Any damage to the head or brain should always be a cause for concern, but anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries are among the most serious. These injuries are characterized by a restriction or blockage of oxygen that puts someone’s life at risk. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for long enough, the resulting damage might be permanent.
If this occurred to you or someone you love because of another person’s negligence, you should speak to a seasoned attorney about obtaining compensation for different types of traumatic brain injuries. Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries in Manchester are serious conditions and often require immediate medical attention.
Anoxic Brain Injuries
An anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is completely deprived of oxygen for a notable period of time. It is not usually caused by trauma, so it is advisable to retain a lawyer who could investigate the potential cause of it. Anoxia could occur naturally as part of a stroke, as a side-effect of carbon monoxide poisoning, or as the result of a medical error, drowning, or poisoning. This type of injury can also occur from suffocation, such as when a child chokes on a small toy.
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Hypoxic Brain Injuries
Hypoxic brain injuries are characterized by a reduction in oxygen supply – but not a complete blockage as seen with anoxia. A restriction of oxygen can occur due to strangulation, choking, carbon monoxide poisoning, or drowning. Although hypoxia does not shut off all oxygen to the brain, it can still kill brain cells and lead to loss of function, headaches, a vegetative state, and death.
How Can Anoxia and Hypoxia Affect Someone?
Anoxic and hypoxic injuries can kill off brain cells and disrupt other cognitive functions, depending on how long someone is deprived of oxygen. If it is not addressed quickly, either brain injury could cause someone to enter a vegetative state. They could suffer short-term memory loss, visual disturbances, severe headaches, and may even lose their ability to walk.
Those who suffer an anoxic brain injury will likely need speech or occupational theory to restore motor function or prescription steroids to treat swelling in the brain. In the most severe instances, life support may be required.
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How Can a Lawyer Prove Liability for an Anoxic and Hypoxic Brain Injury?
An attorney must prove that an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury was caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person in order to recover damages. Examples of third-party negligence include defective products, botched medical procedures, and motor vehicle accidents. To obtain compensation, the plaintiff’s legal team must prove that their anoxic or hypoxic brain injury was the direct result of another person’s actions and not a naturally occurring phenomenon.
A local attorney must also prove that the anoxic or hypoxic brain damage which resulted is compensable under state law. When measuring the future consequences of an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury, a civil claim might address:
- How long the recovery process is expected take
- The cost of future medical bills
- Any potential limitations on the patient’s motor function or ability to participate in daily activities
It is crucial to establish liability in order to recover damages for an anoxic or hypoxic brain injury. Identifying potentially liable parties requires a claimant’s legal team to gather supporting evidence and present it to the opposing counsel during settlement negotiations or before a judge. Outside experts may be summoned to help determine liability. If the defense team is unwilling to settle, the case would proceed to trial where a judge or jury would determine whether the plaintiff should be awarded damages.
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Discuss the Effects of Anoxia and Hypoxia Brain Injuries with a Manchester Attorney
Someone who was injured due to a lack of oxygen to the brain might not be able to speak for themselves or seek legal recourse on their own. Therefore, a family member may need to seek assistance from a Manchester anoxic and hypoxic brain injury lawyer on an injured person’s behalf. Time is of the essence, so call now to discuss your available options.
