Annapolis Personal Injury Law Blog

Brain injury recovery takes longer than previously suspected

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in personal injury on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

Maryland loves sports, and the Old Line State has teams from early childhood all the way up to professional level. While fans enjoy showing up and rooting for a favorite team through thick and thin, the athletes that dedicate their time to training and playing the sports they love might be at risk. Every year an alarming number athletes suffer serious brain injury, and medical science is constantly trying to learn more about the serious risks involved with such injuries.

One common type of injury that can result in brain trauma is a concussion. In years past, these injuries were often thought to be no big deal, commonly dismissed as a bump to the head. Advances in research now warn that these injuries may not appear to be severe to the untrained eye, but the danger of lasting damage and suffering is very real.

Would you recognize a drunk driver if you saw one?

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

Motorists across the nation, including Maryland, risk their lives each day. Defensive driving is crucial as they navigate their vehicles in traffic that almost always includes drivers who are distracted by their smartphones or impaired by medication, drugs or alcohol. The ability to recognize a drunk driver might be the best way to avoid a wreck, and by reporting them, other motorists might also escape the hazards posed by impaired drivers.

Being alert and looking out for telltale impairment signs is the way to go. These include drivers who drift, swerve or weave through the traffic, or those who tailgate other vehicles. Someone who drives on the wrong side or in the middle of the road will likely be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and erratic braking and accelerations are also red flags.

Blue light therapy may help victims of head injury

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in brain injury on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

Maryland residents are enjoying a taste of spring, and the coming weeks hold much to look forward to. The Coronavirus aside, fun holidays, sporting events, and outdoor activities are a welcome change after a cold and underwhelming winter. March is also Brain Injury Awareness Month, and researchers are excited to reveal a potential breakthrough that may help victims of head injury deal with long-term symptoms.

In addition to physical pain, many head injury victims often suffer from conditions related to mental and emotional health. Depression, sleep disorders, concentration problems and irritability are common troubles faced by many of these victims. Researchers now believe that therapy using exposure to special blue lights may help ease these symptoms.

Accident investigation underway after teen nearly killed

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Friday, March 13, 2020.

Motorcycles run in the blood of Maryland, which is not surprising. The state offers such scenic landscapes that riders can have a good time in virtually any season. A new generation of motorcyclists is embracing the lifestyle, but for one young rider, a terrible crash has warranted an accident investigation.

Preliminary reports indicate that a 17-year-old Maryland resident was driving a motorcycle on Route 108 near Clarksville. A passenger car began to make a left turn and ended up colliding with the motorcycle. The person in the car suffered no injuries, but the young man on the Harley Davidson was not so lucky.

Brain injury victims more likely to experience homelessness

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in brain injury on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

Maryland is a state residents can be proud to call home, but it is not without its share of the social problems experienced across the nation. Even when the economy is relatively stable and the job market is plentiful, homelessness remains a growing concern for millions of Americans. Hard-working people often live paycheck to paycheck, and when a tragedy -- like suffering a traumatic brain injury -- occurs, a victim may find him- or herself unable to keep up with the cost of living.

Statistics estimate that there are over 1 million homeless people in developed nations worldwide, and over 500,000 of them live in the United States. Researchers dedicated time to canvassing the homeless population in an attempt to better understand their plight. Now, these researchers believe they have discovered a correlation between brain injury and homelessness.

Wrong-way driver causes serious injury

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in motor vehicle accidents on Wednesday, February 26, 2020.

The Beltway connects Maryland to Washington, D.C. and surrounding states. Each day thousands of cars travel the highway's stretches and loops, as the Beltway is often the most direct route for area destinations. The consistently heavy traffic, which routinely includes rush hour traffic jams, naturally has an increased risk for accidents. Recently, a collision that resulted in serious injury was caused by a driver who went the wrong way.

The Maryland State Police say that a driver was going the wrong way on the Outer Loop of the Beltway just before 5 a.m. The motorist crashed into another car that was traveling in the correct direction. Upon impact, both vehicles caught fire. Preliminary information from the scene revealed that at least one person was trapped in a vehicle and at least three victims suffered serious injury.

Research aims to lessen lasting effects of birth injury

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in birth injury on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

Maryland parents typically expect welcoming a new baby to be an occasion of pure joy, but sometimes, a lot can go wrong during the birth and delivery process. One of the more common birth injury scenarios in the United States is oxygen deprivation. If a baby is born prematurely, oxygen deprivation can occur because a baby's lungs may not be developed enough to draw the necessary first breaths. But sadly, this situation can also occur due to medical malpractice.

A newborn that suffers oxygen deprivation is at risk to suffer long term or permanent brain injury. A team of researchers is using cutting-edge technology to learn more about the condition and what may be done to help children suffering from this type of birth injury. In many cases, babies suffering from such an injury are kept in quiet private environments with limited stimuli. The new research suggests that this may actually be counterproductive.

Deaths heighten awareness about brain trauma

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in brain injury on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

Medical research and technology is always advancing, but often, people can forget how important it is to better understand conditions without obvious physical symptoms. Now, some notable deaths are drawing public awareness and helping people understand the gravity of brain trauma. The recent death of a combat veteran has the nation concerned and a Maryland family fighting for answers.

Ryan Larkin was a Navy SEAL with several tours of combat under his belt. After some close encounters with enemy artillery, something began to feel off. Larkin would try to explain to his family and medical professionals, but nobody seemed to have answers. His family states that he became irritable, suspicious of others, and acted in ways that were otherwise out of character. Larkin's doctors tried several different medications, and ran a battery of tests to try to figure out what was wrong.

Are hospitals trying to avoid paying for birth injuries?

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in birth injury on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

A lot can go wrong with a newborn during the delivery process. Birth injuries are sadly more common than many might suspect. Sometimes, the newborn's family pursues a medical malpractice claim against the health care professionals and/or the facility that caused the injury. These lawsuits can result in massive verdicts, and now some Maryland hospitals are advocating for legislation that may help them avoid paying such verdicts in the future.

Some representatives of area hospitals say that when a medical facility is found liable for birth injuries, the resulting monetary judgment can bankrupt the hospital and/or the doctor. It is rumored that some doctors are thinking about leaving the state altogether. There is a push for legislation that would award a victim a lifetime of medical care, rather than a lump sum dollar amount. In the past, some Maryland families have received judgments that amount to millions of dollars.

Preventing emergency cesarean procedures may reduce birth injury

On behalf of Joel L. Katz, L.L.C. posted in birth injury on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

Preparing for the birth of a child can be both stressful and exciting. New parents often form a delivery plan to make the days and hours leading up to a baby's arrival go as smoothly as possible. Choosing the right Maryland hospital, making sure the car seat is properly installed, and packing all the clothes and things the baby will need can certainly help prevent chaos, but there is no sure way to prevent birth injury.

There are many scenarios in which a woman may experience complications when giving birth. If delivery is not going well and a mother, baby or both are in danger, an emergency cesarean delivery may be called for. Though often used as a life-saving procedure, an emergency c-section can be more likely to result in birth injury than a vaginal delivery or planned c-section.