Pittsburgh Stroke Malpractice Attorney

Types and causes of Pittsburgh strokes

Call a stroke attorney in Pittsburgh if you’ve suffered from Pittsburgh medical malpractice. Ischemic stroke – this neurological condition is caused by lack of oxygen supply to the brain and arrest of bloodstream to the brain tissue. Blood clots or other particles block blood flow in arteries and veins in the brain which cause hypoxia. Lack of blood and oxygen supplies damage brain cells and brain cortex.

Hemorrhagic stroke – this condition occurs because of sudden bleeding to the brain tissue. Blood vessels in the brain can rupture and cause blood leak to the brain. Severe damage to brain cells occurs under high pressure of blood leaking from broken veins.  Vessel ruptures can be caused by arteriovenous malformations and high blood pressure or brain aneurysm.

TIA – condition known as a mini stroke because of lower risk of permanent brain damage. Transient ischemic attack can be a warning before a major stroke, especially when it stays undiagnosed and untreated. Signs and symptoms of a mini stroke are usually less persistent and harmful for the patients. A Pittsburgh stroke attorney can help.

Risk factors for strokes in Pittsburgh PA

Scientists’ research has confirmed that stroke is more common among men than women. The difference tends to decrease with age. Gender, age, congenital defects, diabetes, aneurysm and brain embolism and other brain injuries are common risk factors for strokes that are beyond our control. There are some manageable risk factors depending on our habits, including: obesity, cigarette addiction, alcohol abuse, high blood pressure, high cholesterol.

Pittsburgh Stroke misdiagnosis

The Diagnosis process starts when a patient or someone else calls 911. Paralegals in an ambulance should do an interview and observe first symptoms to save some time after arriving at the hospital.

What are the first signs and symptoms of stroke?

• Sudden severe headaches
• Blurred vision
• Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• Slurred speech
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body
•  Dizziness
• Walking difficulties

Less common stroke signs and symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Fatigue
• Fainting

Occurring any of those symptoms should be enough reason for further diagnosis. Aside from medical interviews, doctors at the hospital should run blood tests, measure blood pressure and order brain scans. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and irregular heart rhythm are warning signs of stroke, brain scans are crucial to confirm diagnosis.

Brain scan for stroke 

Pittsburgh doctors use CT scans and MRI to confirm or deny a stroke diagnosis. If a stroke is suspected, a CT scan is usually able to show whether you have had an ischaemic stroke or a haemorrhagic stroke. It’s generally quicker than an MRI scan and can mean you’re able to receive appropriate treatment sooner.

Stroke Pittsburgh medical malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when doctors: fail to diagnose stroke or misdiagnosed stroke with other conditions. Delayed stroke diagnosis or delayed stroke treatment are medical malpractice as well. Time is crucial for patients suffering strokes. An experienced Pittsburgh stroke malpractice attorney can help.

Lack of stroke diagnosis

First symptoms of stroke are usually not very severe, a common early sign of stroke is headache. Doctors often send patients home with prescribed painkillers instead of doing further tests.

Delayed stroke diagnosis and treatment

Delayed ischemic stroke treatment in Pittsburgh occurs when hospital employees fail to diagnose the stroke in time or fail to administer the clot-busting drug known as TPA (tissue plasminogen activator). Clot-busting meds work the most effectively in the first minutes of stroke. Time window for administering TPA medicines is very short. Any delay can decrease a patient’s chances for full recovery.

Delayed hemorrhagic stroke diagnosis and treatment occurs when doctors order life-saving neurosurgery too late. Hemorrhagic stroke can be treated effectively by different surgeries:

• Surgery
• Surgical clipping
• Coiling (endovascular embolization)
• Surgical AVM removal
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

Delayed surgical treatment can be caused by delayed diagnosis, crowded emergency rooms, crowded operating rooms, medical staff shortage, delayed tests results. Delayed surgeries decreased a patient’s chances for recovery and normal life.

Pittsburgh Stroke medical malpractice

Every surgery puts patients at risk of complications. Neurosurgeries’ complications can be extremely serious because the brain is the most important and an irreplaceable body part. Even the tiniest mistakes can affect a patient’s dexterity and cause disabilities permanently and irreversibly. Human body’s reaction can be unpredictable during surgeries, that is why surgeons have to be focused to manage any accidents.

Common stroke related surgical errors:

• Another stroke during surgery
• Internal bleeding
• Leak of blood to the brain tissue
• Hematoma
• Blood clots
• Cardiac arrest
• Respiratory failure
• Brain aneurysm
• Hypoxia

Pittsburgh stroke misdiagnosis

Early signs and symptoms of strokes include headaches, weakness and numbness are very common for many different conditions. Many doctors neglect to order further diagnosis because none of characteristic stroke symptoms occurred.

The most characteristic stroke symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Numbness of one body side
• Paralysis of one body part
• Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
• Walking difficulties
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Pittsburgh Wrongful Death

Pittsburgh hospitals’ employees neglect to run more tests to confirm diagnosis when a patient is outside of the risk group. That means doctors send home patients because they are too young, they are not overweight, their blood pressure and cholesterol are normal. Failure to do so is Pittsburgh medical malpractice.

Pittsburgh stroke misdiagnosis

Scientists’ reports admitted that about 10% of strokes are misdiagnosed with other conditions. Many neurological conditions have mutual symptoms but different significance. Some of them are just inconveniences affecting a patient’s quality of life while a stroke can be fatal, life threatening, can affect a patient’s dexterity and lead to temporary or permanent disabilities.

Stroke is commonly misdiagnosed as one of those conditions:

• Vertigo
• Migraines
• Migrainous aura
• Inner ear disorders
• Epilepsy
• Dementia
• Bell’s Palsy

Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawsuit 

Victims of Pittsburgh stroke medical malpractice and their children are entitled to get the compensation to recover their losses. Everyone can file a settlement against the doctor or hospital responsible for Pittsburgh medical malpractice in Allegheny County. There are some legal requirements for suing a responsible party for medical malpractice and medical errors in Pittsburgh. It is highly recommended to hire a Pittsburgh stroke attorney for stroke medical malpractice cases. In case of a patient’s death caused by cerebral palsy misdiagnosis, stroke misdiagnosis or improper treatment, the deceased’s family members are entitled to Pittsburgh wrongful death compensation.

Why should I hire a Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyer?

Recovery from a Pittsburgh stroke medical malpractice accident is a tough time for victims and their loved ones. Injured patients need to focus on their recoveries, they don’t need additional stress and fears. Let the legal professionals handle your Pittsburgh stroke malpractice lawsuit for you. Trapani Law Firm Pittsburgh stroke attorneys are experienced in medical malpractice cases, our lawyers know how to deal with insurance companies, other lawyers, judges and the jury in the court. Trapani Law Firm knows how to investigate and find proof for doctor’s negligence and mistakes. Evidence for losses are crucial to get the highest possible compensation. Stroke medical malpractice victims are entitled for claiming responsible party to recover both economical and non economic damages. Aside from medical bills, loss of employment, loss of wages, physical therapy, nursery care, stroke medical malpractice damage includes temporary or permanent disabilities, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorders and Pittsb urgh wrongful death. Experienced Pittsburgh stroke malpractice lawyers know how to prove all those losses and recover all damages.

Hiring a Trapani medical malpractice law firm is time saving and money saving! Our stroke attorneys work on the basis of a contingency fee – that means we only get paid if we are able to recover your damages and only after you have been financially compensated. People who hire Pittsburgh medical malpractice lawyers receive higher compensation in their lawsuits. Even after paying the lawyer’s fees, they still walk away with more money than they would have got without a stroke malpractice attorney.

In addition to the economic benefits of hiring a Trapani Law Firm stroke attorney, our clients can contact us 24/7. Our Pittsburgh stroke misdiagnosis lawyers offer free consultations online (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom, phone call etc.) and free consultations in Pittsburgh hospitals. Trapani law medical malpractice lawyer can meet you at Allegheny General Hospital a large urban hospital located at 320 East North Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The West Penn Hospital located at 4800 Friendship Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, Presbyterian Hospital Pittsburgh at the University of Saint Lothrop and any UPMC Pittsburgh hospital. Moreover, our Pittsburgh medical malpractice stroke lawyers will represent you and your family in a Pittsburgh stroke misdiagnosis lawsuit by filing of a medical malpractice claim in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Civil Division City-County Building, First Floor 414 Grant Street Pittsburgh PA 15219-2469.

• • Contact a Pittsburgh Stroke Attorney

    If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke due to medical malpractice, contact an Pittsburgh stroke personal injury lawyer at The Trapani Law Firm for a free consultation by calling (610) 351 – 2330 or contact us.