brain injuries include:

• Dizziness
• Amnesia
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Lightheadedness
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Speech impairments
• Inability to focus or concentrate
• Seizures
• Slurred speech
• Problems with memory
• Inability to taste or smell
• Extreme mood swings and fits of temper
• Permanent confusion or disorientation
• Loss of consciousness
• Permanent coma or vegetative state

States Of Abnormal Consciousness Following A Traumatic Brain Injury

Many understand the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries, but what many don’t know is that there are different states of TBIs. In fact, there are five abnormal states of consciousness a person may experience following a serious brain injury:

1. Stupor

A person is unresponsive but can be briefly aroused through a strong stimulus, such as pain. Most traumatic brain injuries following serious motor vehicle accidents involve stupor. 

2. Coma

A person is completely unconscious, unaware, and unable to be aroused by stimuli for more than 24 hours. A person in a coma does not exhibit sleep and wake cycles.

3. Vegetative State

When someone enters a vegetative state they are unconscious, unaware, and unresponsive to stimuli such as pain or light. However, they may have sleep and wake cycles and may frequently open their eyes, groan, or have reflexive responses.

4. Persistent Vegetative State

When someone in a vegetative state reaches the 30-day mark, they are then considered to be in a persistent vegetative state. Adults have a 50% chance of recovering from a persistent vegetative state within the first six months, while children have a 60% chance. However, the longer an individual remains in a persistent vegetative state, the less likely a meaningful recovery is.

5. Locked-In Syndrome

Lastly, locked-in syndrome occurs when damage to portions of the lower part of the brain and the brain stem causes an individual to be awake and conscious but unable to move due to full paralysis of the body. Most patients with locked-in syndrome communicate through blinking and eye movement, as the eyes are the one part of the body not impacted by paralysis.