When a patient is having a hemorrhagic stroke, every second matters both for them and the medical team caring for them. Hemorrhagic strokes involve bleeding in the brain, which means there is a serious possibility of irreversible damage happening in just a matter of minutes.
When healthcare professionals fail to diagnose a hemorrhagic stroke quickly or make an error in treating the stroke, the consequences can be life-altering for patients. Weisser Law represents hemorrhagic stroke victims across Florida who’ve suffered because of negligent healthcare.
If you or a loved one believes you’ve received substandard care that caused or made a hemorrhagic stroke worse, you deserve answers and accountability. Call Weisser Law today, where your consultation is free, and you don’t pay until we win.
Symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke
Many of the symptoms related to hemorrhagic stroke are shared with other health emergencies. That means it’s vital that medical staff follow standard procedures when treating patients to determine exactly what the symptoms indicate is wrong. Symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke include:
- A sudden headache described as “the worst headache of your life.”
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Loss of consciousness or extreme drowsiness
- Confusion or trouble understanding others
- Nausea or vomiting, which can accompany a headache
- Seizures or convulsions
- Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
- Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision
Other symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, neck stiffness, loss of consciousness (including a sudden change in responsiveness), and abnormal eye movements.
What causes a hemorrhagic stroke?
A hemorrhagic stroke happens when blood vessels rupture and cause bleeding in or around the brain. The rupture is caused by an underlying condition such as high blood pressure (known as hypertension). The rupture can also be triggered suddenly by a brain aneurysm.
Other factors that can cause hemorrhagic stroke include head trauma, which can directly impact blood vessels, causing bleeding in the brain. That trauma can be caused in car crashes, slip-and-fall incidents, physical altercations, playing sports, and multiple other ways.
Blood-thinning medications may also cause issues leading to hemorrhagic stroke as the medications increase the risk of uncontrolled bleeding. Medical conditions like clotting disorders or liver disease can also make it hard for the body to control bleeding. When a patient has any of these conditions, it’s critical that medical staff closely monitor them for stroke symptoms. When staff fail to do so, it greatly increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Serious injuries caused by a hemorrhagic stroke
The most serious consequence of a hemorrhagic stroke is death. The National Institutes of Health says that while only 10-15% of strokes are hemorrhagic, they carry the highest mortality rate.
Survivors of hemorrhagic stroke can face a lifetime of issues if the stroke isn’t treated quickly and properly. That can include permanent brain damage, which causes memory loss, confusion, and personality changes. Depending on the severity of the damage, the person may require assistance with self-care either full-time or part-time.
A hemorrhagic stroke can cause paralysis or permanent weakness to the entire body or just one side. This can lead to a lifetime of coordination problems or difficulty walking. Permanent weakness can prevent a person from working certain jobs or performing basic everyday tasks.
Some hemorrhagic stroke victims report long-term problems with their vision and speech, which also makes everyday life difficult. Survivors report issues with forming words, slurred speech, difficulty understanding language, double vision, and blurred vision.
A hemorrhagic stroke can leave patients with lifelong seizures and involuntary movements.
How can medical malpractice cause or make a hemorrhagic stroke worse?
As with most medical situations, hemorrhagic stroke isn’t always preventable, but how medical staff react to the symptoms before or during the active stroke can make all the difference in how severe the stroke is.
It starts with medical staff properly understanding the patient’s medical history and risk of suffering hemorrhagic stroke. Staff should know if a patient has had aneurysms, prior strokes, or vascular conditions that can make hemorrhagic stroke more likely. Staff should also note any medications a patient is taking that can increase the risk of blood vessel rupture. This includes the use of blood thinners and the patient’s dosage.
When stroke symptoms are noticed, staff cannot dismiss or misinterpret them as unrelated to stroke. Once again, every second matters when dealing with a hemorrhagic stroke, so understanding the risks and how the symptoms present is crucial.
That also means healthcare providers should not delay their response if a stroke is suspected. Any delay in ordering imaging, consulting with a specialist, or beginning treatment can greatly increase the severity of the damage.
If you suspect your hemorrhagic stroke was not handled properly by medical staff, you must contact Weisser Law today. Our team will dig deep into your medical records to see where the malpractice occurred, how it could have been prevented and why you’re owed the compensation you deserve.
Our staff has decades of experience in hospital settings, meaning they not only know how mistakes are made but also how hospitals will try to cover them up.
When your health and future are at risk, experience matters. Weisser Law fights relentlessly to restore our clients’ dignity while securing their future. Contact our expert legal team today so you can focus on recovery, and we’ll focus on accountability.
Frequently asked questions about hemorrhagic stroke
Can a hemorrhagic stroke be prevented?
In many cases, yes. Proper management of high blood pressure, monitoring known aneurysms, and careful use of medications can significantly reduce the risk. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to identify and manage these risk factors.
When they fail to do so, and a preventable stroke occurs, it may be considered medical negligence. Patients rely on providers to recognize warning signs and take proactive steps to prevent serious complications.
What damages can be recovered in a stroke malpractice case?
Compensation may include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, loss of future earning ability, and pain and suffering. In the most severe cases, victims may require lifelong care, which can significantly increase the value of a claim. Families may also pursue wrongful death damages if the stroke results in death.
How do lawyers prove medical malpractice in stroke cases?
Attorneys must show that a healthcare provider owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused harm as a direct result. This often involves reviewing medical records, consulting expert witnesses, and demonstrating how proper care would have changed the outcome. These cases are complex but can be successfully pursued with the right legal team.
How does delayed diagnosis affect stroke outcomes?
Delays in diagnosis can dramatically worsen the outcome of a hemorrhagic stroke. As bleeding continues, pressure builds in the brain, causing more extensive damage. Early intervention is one of the most important factors in survival and recovery. When doctors fail to order timely imaging or misdiagnose symptoms, patients may suffer irreversible injuries that could have been minimized or avoided with proper care.
Can doctors be held responsible for stroke-related mistakes?
Yes, if a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care and that failure causes harm, they may be held liable for medical malpractice. This can include misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, medication errors, or failure to monitor a patient’s condition. Each case depends on the specific facts, but when negligence results in serious injury, victims and their families have the right to seek compensation.
How long do I have to file a claim in Florida?
In most cases, you have two years from the date the malpractice was discovered or should have been discovered. However, some exceptions can shorten or extend this timeline. Because these deadlines are strictly enforced, it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to avoid losing your right to file a claim.