Personal Injury Blog

Traumatic brain injuries happen as a result of a blow or jolt to the head, or a sudden movement to the head which can cause the brain to come into contact with the skull.  While some traumatic brain injuries resolve in days or weeks, others present symptoms that last a lifetime. Learn about some of the common causes of traumatic brain injuries to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Some of the common situations in which a person acquires a traumatic brain injury include car accidents, sports collisions, slip and fall accidents, assaults, and more.

Common forms of traumatic brain injuries are:

• Concussion: Concussions can be caused by an impact to the head or sudden and violent movement. A concussion can cause damage to the brain cells, and cranial nerves, and can take months or years to heal, or can even cause permanent symptoms.  
• Contusion: A contusion involves bruising and bleeding in the brain, which is one of the primary causes of serious and long-term damage.
• Coup-Contrecoup Contusion: If there is violent movement to the head, the brain can impact against the opposite side of the skull, causing severe bruising to the organ.
• Penetration: A penetration brain injury occurs when an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain.
• Diffuse Axonal: This happens when violent or rapid movement causes the skull to move faster than the brain, which may lead to nerves and brain tissue tearing. Whiplash often causes this type of traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries have the potential to change the course of your life and forever alter your health and independence. Many victims of severe traumatic brain injuries require long-term, live-in care and can no longer earn an income. This can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs.

If you or someone you love has acquired a traumatic brain injury in an accident, our Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys are here to help. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients who received a traumatic brain injury due to another’s negligence, and we are here to fight for you, too.

Contact Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. at (202) 644-8303 to learn how we can assist you.

A traumatic brain injury is one of the most serious injuries a person can experience due to its potential for serious, long-term consequences. Traumatic brain injuries can be mild, moderate, or severe, and each classification has unique symptoms and recovery prognoses.

Learn about mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injuries and the impact these types of injuries may have on a person’s health and independence.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to any damage caused to the brain by external forces, such as a blow or jolt to the head, or violent movement to the head which can cause the brain to forcefully contact that inside of the skull. Traumatic brain injuries can be mild, moderate, or severe.

Many victims of a traumatic brain injury do not notice significant symptoms of the traumatic brain injury until days, weeks, or even months after the injury occurred. This is because the brain is a complex system and each person responds to a traumatic brain injury differently. Additionally, since there are often no external symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, the diagnosis for such an injury may be missed or delayed because the victim may not know that something is wrong, or healthcare providers are focused on other injuries that a person may have suffered after a trauma.

Once symptoms do present themselves, victims often experience the following:

• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentration, speaking, or multitasking
• Blurred or double vision
• Change in personality
• Dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and vomiting
• Severe headaches
• Ringing in the ears

If you or someone you love was in an accident and now experiences these symptoms, schedule a doctor's appointment as soon as possible.

What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries have many causes, but typically occur when there is a force exerted on the brain. It can be from blunt force trauma to the head, or trauma to the body, that causes a violent movement of the head. Some of the most common situations in which a person acquires a traumatic brain injury include car accidents, sports accidents, assaults, slip and fall accidents, and more.

Some examples of traumatic brain injuries are:

• Concussion: Concussions can be caused by an impact to the head or sudden and violent movement. A concussion can cause damage to the cranial nerves, and can take months or years to heal.
• Contusion: A contusion involves bruising and bleeding in the brain, which is one of the primary causes of serious and long-term damage.
• Coup-Contrecoup Contusion: If the blow to the head is severe, the brain can impact against the opposite side of the skull, causing severe bruising to the organ.
• Penetration: A penetration brain injury occurs when an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain.
• Diffuse Axonal: This happens when violent or rapid movement causes the skull to move faster than the brain, which may lead to nerves and brain tissue tearing. Whiplash often causes this type of traumatic brain injury.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

A victim may have a mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury. It is important to keep in mind that the level of injury you receive does not necessarily indicate what your recovery process will be like. Some severe traumatic brain injury victims eventually recover from their injury, while some mild traumatic brain injury victims experience symptoms throughout the remainder of their lives.

Traumatic brain injuries can be classified into the following three categories:

• Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: This type of injury can occur with no loss of consciousness or very brief loss of consciousness, (or an altered state of consciousness) and often leaves the victim immediately feeling dazed or confused, after the event. Even though the medical literature refers to this a “mild” traumatic brain injury, it can have lifetime impacts.
• Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury: This type of injury causes a loss of consciousness for several minutes or several hours, and confusion which may last for weeks or months, immediately after the trauma. It too can cause a lifetime of symptoms.
• Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: This type of injury causes a loss of consciousness that lasts for days, weeks, or months, and can result in a coma or vegetative state. Victims of a severe traumatic brain injury often can no longer live independently or earn an income.

What is the Prognosis for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury has the potential to change the course of a victim’s life. While many victims of mild traumatic brain injuries see their symptoms resolve in days to weeks, many victims of traumatic brain injuries require long-term, live-in care and intensive rehabilitative care. This can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

This is why it is in your best interest to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can fight to recover the compensation you deserve following an accident that led to your traumatic brain injury. You have already paid for another’s negligence with your health; you should not have to pay with your life savings as well.

Our Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel are here to help protect your rights in the wake of a traumatic accident and injury. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of traumatic brain injury victims who have had their life turned upside-down due to the negligent actions of another.

Two of our partners are founders of the Brain Injury Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC, and the current President and Vice President. With our extensive brain injury experience, you can be sure that this is an area of law for which we are truly passionate.

We encourage you to contact Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today at (202) 644-8303 to learn how we can assist you.

Daylight Savings Time is Dangerous for Pedestrians

The rate of pedestrian fatalities is increasing. From 2017 to 2018, pedestrian deaths went up by 14%. In November of 2018, there were 292 pedestrian crashes in the D.C. region – more than any other month.

According to Michael Farrell of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), this added risk can be attributed to daylight savings time, which will go into effect this Sunday, Nov. 3. Farrell stated:

“It’s the most dangerous time of the year. There are more hours of darkness and the weather is good. They [pedestrians] are more likely to get hit.”

Advice for Pedestrians

As part of the MWCOG’s new Street Smart campaign, experts recommend the following:

• If you are going for a walk, do not wear dark clothing.
• Remember that a crosswalk is not a guarantee that you’ll be seen.

Awareness for Drivers

For motorists, Street Smart will run ads on the back of buses and at gas stations, encouraging drivers to slow down and pay attention. Ads and video testimonials will also be released online to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of pedestrian accidents. Farrell sums it up:

“The more time you spend looking down at the road, the more likely you are to kill someone else or yourself. They [drivers] need to look out for other people.”

Other Threats in November

The day before Thanksgiving is known as “Blackout Wednesday,” and is one of the biggest drinking days of the year. In some places, the holiday involves more alcohol consumption than New Year’s Eve or St. Patrick’s Day, and ends up being one of the top drunk-driving nights of the year.

Additionally, Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays for traveling. In 2016, 43.5 million Americans took a road trip to celebrate the gathering.

This combination of alcohol consumption and congestion on U.S. roadways proves dangerous, and sometimes fatal, for pedestrians and drivers alike.

Stay Safe in November

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we brought this article to your attention because we want you to be safe during daylight savings time and the holidays. Part of being safe is being aware of additional threats in the month of November.

We hope this blog post has brought pedestrian safety to the front of your mind.

If you are harmed in a pedestrian accident, call our firm at (202) 644-8303 or visit our Washington, DC office for a free consultation.

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we want to wish you a very Happy Halloween. We also want to help you celebrate in the safest way possible. That’s why we’ve compiled the following set of safety tips:

If You’re Behind the Wheel

As trick-or-treaters roam the streets, drive with extra caution to avoid pedestrian accidents.

• Keep your headlights on at all times. Even if it’s not dark, your lights will alert pedestrians to your presence.
• Drive 5 mph under the speed limit. According to AAA, this small precaution can give you extra reaction time.
• Watch for children on roadways, medians, and curbs. If they are wearing dark costumes, they will be especially hard to see at night.
• Broaden your scanning by looking for children in front yards and porches. This behavior can help you anticipate children who may dart out in front of you.
• Expect the unexpected. Children may be hidden between parked cars and run into the road anywhere at any time.
• Be careful when entering and exiting driveways and alleyways. Pedestrians always have the right of way.
• Do not pass cars that are stopped on the roadway. Trick-or-treaters may be getting in or out of the vehicles.
• Pull over before using a smartphone or another handheld device. These can be unnecessary distractions while driving.
• NEVER drive while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Call a taxi or rideshare service if you’ve had too much to drink.

While You’re Walking

If you’re taking your little ones out, or going to your favorite haunts on foot, here’s how to maximize your safety after dark.

• Wear brightly colored costumes and add reflective tape to outfits and bags to make yourself more visible to drivers.
• Carry a flashlight and glow sticks to illuminate your path.
• Keep your vision and movement clear by avoiding masks and ill-fitting costumes.
• Make sure props are flexible and soft, so they can’t hurt anyone in the event of an accident.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the shoulder of the road facing traffic.
• Look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing the street.
• ALWAYS cross at crosswalks and in well-lit intersections.
• NEVER cross between cars or mid-block.
• Skip houses that have their lights off.
• Use the buddy system and make a plan to get home safe.
• Leave drugs and alcohol at home and keep cell phones in your pocket.

At Home

If you’re celebrating at home, there’s also a few ways to keep safety in mind:

• Use non-toxic face paints while getting ready and avoid flammable costumes and decorations.
• If you are expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests, make sure your doorway is well-lit and free of tripping hazards.
• Put pets in another room while you hand out candy or entertain guests.
• Use LED-lit candles instead of real candles in Jack-O-Lanterns and other decorations, and make sure your décor does not obscure walkways.
• If you don’t celebrate the holiday, turn off exterior lights and lock your door.
• Keep your car in the garage to keep it safe from harmful pranks.
• Make sure your property is as safe and secure as possible at all times to prevent any premises liability lawsuits!

Stay Safe Tonight!

Regardless of your plans, we hope you’ve found some useful advice in our blog. While adhering to our safety tips will help prevent accidents, we understand you cannot control the actions of others.

If you are injured by another person’s misbehavior on All Hallow’s Eve, our legal team at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. is here for you.

Call (202) 644-8303 with all your legal questions, and discuss your concerns during a free consultation.

Distracted driving is a hazardous activity, as it can take a driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive attention away from the task of driving. For example, sending a text can take a driver’s eyes, hands, and mind away from driving for five seconds. When traveling at high speeds on the freeway, this is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

Read the following tips to prevent distracted driving in your own vehicle in order to stay safe on the road.

Preventing Distractions in Your Car

The following safety tips can help you prevent distractions in your own vehicle while driving.

1. Use your phone for emergencies only. Smartphones are a major distraction for motorists. Even if you are not looking at your phone, its vibrations and sounds can be distracting while driving. Make it a point to put your phone aside and if there is an emergency, pull over to the side of the road to make a call.

2. Do not drive while drowsy. Do not attempt to make a long drive if you are feeling tired. Rather, get off the road and find somewhere you can rest before starting back on your way.

3. Make sure children and pets are safely secured. Children and pets can pose a major distraction for drivers. Make sure children are safely buckled and pets are secure in a crate or in the back of the car before heading out.

4. Do not perform personal grooming while driving. Avoid brushing hair, applying makeup, and other personal grooming activities while driving. Finish these activities before getting into the car.

5. Keep volume low in the car. Listen to music at a low volume and ask passengers to speak quietly while you are driving so you can listen for potential hazards or alerts on the road.

Injured by a Distracted Driver? We Can Help

Even if you practice safe driving habits, it is likely that other drivers will not. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, our Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel can help protect your rights. We have extensive experience helping clients recover the compensation they deserve after an unexpected accident or injury.

Contact us today at (202) 644-8303 to learn how we can assist you.

Distracted driving poses risks to motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. While most people may think of distracted driving as using a smartphone while operating a vehicle, there are many different forms of distractions that can take a driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive attention off the road. Read up on the following distracted driving statistics that highlight the dangers of this hazardous activity.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, our Washington, D.C. personal injury attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel are here to help. We have a solid record of success helping clients recover the compensation they deserve after unexpected accidents and injuries.

Contact us today at (202) 644-8303 to learn how we can assist you.