Dallas Anoxic Brain Injury Lawyer

Has your child or loved one suffered an anoxic brain injury due to negligence or malpractice? Call us today at (214) 651-6100.

Anoxic brain injuries can develop when the brain is starved of oxygen for just a few minutes. While newborns who suffer brain injuries during childbirth often face the most-serious challenges, anoxic brain injuries can occur at any age, and due to a variety of causes.

The term "anoxic" refers to a total depletion in the level of oxygen (blood flow) to the brain. Without an adequate supply of oxygen for an extended period of time, the brain cells will start to die. When the brain is deprived of oxygen, an anoxic brain injury can occur within four minutes. The longer the brain goes without oxygen, the more severe the damage will likely be.

There are treatments available for those who suffer serious brain injuries, but they can be prohibitively-expensive for many families. If you believe your loved one's brain injury was the direct result of someone's negligence (or malpractice), we urge you to call us for a free consultation at (214) 651-6100.

Anoxic brain injuries in newborn children.

Infants are highly susceptible to the development of an anoxic brain injury (also known as "cerebral hypoxia" or an "hypoxic-anoxic injury"). When it comes to childbirth, any disruption of blood flow to the baby's brain can be catastrophic. Nurses are trained to closely monitor the child's vital signs in order to identify and mitigate any signs of fetal distress. Failing in this responsibility can result in permanent brain damage to the child, which often results in the need for lifelong care.

Damage to a child's developing brain can result in the development of certain neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy following a birth injury, you owe it to yourself (and your child) to do everything you can for them. If your child was injured due to negligence, part of this includes exploring your legal options. Raising a child with cerebral palsy can cost upwards of a million dollars when you include the cost of medical treatment, physical therapy, assistive devices, etc. If your child's anoxic brain injury was the result of malpractice, your family should not be the ones to suffer this financial burden.

Anoxic brain injuries in adults.

Anyone whose suffers a lack of blood flow to the brain can suffer from an anoxic brain injury, regardless of age. Brain damage can result from trauma, but also from vascular events such as a heart attack or stroke.

For obvious reasons, many anoxic brain injuries occur in hospital settings or nursing homes. While the majority of these events are not necessarily caused by medical malpractice, in many instances, it can be difficult to determine exactly what led to the injury without an independent investigation. Hospitals and nursing homes are not going to admit to their mistakes, and even if they do, they know that medical malpractice cases in Texas are notoriously difficult to bring.

It is essential for doctors and nurses to make sure they are fully aware of the medical history of a patient in order to be prepared to render immediate assistance. This is especially important in the case of patients who either have a history of heart attacks or are at risk for heart attack, clotting, or stroke. Failing to monitor for, identify, and timely address such events could be considered medical malpractice.

What to expect moving forward.

Brain injuries can range from mild to severe, but in all likelihood, those who suffer an anoxic brain injury will require some level of assistance for the rest of their life. Some severe cases may even require full-time medical care.

Brain injuries can result in a broad spectrum of long-term disorders, including the development of cerebral palsy (in infants), cognitive impairments, paraplegia/quadriplegia (or paresis), and even unresponsive wakefulness syndrome.

While brain injuries can occur at any age, there are treatment options available. Children are especially responsive to certain types of treatment options, but it's important to remember that there is no "cure" when it comes to brain damage. Physical and occupational therapy can help reduce the severity of the symptoms, but most patients will need a comprehensive treatment plan to obtain the best results.

This treatment does not come cheap, but if your child or loved one suffered an anoxic brain injury due to negligence or malpractice, our law firm may be able to help your family recover the compensation you'll need to pay for treatment, assistive devices, as well as recoup any loss of future income through to a diminished earning capacity claim. For more information, call us for a free consultation at (214) 651-6100.