Concussions and Closed-Head Trauma Caused by Traffic Collisions
Getting into a car accident, motorcycle crash or commercial trucking wreck is actually easier than some people may realize. The fact of the matter is, thousands of motorists come within a few seconds of a roadway disaster every day and probably never realize it. As professional automobile accident attorneys, one of the things that amaze us is how many people avoid being involved in traffic accidents each day in cities like Rockville, Gaithersburg, Bowie and Washington, D.C.
Of the thousands of car and truck accidents that take place in Maryland each year, about 600 people are killed in fatal crashes. While the death of any individual caused by an automobile accident is certainly tragic, it’s instructive to understand that traffic deaths are relatively low when compared to the annual number of auto-related injury accidents; here in Maryland, out of approximately 100,000 roadway collisions each year, more than 50,000 people sustain some level of personal injury.
Sadly, surviving a bad car crash can sometimes mean a lifetime of pain and discomfort. While many people are hurt in road accidents, a fair percentage of those injured recover fully to go on and live long, full lives. However, some unlucky individuals can receive serious head, neck and back injuries, the effects of which can stay with the victim for months or years to come. For a portion of those car accident victims, they may even face a lifetime of chronic pain and physical dysfunction requiring frequent medical visits and sometimes continuous nursing care.
As Maryland personal injury attorneys, the legal professionals at the law offices of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, know how quickly a simple error on one driver’s part can translate into a serious auto collision that can affect one or more people for the rest of their lives. Not only the victims, but their families as well can suffer because of the thoughtless or negligent actions of just one person.
There is no lack of data showing the number of brain and spinal cord injuries due to car, truck and motorcycle wrecks. Whether caused by a distracted individual, inexperienced younger motorist, drunk driver, or impatient person behind the wheel, the results can often be just as bad depending on the circumstances of the crash. In many cases, serious head trauma or spinal cord injury can send a person into the hospital for weeks or months.
As seasoned automobile accident lawyers, Lebowitz & Mzhen is ready to assist victims and their families in filing injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits. Closed-head injuries are some of the worst and longest-term injuries that victims of automobile, motorcycle and commercial trucking accidents can experience. In fact, simply dealing with a brain concussion following an accident can be very distressing to an otherwise healthy individual.
Quite often, concussions are discussed in terms of sports injuries, but these potentially debilitating injuries can also come about due to traffic collisions and even simple bicycle accidents. Basically, concussions are simply one of the many kinds of brain injuries; they typically result from a blow to the head, which causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth within the confines of the skull. The collision with the skull not only can cause traumatic injury to the brain, but the fact that the injury is hidden from view makes detection difficult.
Because of this, the outward signs and physical symptoms of a concussion might not be obvious for hours or even days following the initial impact. This is why the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen highly recommend that anyone who has been involved in a traffic accident make certain to have a physician look them over carefully to rule out any serious neurological problems. Some of the more obvious signs of a concussion include the following:
- Loss of consciousness, even for a brief period
- Difficulty thinking
- Loss of balance
- Appearing dazed, confused or having a stunned look
- Numbness/tingling in the arms, legs or other extremities
- Difficulty recalling events prior to or after the collision
- Disruption in one’s sleep schedule; longer/shorter sleep duration; or extreme difficulty when trying to fall asleep
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Excessive fatigue or a feeling of grogginess
- Increased sensitivity to light or noise
- Sensation of pressure inside one’s head
- Severe headaches
- Experiencing greater than normal emotional reaction to events and people; feeling very sad, crying for little or no reason, being irritable, exhibiting an level of nervousness
Because concussions and other brain injuries cannot be physically seen, it is difficult to know for certain when an individual’s injuries are getting better or subsiding. Because most patients need time and rest to recover, it is important to avoid any strenuous physical activity until advised by a doctor. Furthermore, mental activities involving more intense concentration, or even the use of a computer or playing video games should also be discontinued while recovering from a concussion.
The attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen know that depending on the severity of a concussion, symptoms can recur at almost any time following the initial accident with dangerous results. Such flare-ups can even be life threatening. For this reason, we take very seriously the circumstances of clients who have received a brain-related injury, and work diligently to assist them as they pursue any personal injury claims against the party(s) responsible for the original auto accident.
It is also important for parents of small children to understand that closed-head injuries are the leading cause of death in kids under four years of age. Brain trauma is also one of the most common causes of physical disability and cognitive impairment in young people. As automobile accident attorneys, the professionals at Lebowitz & Mzhen understand the law and how it should be applied to injury claims involving traffic accidents.
If you or someone you love has been badly hurt as a result of car, truck or motorcycle crash caused by a negligent motorist, you should consider contacting a qualified personal injury lawyer. As skilled legal professionals, Lebowitz & Mzhen have the litigation experience, as well as the legal knowledge to prepare a strong personal injury lawsuit. Please feel free to contact our offices to schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys regarding your personal injury claim. You may email Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen, or call us toll-free at (800) 654-1949.