Maryland Brain Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has experienced a TBI as a result of another person’s negligence, contact The Jaklitsch Law Group. Our Maryland brain injury lawyers are the Big Dogs from the Small Firm, and we can listen to your challenges during a free initial consultation and then put our 100+ years of combined experience to work for you.

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Maryland Brain Injury Lawyers

Suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can dramatically alter the course of your life. For example, a teenager who develops a TBI after being hurt in a severe car accident may have had hopes for academic success. When facing an uncertain future and long cognitive recovery, their dreams of being a scientist may be lost.

If you or a loved one has experienced a TBI as a result of another person’s negligence, contact The Jaklitsch Law Group. Our Maryland brain injury lawyers are the Big Dogs from the Small Firm, and we can listen to your challenges during a free initial consultation and then put our 100+ years of combined experience to work for you. Contact us to learn more about how a Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you.

Why Hire Jaklitsch Law Group for Your Traumatic Brain Injury Claim

A traumatic brain injury can leave victims with a range of physical and emotional injuries. Each individual’s condition is unique and must be correctly diagnosed so they can seek the compensation they deserve from those responsible. The Jaklitsch Law Group connects you with medical and other experts to ensure we can calculate the maximum financial relief owed to you.

Recovering from a TBI often takes weeks or months, although some patients may need treatment for the rest of their lives. When the injury was due to negligence, it is vital to obtain sufficient monetary support to correspond with the person’s full needs. Our traumatic brain injury lawyers in Maryland focus on obtaining these damages by:

  • Providing over two decades of service to clients for all kinds of personal injuries 
  • Maintaining the highest standards and ethics in everything we do
  • Conducting thorough investigations in each case to build the strongest claim possible
  • Communicating with you at every step of your case to ensure you have the information you need to make the best decision for yourself
  • Negotiating with insurance companies and opposing counsel to reach a satisfactory settlement
  • Preparing your case for court from the first day in the event the other side does not meet our demands
  • Litigating your brain injury case fiercely to persuade the court why you deserve compensation in full

We are an award-winning law firm with an impressive track record of securing jury awards and settlements for our clients. We are dedicated to taking the legal burdens off your shoulders so you can concentrate on getting better. 

Common Causes of TBIs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 190 people die every day from TBIs, and over 214,000 are hospitalized with the condition. These injuries happen in a wide variety of situations, including the following:

  • Bicycle accidents
  • Car accidents
  • Combat injuries
  • Construction accidents
  • Faulty or defective products
  • Gunshot wounds
  • Medical malpractice
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Nursing home abuse
  • Pedestrian injuries
  • Slipping, tripping, and falling
  • Sports injuries
  • Truck accidents
  • Violent crimes, such as child abuse, domestic violence, and assault 

 

In all these situations, someone may have been negligent or even malicious, resulting in severe injuries for the victim. Working with seasoned brain injury lawyers in Maryland can help you understand your legal options for seeking compensation from those at fault. It may seem clear who is responsible in some situations, but others can be more complicated.

Examples of Traumatic Brain Injuries

While the causes of TBIs can vary widely, there are two primary categories for discussing these injuries. The first is for damage that occurs inside the skull, called closed brain injuries. The second is penetrating brain injuries, where some foreign object has entered the skull and brain.

Within these two categories, many kinds of damage can result in cognitive, physical, and psychological effects for the victim. Each of these types of injuries can range from mild to fatal. Examples of TBIs include:

  • Concussion: A jolt or impact to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth inside the skull can cause a concussion. Repeated concussions, such as those seen when playing competitive contact sports, can lead to more severe brain damage.
  • Coup and contrecoup: The term “coup” means “blow,” and “contrecoup” means “counterblow.” Related to concussions, these occur when the brain actually hits the skull (coup) or hits one side and then the other (contrecoup). These can cause contusions, bleeding, or tearing.
  • Contusion: When the brain is bruised after the victim suffers a direct blow to the head.
  • Hemorrhage: Sometimes called “brain bleeds,” hemorrhaging involves any bleeding inside the brain itself or between the brain and the skull. It can lead to intracranial pressure, which can cause further damage.
  • Intracranial hematoma: When blood or fluid collects inside the skull, it puts pressure on the brain tissue. This can result from a blow to the head and usually requires surgery to relieve the problem.
  • Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): In situations such as car accidents, the physical forces can cause the brain to shift and rotate inside the skull, tearing the brain’s nerve fibers.  DAIs can be difficult to diagnose without CT or other imaging scans, meaning a victim could be unaware of their injury if they do not seek medical care.
  • Penetrating injury: These are common in construction and car accidents, as well as from assault, combat injuries, or gunshot wounds. When any foreign object enters the head and damages the brain, it is a penetrating injury.

Always Seek Medical Attention After Any Injury

Some injuries are very apparent, while others may not be clear until much later. For example, after a car accident, the paramedic who evaluates you at the scene may not be able to detect the signs of brain bleeds or DAI. That is why it is crucial to always seek a full medical evaluation after any instance of impact to the head. 

In situations where someone else may be at fault for your injury, you can also use the diagnosis to support your claim of negligence. By having a direct connection between the event and your medical condition, your Maryland brain injury attorneys can request damages to cover the care you will need.

Symptoms and Effects of Brain Injuries

After a brain injury, you may notice specific symptoms that indicate a concussion, hematoma, or other damage. In many cases, it can take time to determine the full effect of a brain injury, even when it is immediately diagnosed. It is important for both the victim and their family members to keep an eye out for symptoms such as:

  • Agitation
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Dilated pupils
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty remembering information
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Loss of coordination
  • Loss of interest in usual activities
  • Mood swings
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Numbness in the arms or legs
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Sleep disturbances and insomnia
  • Speech problems
  • Ringing in the ears

 

In some instances, a victim may lose consciousness and slip into a coma. In children, the most obvious signs may be constant crying and inability to eat or sleep. If you or a loved one was involved in some event that could have caused a brain injury, you must get medical treatment right away. Failure to do so can lead to disabling conditions that could cause the following effects:

  • Aggression, depression, and anxiety
  • Altered attention span
  • Balance problems
  • Changes in hearing, taste, touch, smell, or sight
  • Communication issues, such as speaking or understanding others
  • Decreased ability to care for oneself
  • Difficulty reading or writing
  • Epilepsy
  • Forgetting how to perform common actions
  • Impaired ability to drive or work
  • Isolation and loss of social skills
  • Paralysis
  • Persistent confusion

In severe cases, victims could lose the ability to live independently, support their families, or care for themselves. Treating a brain injury can become extremely expensive and life-altering, but you should not have to face these hardships if they are the consequences of negligence. A skilled traumatic brain injury attorney in Maryland from The Jaklitsch Law Group will assess your situation, investigate the details, and identify those who are at fault.

Potential Value of a Maryland Brain Injury Case

While every case is different and will have a different outcome, it is worth noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that non-fatal brain injuries represent over $40.6 billion in healthcare costs. For fatal injuries, hospital costs for patient care before death average over $41,500. 

When victims survive their injuries but still require treatment, the expense can be financially devastating, even for those with health insurance. According to Northwestern University, the lifetime costs of treating a brain injury patient can range between $85,000 and $3 million. Since insurance is often tied to employment, if a victim is unable to work, they may be unable to rely on that coverage. 

While we cannot give you a solid estimate of your case’s value without meeting with you first, we can promise that your brain injury attorneys will provide you with an honest appraisal of your claim’s strength and potential compensation amount. When there appears to be a clear instance of negligence, we can conduct a thorough examination of the evidence to determine all liable parties. We then work to hold them accountable so you do not have to face the costs of treatment without financial relief from those at fault. 

Common Damages Sought in a Brain Injury Claim

When you pursue a brain injury claim, you may need to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, depending on the circumstances. Insurance policies typically only cover the economic damages, which include those with a fixed price. In a lawsuit, you can seek financial acknowledgment of the non-economic ways a brain injury has affected your life. 

The intangible impact can often be worth a great deal, especially if a brain injury has dramatically changed your future. While money does not bring back your lost abilities, it can allow you to adjust to a new way of living comfortably. Common types of damages your TBI lawyers may advise you to request may include:

  • All doctor bills
  • Depression and isolation
  • Emotional distress
  • Home maintenance and care services
  • In-home nursing or nursing facility costs
  • Loss of companionship and intimacy with your spouse or partner
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of guidance and comfort for your children
  • Lost income and earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Permanent disability
  • Physical or cognitive impairment
  • Prescription medications
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Travel expenses for care and treatment
  • Wrongful death expenses (burial, funeral, and family loss)

These are known as compensatory damages, intended to compensate you for your specific losses. In instances where the negligent action was intentional or especially heinous, the person or company responsible may also be ordered by the court to pay punitive damages. These are meant to punish them harshly and set an example for others against engaging in similar behavior. 

Potential Liable Parties in a Brain Injury Case

In some cases, it will be very clear who is responsible for your brain injury. However, when your TBI attorneys begin analyzing the evidence, they may discover additional parties who are also to blame. Our team is dedicated to maximizing the compensation you could recover so that we will explore all potential avenues.

In our experience, liable parties could include:

  • Criminal assailants
  • Commercial truck drivers
  • Family members or friends who commit domestic abuse
  • Government entities
  • Healthcare practitioners
  • Passenger vehicle drivers
  • Product manufacturers
  • Property owners, managers, or landlords
  • Trucking companies

 

In some instances, the defendant may argue that you played a part in your injury as a way of reducing what they are compelled to pay. Unfortunately, Maryland practices what is known as contributory negligence, and if you are found even 1% at fault for your harm, you cannot recover damages. This can be extremely challenging to fight, so it is worth the time it takes to schedule a free consultation with our TBI attorneys to understand the strength of your case.

Proving Negligence in Maryland

If you are able to show that the defendant is 100% at fault for your traumatic brain injury, you will need to present evidence showing the four elements of negligence:

  1. Duty: The person, company, or other entity owed a duty of care to use reasonable care and avoid risking harm to others. 
  2. Breach of duty: The defendant failed to uphold the duty, either through their actions or inactions.
  3. Causation: Because of their failure in their duty, their actions were the direct cause or proximate cause of your traumatic brain injury, meaning it is more likely than not that your harm was the defendant’s fault.
  4. Damages: As a result of the injury caused by the defendant’s breach of duty, you have incurred expenses and other damages that must be repaid. 

 

Successfully demonstrating these elements in insurance negotiations or a court of law requires you to provide a preponderance of the evidence. With insurance companies, you may be able to settle without proceeding to a trial. However, your TBI attorneys may advise you to file a personal injury lawsuit in the event the insurance provider will not meet your demands.

How The Jaklitsch Law Group Fights for Your Rights

The physical and emotional damage you suffer after a traumatic brain injury can be exhausting. You must focus on getting better and returning to your usual activities, with little time or energy to fight insurance companies for the compensation you need. Fortunately, you can rely on the accomplished team at The Jaklitsch Law Group to manage the legal complexities for you.

We prepare for the courtroom from Day One, assembling the evidence we can use to conduct powerful negotiations with insurance companies. When they learn you have a respected law firm on your side, they are often more willing to compromise and offer a satisfactory settlement. If they do not provide the offer you need, we are ready to move to trial and continue protecting your right to seek compensation.

We have 25 years of experience as a firm managing claims to ensure our clients receive superior legal representation. We understand how demanding it can be to manage your injuries, and we know you do not need more stress from your traumatic brain injury claim. That is why you can rest easy knowing we are fighting for your best interests all the way.

You Must Not Delay Getting Legal Help After a Traumatic Brain Injury

One of the most important concerns when filing a personal injury claim is ensuring you do not miss the statute of limitations for your case. In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date of your injury to file your lawsuit. However, there are other instances where you may have less or more time.

It is crucial to act right away to speak with an attorney who can explain these differences to you. The time limit can vary for instances such as if the victim is a minor (under 18), if your injury was the result of medical malpractice, or if a government agency is involved. Rather than miss your opportunity to seek justice through the court system, arrange to meet with a TBI attorney to discuss your case in detail.

The Jaklitsch Law Group Is Here for You

Do not wait any longer to reach out for experienced and compassionate guidance from a respected team of Maryland brain injury lawyers. We work tirelessly for your needs, building the most robust case possible to secure appropriate compensation for your losses. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and discuss your TBI case today.

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