Washington, DC Child Brain Injury Lawyer

Has Your Child Suffered a Brain Injury?

If your child suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you need a Washington, DC child brain injury lawyer to ensure you receive the maximum compensation. Over 500,000 children are seen in emergency rooms each year for brain injuries, making it the leading cause of death in American children and adolescents and Regan Zambri Long’s award-winning attorneys bring nearly 200 years of combined experience to complex litigation.

We have recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including significant brain injury recoveries of $20 million, $16 million, $10.6 million, and $6.2 million. Our board certified partners are all named among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers nationwide, and we are consistently listed among the Best Law Firms in America. We take on the financial burden so families can focus on their child’s care and treatment, while working with top pediatric and medical experts and committing the full resources and skills of our firm to every case. That approach is reflected in over 100 5 star Google reviews.

Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our child brain injury attorneys will return your call. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you don’t pay unless we win your case.

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Why Do I Need Regan Zambri Long’s Child Brain Injury Lawyer For My Case?

Legally, you never have to hire a lawyer to represent you in a claim. However, there are benefits to doing so. By consulting with a DC child brain injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long, you will have a trusted team of advocates who will:

 

  • Investigate your claim. This includes speaking with witnesses, reviewing medical records, and asking tough questions about what went wrong.
  • Gather evidence. Be it a police report from a car accident, medical notes from labor gone wrong, or visiting the playground where the accident occurred, a Washington, DC brain injury lawyer will leave no stone unturned to support your case.
  • Handle negotiations. Most personal injury cases end in a settlement, but working with insurance companies can be overwhelming. We’ll handle negotiations so you can take care of your family.
  • Represent your family in court. Sometimes, a trial is the only way to reach a fair conclusion in complex cases. Our DC brain injury lawyer will stand by your side as your trusted advocate.

Over the last three decades, we have recovered more than $1 billion in personal injury settlements and verdicts, including multimillion-dollar results in cases involving traumatic brain injuries:

 

  • $20 million verdict in a case involving brain injury and paralysis of a teenager struck by a Smithsonian Institution bus
  • $16 million settlement for a young professional who suffered traumatic brain damage due to a dangerous property condition
  • $10.6 million settlement for an automobile collision resulting in traumatic brain injury and paraplegia
  • $6.2 million verdict for a skier who suffered a traumatic brain injury at a Virginia ski resort
  • $5.3 million verdict for a delayed diagnosis of a brain injury
  • $5 million verdict for a teenager who fell from a high diving board and sustained a traumatic brain injury

 

Those outcomes come from how we prepare cases and who is involved in handling them. All three of our founding partners are board-certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a distinction held by a small percentage of lawyers nationwide. Each is also AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest level of peer-reviewed professional recognition.

 

Our experience is especially important in child brain injury and birth injury cases. Partner Jacqueline Colclough brings decades of insight as both an obstetrical and neonatal nurse and a trial lawyer, giving her a detailed understanding of how medical decisions during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can affect a child’s neurological outcome. She was named a Best Lawyer in 2024 and 2025 for Medical Malpractice Law by Best Lawyers, which has also recognized our attorneys as Lawyer of the Year on multiple occasions in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Litigation.

 

We also remain deeply involved in the Washington, DC trial community. Jacqueline and fellow partner Christopher Regan currently serve on the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association, and our remaining partners have each served as President of the Association. Several of our partners are fellows of invitation-only organizations such as the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the International Society of Barristers. Patrick Regan and Salvatore Zambri have also served as President of the DC Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, with Salvatore Zambri acting as the chapter’s National Board Representative.

 

That leadership is matched by individual recognition. Salvatore Zambri has been named among the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, while Paul Cornoni and Patrick Regan have been named to the Top 100 Super Lawyers in the District.

 

At the end of the day, choosing a lawyer for a child brain injury case is about trust. Families come to us when the stakes are high, and the consequences may last a lifetime. We take that responsibility seriously and handle these cases with the care, preparation, and resolve they require.

How Can Our Washington, DC Child Brain Injury Lawyers Help Your Family?

We deeply understand what you and your family are going through. All DC parents have one thing in common – they want to keep their children safe. Watching your child suffer a traumatic brain injury is excruciating for any parent. We can help.

 

While you focus on your child’s health and recovery, we can take over the claims process. Going up against insurance companies can be intimidating. When you’re taking care of a sick child, it becomes almost impossible. We will work with a team of medical professionals and legal experts to build a rock-solid case to secure you and your family the highest compensation possible.

 

We know we cannot change what happened to your child, but we can work to secure the maximum amount of compensation so you have the time and financial resources to be with your child during the healing process. Call today for a free consultation with an expert DC child head injury lawyer. Let us walk alongside you and help you and your family recover and return to normal as quickly as possible.

How Do Child Brain Injuries Happen?

All parents know accidents can happen in many kinds of ways and we can’t avoid every single one. However, parents and guardians should know the more common ways children tend to suffer brain injuries so they can be on the lookout and help try to prevent an accident. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the most common causes of child brain injuries are:

Falls

Over half of all child brain injuries occur from slip and fall accidents (50.2%), mostly around the ages of 0-4. Children can suffer brain injuries from falling from unsafe playground equipment at a local park, a school, or a friend’s house. A 2025 study found that among children who sustained a traumatic brain injury in the past year, 55.5% were injured during a sport or recreational activity, highlighting how common brain injuries are during everyday play and physical activity.

 

Washington DC is full of destination playgrounds for children, including Anacostia Park Playground, Palisades Playground and Splash Park, and Chestnut Hills Park in Arlington, Virginia. While these are excellent choices for young children, they also pose a risk for slips and falls leading to brain injuries.

Being struck

Children being struck and suffering a brain injury account for 24.8% of reported child brain injuries. Sometimes, this can happen when kids are playing sports and are struck by a ball or another player.

Motor vehicle accidents

While this is the third-leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in children, it is also the third-leading cause of brain injuries among all age groups. The impact of a car accident can cause severe damage to a child and accounts for 6.8% of all childhood brain injuries.

Assault

Tragically, a child can suffer head injuries from abuse. Abusive head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome, can be caused by throwing something at the child, hitting the child, or jerking the child so hard it causes a whiplash effect. It can be deadly or leave the child severely injured or disabled for his or her entire lifetime.

 

Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that there are approximately 1,300 reported cases of shaken baby syndrome each year in the United States, with about one quarter of affected children dying as a result of their injuries. Intentional harm accounts for a measurable share of children’s brain injuries seen in ERs, with 6% of non-fatal traumatic brain injuries among infants, children, and adolescents ages 0 through 19 classified as intentional and most often linked to assault.

Birth Injuries

Injuries to a baby can occur at any point during a woman’s pregnancy and, unfortunately, many cannot be prevented. However, medical negligence is a common occurrence in Washington DC, and across the United States. Birth injuries that can directly result in damage to the child’s brain are:

 

  • Incorrect use of vacuum suction or forceps during delivery.
  • Misuse of Pitocin.
  • Failure to treat placental abruption.
  • Failure to monitor a larger or premature baby.
  • Failure to order a c-section.

These mistakes can lead to neonatal strokes, which is one of the most common causes of neurological impairment in children.

 

Other causes of brain injuries may include:

 

If your child suffered a brain injury due to negligence, a Washington DC child injury attorney from Regan Zambri Long can guide you through the legal process to help you secure compensation for your child’s injuries.

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What Are the Common Side Effects of Child Brain Injuries in Washington, DC?

Because their brains are developing, children may have a wide range of symptoms following a brain injury. As a parent or guardian, there are signs you want to look for immediately following an accident or injury and signs you may need to keep an eye on months after the incident.

 

If your child experiences any of the following symptoms immediately or soon after suffering head trauma, make sure to get them to the nearest hospital for a full evaluation:

 

  • Loss of consciousness
  •  Sweating
  •  Nausea or vomiting
  •  Seizure
  •  Severe headache
  •  Confusion
  •  Slurred speech
  •  Dizziness
  •  Blood or fluid from the nose or ears
  •  Stiff neck
  •  Weakness or numbness in any part of their body
  •  Lack of balance or coordination
  •  Has a hard time seeing or talking
  •  Double vision
  •  Sensitivity to light

Not all injuries are visible right away. If your child suffered a brain injury, you must be vigilant and take note of any symptoms that develop over the next several months. If your child experiences any of the following in the weeks or months following the accident, make sure to seek medical attention:

 

  • Changes in behavior (extremely tired, irritable, or other abnormal behaviors)
  • Cannot remember instructions
  • Cannot stay focused
  • Cannot stop crying
  • Cannot communicate effectively
  • Inability to express appropriate emotions
  • Changes in vision (perception, color, shape, depth, and distance)
  • Double vision
  • Lack of short-term memory
  • Inability to formulate organized thoughts

If your baby or toddler suffered a head injury, look for the following symptoms:

 

  • Changes in nursing habits
  • Changes in play
  • Changes in sleeping habits
  • Persistent crying
  • Loss of a new skill or newly learned language
  • Loss of balance or unsteady walking

A brain injury is nothing to ignore and if it goes untreated, it can have long-term implications. Seek medical attention right away and call a Washington DC child injury lawyer to protect your family.

What Types of Brain Injuries Can Children Suffer?

Children can suffer different types of brain injuries with varying degrees of severity. It is extremely important to know the differences between these injuries—even the mildest head injuries can cause long-term disabilities in children. To recognize the different types of brain injuries, we need to understand what a brain injury is.

Head injuries are injuries that occur to the scalp, skull, brain, and underlying tissue and blood vessels in a child’s head. They can range from very mild, to extremely dangerous, even deadly. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head. The different brain injuries a child can sustain are:

Concussion

A concussion is the most common traumatic brain injury. Though many believe concussions are minor injuries, they can cause real damage to the child, including loss of awareness or consciousness for a few minutes up to a few hours after the incident. Concussions may take a few days to heal, but can also cause long-term harm.

 

Recent research highlights how frequently concussions affect children and how easily they can go unrecognized. A 2024 study found that 8.7% of American children had previously experienced symptoms consistent with a concussion. The same research showed that nearly 23% of children who displayed concussion symptoms were never evaluated for a head injury, with younger children more likely to miss timely assessment following symptomatic head trauma.

Contusion

This type of injury is a bruise to the brain. It causes bleeding and swelling inside of the brain in one of two places: around the area where the injury occurred or on the opposite side of the head from the brain hitting the skull.

Skull fracture

Skull fractures are breaks in the actual skull bone. There are four types of skull fractures:

 

  • Linear skull fracture: These skull fractures do not move the bone. When these types of fractures happen, children will most likely not need intervention and can resume normal activities within a few days.
  • Depressed skull fractures: These fractures happen when part of the skull sinks from the head trauma. It leads to the inner part of the skull being pressed against the brain and needs surgical correction.
  • Diastatic skull fractures: These fractures happen along the suture lines. Suture lines are areas between the bones in a child’s head that fuse together as the child grows. If a child sustains a fracture, the normal suture lines are widened and cannot fuse together normally.
  • Basilar skull fracture: These fractures occur when the bone is broken at the base of a child’s skull. A common symptom of these fractures is bruising around the eyes and behind the ears. Clear fluid may drain from their nose and ears. This is a serious head injury that requires medical attention and observation for several days.

The severity of the head injury also depends on what part of the child’s brain is affected. For example, if a child suffers a head injury in his or her frontal lobe, it can affect their memory, emotions, impulse control, motor function, and social interactions. If the injury occurred in the child’s cerebellum, coordination may be affected, as well as the ability to judge distance and depth. Cerebellum injuries in children may also cause tremors. Finally, if a child’s brain injury occurs in the brainstem, the child may suffer coma, paralysis, or death.

 

Treatments for these injuries, especially the more severe brain injuries, are extremely expensive and can send a family into financial distress very quickly. If your family is going through this, reach out to the Regan Zambri Long child brain injury lawyers. We can walk you through the claims process and help you recover damages for medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

Who Can Be Held Liable For a Child’s Brain Injury in Washington, DC?

Child brain injury claims can get very complicated very quickly because there may be more than one party at fault. The first thing our child brain injury lawyers will do is determine which party or parties are liable for your child’s injury. The negligent parties can include:

 

  • Medical personnel, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals
  • Product manufacturers (makers of defective baby toys or furniture that lead to your child’s brain injury)
  • Childcare providers
  • Negligent driver (if your child’s injury was caused by a car accident)
  • Homeowner or business owner (if your child’s injury resulted from a slip and fall at someone’s house or business).

The best way to prove fault in your child’s injury case is to call a DC child injury attorney right away for a free case evaluation. From there, Regan Zambri Long will build your claim, establish liability, and fight for just compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Brain Injury in Washington, DC

How can child brain injuries be prevented?

The Children’s Safety Network highlights useful tips to help prevent child head trauma. The tips include:

 

  • Educating new parents on the prevention of Shaken Baby syndrome
  • Installing safety gates and window guards to prevent your toddler or young child from falling down the stairs or out of a window.
  • Always buckle your baby in a safe car seat when driving. If your child is too old for a car seat, make sure they are wearing their safety belts or using child safety seats or booster seats.
  • Encourage schools and local playgrounds to provide a soft landing surface for playground equipment.
  • Make sure your child uses protective equipment when they are engaging in sports or physical activities
  • Educate parents and coaches about the risks of sport-related traumatic brain injuries. Teach them the signs and symptoms to look out for so they know to ask for medical intervention soon after an incident occurs.

What are treatment options for child brain injuries?

Treatment will be individualized to your child, depending on the type and severity of the brain injury. If your child suffered a mild brain injury, the treatment may be as simple as putting ice on his or her head and resting for several days. However, if the injury is more severe, the child may need to be hospitalized for observation. They may need stitches, sedation, or surgery.

 

If your child suffered long-term and possibly debilitating effects from the traumatic brain injury, their treatment plan would be more intense. Your child may need rehabilitation to learn to walk, write, or talk again. Physical and occupational therapy may be necessary in order to relearn everyday tasks and coordination skills. They may undergo cognitive therapy, as well, which will help your child improve their memory, judgment, learning, and attention skills.

 

Remember, if your child’s injury was due to negligence, you have legal rights. Call a Washington DC brain injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long to learn how we can help.

How Are Child Brain Injuries Diagnosed?

If your child experiences head trauma, the most important thing to do is seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor will thoroughly examine your child’s injuries, including a complete medical history, to determine the extent. The diagnostic tests your child may undergo following a head injury are:

 

  • X-rays
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan)
  • Blood tests
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)

If your doctor fails to order the necessary tests to diagnose a brain injury and your child becomes worse, you may have a case for medical negligence. A DC brain injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long can review your case to determine if you have legal recourse.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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