Skilled Stroke Attorneys in Grand Rapids, Michigan

A stroke occurs when there is an interruption of blood flow to part of the brain. The brain is damaged due to lack of blood supply.  Brain cells die quickly when this happens – about two million every minute of a stroke.  Quick diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent long term injury or death.  There are several types of stroke, including ischemic stroke, which is when blood vessels become clogged and block blood flow, and hemorrhagic stroke, which is when there is bleeding that prevents appropriate blood flow. Ischemic strokes can be caused by a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in the brain blocks blood flow (called a thrombotic stroke) or from plaque and blood clots that form elsewhere and then travel through the bloodstream, to the brain where they lodge in a blood vessel (called an embolic stroke).

When a patient calls his doctor, or goes to the emergency room with any or all these sudden symptoms, the doctors should rule in or out a stroke:

• Weakness or numbness on just one side of the body
• Difficulty speaking or confusion
• Difficulty seeing
• Dizziness, trouble walking or loss of balance
• Severe headache without a cause

If a patient has these symptoms, and the doctor does not rule out stroke, there might be a medical malpractice case.

There are several factors that can increase a person’s chance of having a stroke:

• Obesity
• Irregular heartbeat
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Excessive drinking

When a patient presents to the emergency department with sudden symptoms noted above, the doctor should perform a physical exam, ask you or your family about your medical history, perform a neurologic exam and order brain imaging such as CT scan and MRI.

Early treatment of stroke is essential.  The treatment will depend on the type and severity of the stroke. For an ischemic stroke, treatment can include procedures to remove a clot or administering a clot buster (called tPA) which can minimize brain damage.  For a hemorrhagic stroke, the focus of treatment is usually on stopping the bleeding.

After the initial treatment, the patient will likely need rehabilitation depending on the severity of the stroke.

If a stroke is not timely treated, the patient may die or be permanently damaged.  It might result in inability to communicate, inability to walk, feed or dress themselves.

Failing to recognize, diagnose or timely treat a stroke may be medical malpractice. If your loved one suffered severe complications as a result, he or she may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, loss of future earnings, household services, past and future medical care and pain and suffering. If your loved one died, you may still have a wrongful death case to help compensate your family for your loss. The recoverable damages vary, and because medical malpractice laws are complex, you should always have your case evaluated by lawyers that specialize in malpractice.

If you believe that you or a loved one suffered injury and damages due to negligence at the hands of medical professionals, contact Hoffer & Sheremet. The next steps would typically include the following:

• Gather and review medical records;
• Retain expert witnesses;
• Speak to treatment providers about your prognosis;
• Interview you and close loved ones regarding the impact the injury has had on your life;
• Calculate your medical expenses, out of pocket expenses, lost wages, loss of future earnings and other economic damages;
• Send a demand letter to the hospital and medical providers to attempt pre-suit settlement;
• Serve a Notice of Intent on the hospital and medical providers;
• At the expiration of the Notice of Intent waiting period, file the Complaint and Affidavit of Merit to initiate litigation;
• Conduct discovery;
• Handle motions, court proceedings, and facilitation;
• Try the case if there is no settlement.