Denver Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Attorneys
We Get Compensation for Medical Malpractice Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke Victims in Denver
Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are serious health conditions. Doctors and nurses should be well-equipped to recognize the signs of a stroke, use testing to diagnose it, and treat it quickly and accurately. When they fail to do so, they are allowing brain tissue to die, causing critical brain damage.
If a doctor brushes off signs of a stroke or does not quickly and efficiently conduct testing, there can be significant delays in treatment. These delays are life-changing in stroke treatment because brain damage worsens drastically as time passes (American Stroke Association).
If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice related to an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, occupational therapy, and other expenses. Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. has a proven track record of prevailing in medical malpractice cases.
The experienced litigators at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. have been helping Denver residents for over 40 years. Our firm has won record-breaking verdicts and settlement for clients who were injured by medical malpractice. Independent legal rating agencies have recognized the outstanding services we provide, with Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. attorneys receiving an AV Rating from Avvo and high marks from Super Lawyers based on independent research and peer reviews.
If you’d like to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable Denver medical malpractice attorney, please call Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906. There is no charge for an initial consultation.
Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke Symptoms
A stroke is an injury caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain. An ischemic stroke specifically occurs when a blood vessel is blocked. Removing the blockage is crucial for reducing the impact on the patient’s brain.
While all ischemic strokes involve this interruption of blood flow to the brain, there are two main types: an embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot, piece of plaque, or another object somewhere else in the body travels to the brain’s blood vessels; a thrombotic stroke occurs when a clot forms inside one of the blood vessels inside the brain.
A hemorrhagic stroke results when a blood vessel inside the brain bleeds. It could be an aneurysm or a weakened blood vessel that is leaking. Either of these circumstances causes blood to spill into or around the brain, creating swelling and pressure. This pressure damages the cells and tissues in the brain. While only 13 percent of strokes are hemorrhagic, they are responsible for about 40 percent of all stroke deaths.
There are two main types of hemorrhagic strokes: an intracerebral hemorrhage, which happens inside the brain when a blood vessel bursts and leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, and a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which happens in the area between the brain and the tissue covering the brain, known as the subarachnoid space. This is most commonly caused by a burst aneurysm (National Stroke Association).
Stroke symptoms include:
- Slurred speech
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Difficulty speaking
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of vison or double vison
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty understanding words
- Paralysis on one side of the face and body
Why FAST Diagnosis Is Crucial for Stroke Victims
The severity of a stroke is largely determined by how quickly the stroke is diagnosed and treated. Unfortunately, diagnosing and treating ischemic strokes are where doctors and other healthcare providers make the most errors. Nearly 10 percent of strokes are misdiagnosed in United States emergency departments according to Neurology Today. Stroke is the fourth most common misdiagnosis among major diagnostic errors. When a physician misdiagnoses a stroke or makes another error related to an ischemic stroke, it may be medical malpractice.
An ischemic stroke obstruction is usually caused by a blood clot; however, blood flow can also be affected by stenosis, the narrowing of the artery. Around 87 percent of strokes are ischemic strokes.
Ischemic stroke patients are often given a drug known as Tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, which works to dissolve the clot and improve blood flow. tPA is time-sensitive, and failure to provide this treatment as soon as possible may be a form of medical negligence.
Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. had a case in which a patient’s cerebral aneurysm was missed by a radiologist and an ER physician, who failed to order a mandatory follow-up test. The aneurysm burst about a week later, which ended up paralyzing the patient. We obtained a substantial settlement to pay for her care and other damages she suffered.
When a patient seeks treatment at a hospital or emergency room, doctors and other healthcare professionals should know to look for symptoms of stroke. The acronym FAST is a tool for quickly assessing whether a patient is suffering a stroke:
- Facial droop: A patient is unable to smile normally.
- Arm weakness: A patient is unable to keep arms lifted.
- Speech difficulty: A patient is unable to speak normally.
- Timeliness: If the previous symptoms are observed, time is of the essence to start treatment!
What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional fails to meet the standard of care for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke treatment, and the patient is injured as a result of this substandard treatment.
To prove medical malpractice, an attorney must demonstrate medical negligence, which means that a reasonably qualified medical professional would have behaved differently under the same circumstances. There are three elements required for proving negligence:
- The doctor-patient relationship existed.
- The treatment involved negligence.
- The patient’s injury was a result of the negligent treatment.
When Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis Causes Treatment Delay
Diagnostic errors are a major cause of medical malpractice for stroke victims. Misdiagnosis, medical errors, or failure to diagnosis a stroke in a timely manner causes devastating treatment delays.
When the medical professional in charge of admitting patients at a hospital or emergency room observes FAST symptoms, they should immediately take the following steps:
- Ask questions to determine the patient’s mental state.
- Check the patient’s pulse, blood pressure, and reflexes.
- Listen to the patient’s heart and lungs.
- Ask the patient about their medical history and review their record.
- Order advanced imaging in the form of a CT scan or an MRI exam.
How Medical Malpractice Injures Stroke Victims
A medical expert witness, typically a physician who specializes in stroke treatment, could be called upon by your attorney to explain how and why the medical malpractice occurred. If you suspect you have a case, please contact Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. as soon as possible. There are deadlines to file a lawsuit, and they vary by state.
Types of medical negligence that injure stroke patients include:
- Failure to properly examine patient
- Failure to order necessary tests
- Inadequate training
- Medication errors
- Laboratory errors
- Inadequate staffing
- Improper discharge
- Communication errors
- Negligent hiring of unqualified personnel
- Failure to consider the patient’s medical history
- Poorly designed hospital procedures
- Hospital personnel who are impaired by drugs or alcohol
Who Is Liable for Medical Malpractice?
Errors that lead to misdiagnosis and delayed stroke treatment often occur in the emergency room. It’s crucial that doctors, triage nurses, and anyone who plays a role in admitting and treating emergency room patients has the necessary experience and training to detect stroke symptoms. It’s also important for hospital administrators to develop treatment protocols that prevent senseless errors.
Ensuring that patients get correct lab results is another significant factor in providing necessary treatment for stroke victims. Stroke patients must receive the right medication, administered properly in the prescribed dosage.
The following parties may be held liable for medical errors that injure stroke victims:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Hospitals
- Administrators
- Radiologists
- Pharmacists
- Laboratory technicians
- Hospital personnel
Getting Legal Help for Medical Malpractice
Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. will piece together what happened and find out where things went wrong. Our attorneys will interview everyone involved in your case, including doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and administrators. We’ll review your medical records, staffing schedules, hospital policies, internal communications, and other important documents.
A medical malpractice claim for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke may include the following types of damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Medical devices
- Reduced quality of life
- In-home nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Reduced earning capacity
- Speech therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Wheelchair ramps for your home
- Loss of consortium
- Wrongful death
Denver Attorneys Helping You Get the Resources You Need
Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. gets justice for people who have been injured by the negligent actions of others, because the person who hurt you should have to pay for it.
We treat every client like you’re our only client. We understand this is important, and we always have time to speak with you about how your case is progressing.
Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. partner Jim Puga won one of the largest medical malpractice jury verdicts in Colorado history for $17.9 million, and partner Jim Leventhal is one of just 100 lawyers in the country to achieve membership in The Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group of the best plaintiff lawyers who are renowned for their exceptional courtroom skills.
Call (303) 759-9945 to learn more today.
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