Types of brain injuries caused by medical malpractice

June 29, 2021 / Catastrophic Injuries

It is devastating when you take your loved one to the hospital to be treated or to a nursing home to be cared for only to have them be seriously injured or die due to medical malpractice. The very doctors, nurses and medical personnel charged with healing and protecting your loved one wind up harming them due to negligence or insufficient skills.

The types of medical malpractice that can result in brain injuries include:

• Surgical mistakes
• Misdiagnosis or a missed diagnosis
• Anoxia (a lack of oxygen)
• Anesthesia errors
• Birth trauma that harms newborn babies
• Tissue or blood infections, including septicemia
• Hydrocephalus
• Medication errors, such as wrong medicine or dosage
• Cerebral palsy
• Abuse (a common cause of injury in nursing homes and assisted living facilities)
• Intubation negligence
• Falls resulting in head trauma (often in nursing homes).

If this has happened to you and your family, then contacting skilled Indianapolis brain injury lawyer can help you get the justice you deserve.  Under the law, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  While this will not make up for the suffering of your loved one, it can provide resources for them or their family in the future.  There are many types of brain injuries caused by medical malpractice.  Stephenson Rife Law Firm has successfully represented countless clients in medical malpractice cases.  We understand what it takes to win these cases, and we are not afraid to advocate aggressively with insurance companies on behalf of our clients.  To find out more about how we may be able to help you, call us at (317) 680-2501 for a free initial consultation.

Signs of Brain Injury

Brain injuries caused by medical malpractice result in symptoms that are readily recognizable. Be on the lookout for the following if you believe your loved one suffered while in the care of medical staff:

• Cognitive impairment, including lack of concentration or focus
• Memory loss
• Impaired hearing
• Speech difficulties
• Loss of taste
• Sensory loss, especially in arms and legs
• Loss of eye movement
• Lacerations, bruises or bumps on the head
• Emotional and mood problems
• Loss of bodily function, including paralysis
• Change in personality
• Anxiety and depression
• Disorientation and loss of balance
• Coma
• Dizziness or seizures.

These are a few of many signs suggesting brain injuries caused by medical malpractice.  Some of the signs are immediately easy to spot, while others may be more subtle or arise weeks or months after medical treatment.  By filing a medical malpractice lawsuit,you can hold medical personnel accountable for the harm they’ve caused. Contact our office for a free consultation with an experienced Indianapolis medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your situation and explore your legal options.

What should you do if medical malpractice causes a brain injury?

If you believe your loved one has suffered a brain injury at the hands of a doctor, nurse or hospital, it’s important to take immediate steps, including:

1. Seek medical attention right away with a different doctor or medical facility to prevent further injury.
2. Hire a skilled and experienced brain injury lawyer to represent you and prevent you from saying or doing things that could harm the success of a lawsuit in the future.
3. Gather all medical paperwork, test results, X-rays, MRIs, lab results and other documentation that proves your loved one’s injuries.
4. Say as little as possible to hospital administrators or insurance company representatives, referring them instead to your lawyer.

The terrible costs of a brain injury

Families often don’t realize when the brain injury occurs how costly and long-term the damage can be. Huge medical bills, months of rehabilitation, in-home care, disability and loss of earnings can result from a brain injury caused by medical malpractice. It can take years for a person to get back on their feet and recover after head trauma, if they ever recover at all. The costs can be staggering and total tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Medical error is the third leading cause of death in America according to a 2016 study at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  The study states:

“Medical error has been defined as an unintended act (either of omission or commission) or one that does not achieve its intended outcome, the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended (an error of execution), the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim (an error of planning), or a deviation from the process of care that may or may not cause harm to the patient. Patient harm from medical error can occur at the individual or system level.”

According to an article in BMJ, a global healthcare knowledge provider, roughly one in 20 patients are exposed to preventable harm while in medical care.

Damages recoverable in lawsuits for brain injuries

Courts can award damages for brain injuries caused by medical malpractice in the following areas:

• Medical Costs: The cost of hospital bills, as well as the cost of lifelong care, which is necessary in many head-injury cases.
• Pain and Suffering: Not only the physical pain and suffering, but the emotional impact of having to deal with a life-changing injury.
• Lost Wages: A brain injury can cause the individual to miss work temporarily or leave the person permanently unable to work.

Contact a Brain Injury Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has suffered brain injuries caused by medical malpractice, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  If your loved one died due to medical negligence, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit.  The attorneys at Stephenson Rife have helped hundreds of clients successfully recover financial damages in settlement agreements and jury awards.  Our client testimonials speak to the excellence of our legal work.  We have the skill and resources to aggressively confront insurance companies and large healthcare companies for the harm they have done.  We will not back down.  To find out more about how we can help you and your family, call us at (317) 680-2501 for a free initial consultation.  You do not have to face this alone.  Rest assured, we will walk beside you every step of the way.