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A concussion can be easy to dismiss at first, but when symptoms linger or worsen, a Washington, DC brain injury lawyer becomes essential to protecting your health, livelihood, and legal rights. Proving the full impact requires careful medical documentation, experienced legal judgment, and the willingness to challenge attempts to minimize the injury. At Regan Zambri Long, our brain injury attorneys work with top medical and technical experts to build claims that withstand scrutiny. That approach is reflected in more than 100 5 star Google reviews.
We’re consistently honored by Best Lawyers among their Best Law Firms in America, with board-certified partners who have been named their Lawyer of the Year on numerous occasions. Our award-winning attorneys bring nearly 200 years of combined experience, and have recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including brain injury recoveries of $20 million, $16 million, $10.6 million, $6.2 million, and $5.3 million.
Have you suffered a concussion due to someone else’s negligence? Contact Regan Zambri Long today, and one of our attorneys will call you back. We’re available 24/7 and there’s no fee unless we win your case.
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A concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury caused by a sudden movement that shakes or bounces the brain around the skull. Though often not life-threatening, concussions are still traumatic brain injuries and need to be treated as such.
A 2025 survey found that 29% of U.S. adults reported having been knocked out, felt dazed or confused, or experienced gaps in memory at some point after being hit in the head, illustrating how frequently head impacts can involve neurological effects.
Someone with a head injury might display any or all of the following signs:
Additionally, someone with a brain injury is likely to experience post-concussion headaches, nausea, balance problems, dizziness, blurry vision, noise and/or light sensitivity, and sluggishness. A head injury can take time to reveal its seriousness, so it is important to seek medical attention quickly and to continue monitoring the injured person for worsening or increasing signs and symptoms.
Any kind of head injury can result in a concussion. One pervasive myth about concussions is that you must hit your head to have a concussion. In reality, a concussion occurs when the brain moves rapidly inside the skull, meaning any incident that jolts or shakes your body can cause this kind of injury—even without direct head impact. Since symptoms of a concussion can take up to 48 hours to appear, it’s important not to dismiss the possibility of an injury just because someone initially feels fine.
Medical experts estimate that emergency departments across the United States treat between one and three million people each year for concussion related injuries, highlighting just how common these cases are in everyday accidents.
Common causes of these traumatic brain injuries include:
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of concussions. Even with functioning seat belts and airbags, the force of a collision can jolt the body enough to cause mild or severe concussions. A concussion can occur even if your head doesn’t strike anything—whiplash alone can cause the brain to move inside the skull, leading to injury. Motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians are at an even higher risk of sustaining brain injuries during accidents because they lack the same level of protection that vehicle occupants have. Whether the collision involves another vehicle or a stationary object, the lack of protection significantly increases the likelihood of a serious concussion.
Sports and recreational activities are another common source of concussion injuries. While contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer are well-known for causing concussions, other sports such as basketball, baseball, and softball also see high rates of brain injuries each year. Even seemingly low-risk activities, like playground games or skiing, can result in concussions from falls or collisions.
Recent data highlights how widespread these injuries are among young athletes, with 14.2% of U.S. high school students reporting that they sustained a concussion while playing sports or engaging in physical activity in 2023.
It’s critical to recognize that concussions aren’t limited to contact sports. Non-contact activities like biking, running, or even working out at the gym can lead to serious head injuries. For both children and adults, early treatment is essential to prevent long-term damage from repeated concussions or untreated injuries.
Contact our experienced DC personal injury lawyers today to discuss your case and schedule a free consultation. We’re here to help you get the care and compensation you deserve.
Slips, trips, and falls are surprisingly frequent causes of concussions, yet they often go unreported because people don’t always seek medical attention right away. Falls may occur at work, in stores, or even at home, and while negligence isn’t a factor in every case, it’s important to know that if a hazardous condition caused your fall, you could be entitled to compensation. Pay close attention to how you feel after a fall — headaches, dizziness, or confusion could all point to a concussion. If symptoms persist or worsen, don’t delay seeking medical care. Early diagnosis can prevent more serious complications.
Contact our experienced DC personal injury lawyers today to discuss your case and schedule a free consultation. We’re here to help you get the care and compensation you deserve.
The value of a concussion claim can vary widely depending on several key factors. While there is no set amount for these types of claims, settlements and awards can range from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars or more. Here’s what determines how much your concussion claim might be worth:
If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion due to someone else’s negligence, a Regan Zambri Long personal injury lawyer can help assess your claim’s value and fight to secure the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury that was the direct result of someone’s negligence, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your medical costs, suffering, and any lost wages or earning potential. While some injury claims are more straightforward, others may require more detailed legal support.
If you sustained a concussion in a motor vehicle accident, a personal injury claim can hold the negligent driver liable and recover your compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and any lost wages. Your brain concussion injury lawyer will be able to walk you through the process of making your personal injury claim.
For head injuries sustained during sports, you will want to consult with an experienced concussion or brain concussion injury lawyer right away. In some cases, you may not be eligible for compensation because no one was negligent. Since many sports involve inherent risks, participants are generally expected to understand and accept those risks. This assumption of risk is often confirmed through waivers that limit the liability of leagues, schools, or organizations. In these cases, pursuing compensation can be tricky unless negligence or misconduct is involved.
Even if an activity involves assumed risks, you may still have a case if negligence played a role. For example:
Navigating a personal injury claim involving a brain injury can be complicated, especially when dealing with sports-related incidents or cases involving multiple parties. An experienced Regan Zambri Long concussion injury lawyer can evaluate your situation, determine whether negligence was a factor, and guide you through the legal process to help you secure fair compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Unfortunately, several pervasive myths can cause people to dismiss a concussion and thereby be at greater risk for complications or long-term effects. Understanding the truth behind these myths is essential for proper treatment and recovery.
Many people believe that losing consciousness is a defining sign of a concussion. However, the reality is that most concussions don’t cause a loss of consciousness. Even when someone does pass out, it doesn’t necessarily indicate a more severe injury. Concussions vary in severity, and their symptoms can present in different ways.
Though direct blows to the head cause many concussions, any force that causes your brain to shake within your skull can result in a concussion. An abrupt bump or jolt to your body, such as falling down the stairs, can cause a concussion even if your head didn’t make direct contact with anything.
It’s a mistake to assume that concussion symptoms always show up immediately after the injury. It can take hours or even days for symptoms of a concussion to show. Even if some symptoms, such as headache or dizziness, have come and gone, other symptoms like memory issues, difficulty concentrating, or fatigue—may take hours or even days to develop. This delayed onset can lead people to believe they’re fine when they actually need medical attention.
Just because you feel okay doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Since symptoms can take time to manifest, you should take it easy until you have been medically cleared. Whether it’s work or a sport, engaging in the activity before fully recovering—even if you feel okay—can lead to complications later on.
If you or your loved one has suffered a concussion due to someone’s negligence, it is important to be aware of these myths to ensure proper care and avoid unnecessary risks. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long can help you recover the compensation you are due.
If a concussion is very severe, the victim may experience difficulty with memory, thinking, coordination, speech, hearing, vision, and mood swings. This, in turn, can pose challenges with personal relationships, getting or keeping gainful employment, daily routines, and general quality of life.
Research has also linked prior concussions to ongoing safety risks in everyday activities, with one study finding that patients who had experienced a concussion were 49% more likely to be involved in a traffic crash, suggesting that lingering effects such as slowed reaction time or impaired attention may persist beyond initial recovery.
Some people will experience post-concussion syndrome, where some of the symptoms of brain trauma linger for months after the initial injury.
A one-off accident that causes a concussion might not cause long-term effects, but multiple head injuries can compound the symptoms. Particularly for athletes of all ages, returning to the game before fully recovering or sustaining multiple concussions (with or without a full recovery between injuries) increases the risk of permanent damage to the brain. Second impact syndrome and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) are two conditions linked with multiple concussions, and both can be serious.
Most mild concussions heal on their own and only require monitoring. But sometimes symptoms linger after the expected recovery period, leading to persistent post-concussive symptoms (also called post-concussive syndrome). The lingering symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and impaired concentration and memory functions. Clinical research suggests that these prolonged symptoms are not uncommon, with estimates indicating that 15% of patients who sustain a mild traumatic brain injury go on to develop post-concussive syndrome.
Research from the Canadian Concussion Centre highlights how significant these effects can be. In a study of motor vehicle occupants with post-concussive syndrome, the most commonly reported symptoms included headaches in 84.6% of patients, anxiety in 72.8%, sensitivity to light in 70.6%, memory problems in 69.9%, and sensitivity to noise in 66.2%. Many patients continued to experience symptoms for months or even years after the initial injury.
Though they usually go away within three months, sometimes symptoms can last a year or longer. You should seek medical attention for any injury that results in confusion or memory loss, even if you did not lose consciousness. If you experience several concussion-related symptoms, you should seek medical attention.
However your concussion happened, we believe that the liable party or parties should be held accountable. Our team has recovered millions of dollars for brain injury clients, including a $6.2 million recovery for a skiing accident that is the largest verdict rendered in Albemarle County, Virginia, and the largest verdict upheld against a ski operator in the country.
That result is part of a broader body of work in concussion and traumatic brain injury litigation. We have secured significant recoveries in cases involving head trauma caused by vehicle collisions, unsafe properties, delayed diagnoses, and recreational accidents, including:
Cases like these demand trial readiness and deep familiarity with complex medical evidence.
All six of our partners have been named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, placing them among fewer than 0.4% of personal injury lawyers nationwide.
Our attorneys are also widely respected within the Washington, DC legal community. Super Lawyers has named Salvatore Zambri among the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, while Paul Cornoni and Patrick Regan have been named among the Top 100. Washingtonian Magazine has recognized Salvatore Zambri as a “Big Gun,” among the “Top 1%,” and as one of Washington’s most honest and effective lawyers. Patrick Regan has been described by Washingtonian as a “poster boy for legal ethics and integrity” and as one of the District’s most successful advocates in negligence cases.
Professional respect also extends beyond the courtroom. Paul Cornoni was honored as the District of Columbia Bar Association’s 2025 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for his work on behalf of vulnerable residents across the District. Both Paul Cornoni and Salvatore Zambri have been named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association.
That experience is supported by formal credentials. All three 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, and each is also AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest level of peer-reviewed professional recognition.
Any accident that involves head injury—whether it’s bumping or banging your head or a full-body impact—can cause a concussion. Additionally, any accident that is significantly jarring or causes whiplash, even without direct head trauma, can lead to a concussion.
Car and motorcycle accidents, bike and ATV accidents, assault or domestic violence, and professional sports such as football, hockey, or soccer are some of the most common causes of concussions. Slips and falls can also cause a concussion, if your head hits the ground or another object with enough force or if you experience significant whiplash. Many work-related concussion accidents result from slipping or tripping and falling.
Car and motorcycle accidents, bike and ATV accidents, assault or domestic violence, and professional sports such as football, hockey, or soccer are some of the most common causes of concussions. Slips and falls can also cause a concussion, if your head hits the ground or another object with enough force or if you experience significant whiplash. Many work-related concussion accidents result from slipping or tripping and falling.
Someone with a concussion will experience some or all of the following symptoms:
If a concussion is very severe, the victim may experience difficulty with memory, thinking, coordination, speech, hearing, vision, and mood swings. This in turn can pose challenges with personal relationships, getting or keeping gainful employment, daily routines, and general quality of life.
Some people will experience post-concussion syndrome, where some of the symptoms of the brain trauma linger for months after the initial injury.
A one-off accident that causes a concussion might not cause long-term effects, but multiple head injuries can compound the symptoms. Particularly for athletes of all ages, returning to the game before fully recovering or sustaining multiple concussions (with or without a full recovery between injuries) increases the risk of permanent damage to the brain. Second impact syndrome and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) are two conditions linked with multiple concussions and both can be serious.
Most mild concussions heal on their own and only require monitoring. But sometimes symptoms linger after the expected recovery period, leading to persistent post-concussive symptoms (also called post-concussive syndrome).
The lingering symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and impaired concentration and memory functions. Though they usually go away within three months, sometimes symptoms can last a year or longer.
You should seek medical attention for any injury that results in confusion or memory loss, even if you did not lose consciousness. If you experience several concussion-related symptoms you should seek medical attention.
Justice shouldn’t be hindered by money, so Regan Zambri Long works on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay any legal fees until we’ve won a recovery in your favor. We focus on justice so you can focus on recovery.
Schedule your free case evaluation today by filling in our online form or calling 202-946-5322.
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.