Maryland Child Brain Injury Attorneys
Our goal is injury prevention as well as seeking compensation for injured victims
No matter how hard we try to be good parents, our children still seem to find ways to hurt themselves. Bruises, cuts and scrapes are a common element of an active childhood. Stitches, casts and bandages are usually more than adequate to heal these injuries. Brain injuries, however, can be far more difficult to detect in a child, and can cause very serious health issues, particularly when untreated. At the law firm of Karp, Wigodsky, Norwind, Kudel & Gold, P.A., our skilled Maryland child brain injury attorneys are committed to aggressively representing children and their parents following a traumatic brain injury caused by the negligence of another person. In doing so, we hope to raise awareness of these injuries and the problems they can cause, preventing other children from suffering a serious injury.
What causes brain injuries in children?
Although it is impossible to list every possible way that children become injured, some of the most serious brain injuries to children are caused by:
- Auto accidents, especially when the child is inadequately restrained in a seatbelt or car seat
- Impact with a hard surface—many playgrounds, but not all, use surface materials designed to absorb shock. Even a natural surface like grass may not be soft enough to absorb sufficient impact and prevent a brain injury
- Falling out of an open window, down a stairway, or off of a bed, changing table, or other high countertop-like area
- Bicycle accidents in which the child is not wearing a helmet
- Slipping and falling in a bathtub or swimming pool
- Child abuse—unfortunately, about three children per day suffer a brain injury in the United States due to abuse by an adult
It is not difficult to see many ways in which parents can minimize the risk of brain injury to their children. Besides seatbelts, car seats and bicycle helmets, parents can reduce quite a bit of risk by installing baby gates near stairways and rubber mats in bathtubs.
Why do these injuries pose a greater risk to children than to adults?
Any injury to the brain, regardless of age, requires swift diagnosis and treatment. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, an adult may not show any symptoms of the injury, and might not seek a medical exam until symptoms appear—and the injury has become much worse. Such inaction may be further prolonged when the injured is a very small child, unable to recognize symptoms such as nausea, headaches, or loss of memory as a sign that something is wrong with them, and too young to adequately communicate these symptoms to an adult.
Because of this, parents need to watch for outward signs of a possible brain injury, including:
- Physical symptoms, such as vomiting, complaints of pain, problems walking or speaking, or a sudden change in sleep habits
- Cognitive symptoms, such as a sudden inability to concentrate or pay attention, sudden disinterest in a favorite toy or activity, confused behavior or memory problems
- Emotional symptoms—irritability, anxiety, depression, and persistent crying
Parents suspecting their child may have sustained a brain injury should take them to an emergency room for an examination immediately — do not simply schedule an appointment.
We have the legal skill and resources to help your child, so contact us today
Brain injuries can be scary to a child, who might not understand why he or she is suddenly unable to do certain tasks. These injuries can also put a child behind in school. Recovery from such an injury requires emotional as well as physical treatment. If your child has suffered a brain injury, you are urged to contact the law offices of Karp, Wigodsky, Norwind, Kudel & Gold, P.A. at (800) 229-7026 or online for a free initial consultation with an experienced and compassionate Maryland child brain injury attorney. We have more than 150 years of combined experience advising parents of their rights and aggressively pursuing justice for injured children. Visit us at one of our five metropolitan Maryland/Washington D.C. offices. We speak Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Korean for your convenience.