When medical negligence results in serious adverse health outcomes, such as strokes, patients in Chicago, Illinois, may pursue legal action to recover damages for their losses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds in the U.S. Those who suffer strokes often experience serious, and lasting effects.
If the action or inaction of your medical team contributed to you suffering a stroke in Chicago, Illinois, call Smoler Law Office to discuss your options.
Strokes and Their Causes
There are two main types of stroke – ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Understanding the types and causes of strokes can be essential in proving causation in a medical malpractice claim.
Both types of stroke occur because blood flow to the brain gets cut off. With ischemic strokes, this results from blockages. Hemorrhagic strokes result from bleeding in the brain. Several factors increase the risk of stroke, including: untreated high blood pressure, overtreatment with blood thinners, head trauma, weight, physical inactivity, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and heavy or binge-drinking.
Impacts of Strokes
Strokes can have ranging effects, depending on factors such as area and side of the brain affected. Some functions commonly impaired due to strokes include:
- Movement issues
- Sensory loss
- Chewing and swallowing
- Speech and language issues
- Vision problems
In addition to these physical effects, stroke patients may experience cognitive and emotional effects, including memory problems, judgment issues, behavior changes, and depression.
Holding Healthcare Providers Liable in Chicago
Sometimes, negligence on the part of healthcare professionals can contribute to patients suffering strokes. Judges ruled this was the case in two medical malpractice lawsuits recently finalized in Cook County. With the help of a medical malpractice attorney, one man, left permanently disabled, was awarded a $39.9 million verdict. His physician neglected to properly assess and treat his symptoms, causing his stroke. A county judge awarded another man $41 million in his claim. A former personal injury lawyer himself, the man’s claim alleged that doctors failed to monitor his blood for clotting issues after prescribing an anticoagulant. The left side of his body is paralyzed, and he has suffered severe cognitive deficiencies.
Patients who suffer adverse health effects due to the actions or inaction of their healthcare providers may be entitled to compensation. Due to suffering a never event in medical malpractice, they may recover damages for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other economic and non-economic losses.
To learn more about your options if you suffer a stroke because of medical negligence, contact Smoler Law Office.
