Concussions & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) After A Car Accident

If you sustained a head injury in a crash, our attorneys can fight for your rights

Some of the most common – and most serious – types of head injuries people sustain in car accidents are concussions. Sometimes referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI), concussions can be very serious and often demand immediate medical treatment. Otherwise, you might not fully recover, and your medical issues could potentially get worse.

Our Maryland concussion lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan know what’s at stake. That’s why we want to help. When you have our legal team on your side, you can focus on getting the medical care you need for your concussion or another type of TBI. Meanwhile, you can count on us to build the strongest possible legal case on your behalf.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects a person’s brain and their ability to think and perform other brain functions. Concussions are often classified into three categories based on the severity of the injury and whether someone was unconscious at the time of the accident.

Grade 1 concussion (mild concussion) – Victim did not lose consciousness and symptoms only lasted a few minutes.
Grade 2 concussion (moderate concussion) – Victim does not lose consciousness but concussion symptoms last more than several minutes.
Grade 3 concussion (severe concussion) – Victim loses consciousness and is at risk of permanent brain damage due to their head injury.

Types of traumatic brain injuries

Along with concussions, other types of traumatic brain injuries sustained in car accidents are often classified into two, general categories:

Non-penetrating TBI – Brain injury that occurs without an object penetrating the skull.
Penetrating TBI – Sharp object pierces the skull and injures the brain.

More broadly, specific types of traumatic brain injuries include:

Brain hemorrhage – Bleeding in the brain or around the brain.
Contusion – Bruising of the brain, which also often involves bleeding in the brain.
Coup-Contrecoup Injury – Brain injury that involves a blow and a second counterblow to the head. These injuries are especially common in car accidents, especially if someone’s head hits the steering wheel in a car crash.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) – Injury to the connective brain fibers caused by the brain being shaken or twisted, something that often occurs in car accidents.
Intracranial Hematoma – Blood collecting in the brain, often due to a blow to the head.

Warning signs of a concussion

There are many common symptoms of a concussion and other types of traumatic brain injuries, including:

Dizziness or poor balance.
Frequent headaches.
Confusion or memory loss.
Nausea or vomiting.
Slurred speech or difficulty talking.

Medical tests & treatments for concussions

Medical tests used to diagnose a concussion or TBI often involve brain imaging tests. These tests often include X-Rays, MRIs, and CT Scans. Once a doctor has diagnosed your concussion or brain injury, medical treatments vary depending on what type of brain injury you sustained. Common treatments often include:

Resting and avoiding bright lights or other visual distractions.
Being carefully monitored by doctors, sometimes in a hospital setting.
Brain surgery, especially if there is internal bleeding.
Pain relief medications in certain circumstances.

How much is my concussion claim worth?

Expenses can add up fast when it comes to concussions, TBIs, and other brain injuries sustained in car accidents. And if another driver caused your collision in Maryland, you should be fully compensated for all your accident-related expenses. This is because Maryland has an at-fault car insurance system, in which the at-fault party is responsible for paying injury victims for all their accident expenses.

In cases involving concussions and TBIs, such expenses often include:

Total cost of all medical care, including diagnostic medical tests and future medical care.
Vehicle repairs or the cost of buying a new car if yours was totaled in the accident.
Replacement income while you stay home to rest and recover from your accident.
Lost future income if you cannot return to work or can only work in a limited capacity due to a permanent disability such as permanent brain damage.

Don’t underestimate the severity of a concussion

The stakes are high in TBI cases involving a serious car accident. Worst of all, many insurance companies do everything they can to pay injury victims as little as possible or nothing at all. When this happens, having an experienced brain injury lawyer on your side can often make a dramatic difference in the outcome of your legal case.

Our Maryland concussion attorneys at Goldberg Finnegan know how to handle complex legal cases. That’s because we have years of experience negotiating settlements and filing concussion injury claims in courts throughout Maryland. Put our knowledge and experience to work for you. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation right now.