Rockville Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Know Your Rights with Our Rockville Personal Injury Law Firm

Each state and jurisdiction has different local and state laws regarding personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Fortunately for our clients, our Rockville personal injury law firm has practiced throughout Maryland, protecting brain injury victims for over two decades.

In Rockville, MD, victims of traumatic brain injuries caused by someone else’s negligence have specific legal rights. They include:

• Personal Injury Lawsuits: Injured people are entitled to seek compensation for long-term or permanent effects on their quality of life, including physical, mental, and emotional impairments​.
• Statute of Limitations: In Maryland, a TBI victim has three years from the date of the accident or injury to file a TBI lawsuit.
• Damages: People who suffered TBIs can claim economic damages for medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering​.
• Contributory Negligence: Maryland practices contributory negligence, which means the person who experienced the TBI must bear no responsibility for their injuries. They may be barred from recovering compensation if they are partially at fault.
• Third-Party Liability: Cases may involve third-party liability, where entities like organizations or manufacturers may be held responsible for injuries​.
• Wrongful Death: If a TBI results in death, family members can file for wrongful death, seeking compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and mental anguish​.

Common Causes and Types of Brain Injury Accidents in Rockville

Brain injuries are not to be taken lightly. Some incidents might seem minor at first but can lead to traumatic brain injury. According to the Brain Injury Association of Maryland, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Center for Environmental, Occupational, and Injury Epidemiology reported that in Maryland in 2021, there were 3,481 hospitalizations and 11,962 visits to emergency departments related to TBI. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that in 2022, there were 70,187 TBI-related deaths in the United States.

The common causes of brain and head injuries include:

• Slip and Falls: The leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, particularly among children and older adults, contributes to almost half of all TBI-related hospitalizations​.
• Car Accidents: One of the most common causes of brain and head injuries. The sudden jarring motion of motor vehicle accidents or steering wheel impact can cause the brain to collide with the skull, leading to severe TBI, also known as a diffuse axonal injury. Even if there is no apparent external injury, the impact can trigger internal trauma.
• Medical Negligence: Brain damage can occur from internal factors like tumors, infections, or lack of oxygen. Two types of non-traumatic brain injury are cerebral hypoxic brain injury (when there’s a decrease in oxygen to the brain) and cerebral anoxic brain injury (when there’s a complete lack of oxygen in the brain). These injuries can cause permanent harm to a patient, depending on how long the brain is without oxygen. Healthcare providers’ mistakes in anesthesia or medication can lead to these brain injuries. Nursing home abuse or neglect—such as failing to monitor residents with breathing difficulties or improperly administering medications—can also result in these types of brain injuries.
• Workplace Accidents: Construction and manufacturing are industries that account for a significant number of brain and head injuries. Heavy machinery, falls from heights, or mishaps with tools can all cause devastating accidents.
• Sports Injuries: Contact sports like football and hockey, as well as activities like skateboarding and cycling, have a higher risk of injuries to the brain and head.
• Firearm-Related Incidents: Gunshot wounds to the head are a significant cause of traumatic injuries, with firearm-related suicides being the most common cause of deaths related to TBIs in the U.S.​​
• Physical Assaults: Assaults, including intimate partner violence and shaken baby syndrome, are prevalent but frequently overlooked causes of TBIs. In children aged four and younger, assaults are the most likely cause of deaths related to TBIs. Additionally, a significant number of domestic violence survivors experience traumatic brain injuries, many of which are not reported​​.