A pediatric stroke is a stroke that occurs in patients who are under the age of 18. They are just as severe as strokes that occur in adults and can result in all manner of health consequences. In some instances, they can be fatal. Learn more about what causes these injuries and whether you have legal options if you suspect that medical malpractice was a cause.
What Are Pediatric Strokes?
Pediatric strokes are life-threatening conditions that occur when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted or otherwise doesn’t work as it should. Strokes are much more common in adults, but they can also occur in teens, children, and infants.
What Are Common Types of Strokes?
One type of pediatric stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke. These occur when a blood vessel in the brain breaks and bleeds. Hemorrhagic strokes don’t allow the brain to receive oxygen and nutrients. They can also lead to increased pressure in the brain, causing cell death.
Ischemic strokes are another possibility. These happen when a blood clot forms and blocks blood vessels in the brain.
What Are Common Symptoms of Pediatric Strokes?
The symptoms your child could experience if they have suffered a stroke can vary depending on the severity of the issue and their age.
Some signs that your child may need emergency medical assistance include:
- Extreme clumsiness
- Changes in thinking or speaking
- Changes in behavior
- Muscle weakness on one side of the body
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble speaking
Very young children could experience seizures and severe headaches.
What Causes Pediatric Strokes?
Pediatric strokes can occur as a result of congenital issues or injuries. Infants with heart conditions or blood vessel formation problems are more likely to suffer from these. Blood clotting disorders and sickle cell disease could also be factors, along with blood pressure problems and diabetes.
Medical errors can also result in strokes. Medical professionals who don’t address maternal illnesses can increase the risk of developmental issues during gestation that could lead to pediatric strokes.
Obstetrician malpractice, such as using too much force during the delivery or not monitoring vital signs, could also cause these life-threatening issues. In older children, the failure to diagnose certain conditions or health issues, like blood-clotting disorders, could cause pediatric strokes.
Can I File a Lawsuit in Florida if My Child Suffered a Stroke?
If your child suffered a stroke because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct, one of the options you may have is to file a personal injury claim. To do so, you must demonstrate that the other party owed your child a duty of care that they failed to uphold and that it resulted in losses.
Doing this can be complex in medical malpractice situations because you must show that another professional would not have made the same mistake. To accomplish this, you’ll need to have testimonies from expert witnesses who can state that the stroke would not have occurred if the provider had offered the accepted standard of care.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Pediatric Stroke Victims in Florida?
Filing a medical malpractice claim can mean being able to receive economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover medical expenses, including long-term care, as well as lost wages if a parent needs to take time off from work to care for the injured child.
In some instances, pediatric strokes could result in brain damage. Your child could need special education, occupational therapy, or a variety of other services. Those needs can be covered by economic damages, too. If your child dies because of the stroke, you can receive coverage for funeral expenses as well.
Non-economic damages address losses that aren’t simple to quantify. These include pain and suffering. If your child won’t be able to live normally, you could receive compensation for the diminishment of their life.
The severity of the resulting health issues, how long the recovery will take, whether your child will fully recover, and the availability of evidence can all impact the damages you receive.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help With My Medical Malpractice Claim After a Pediatric Stroke?
Having legal representation is vital in medical malpractice cases. An attorney can assist you in gathering the evidence that shows your child suffered because of malpractice. Your legal team will also help establish who the liable parties are. In instances involving doctors, for example, the hospital might be responsible, too.
Your attorney can calculate the exact damages you may be entitled to. With this total, they can negotiate with insurance companies to obtain the compensation you need.
Contact the Jacksonville Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If your child sustained an injury as severe as a stroke, filing a medical malpractice claim could be the most beneficial option. At Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our team of attorneys can guide you through the entire process. Contact us at (904) 396-1100 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Jacksonville medical malpractice lawyer.
