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What are the Main Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is generally caused by some type of accident when something, usually an external force, causes damage to you or your loved one’s brain.

The most common causes of traumatic brain injuries include car accidents (especially rear-end collisions), motorcycle accidents, falls, construction site accidents, and medical malpractice.

Most of the above causes for a Florida traumatic brain injury are self-explanatory, but many don’t realize that medical malpractice is a common cause for TBIs.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice brain injuries can occur in many ways, especially if you are in a hospital. Some of the most common forms of traumatic brain injuries due to medical malpractice include, but aren’t limited to:

1. Birth trauma – caused to babies during the birthing process
2. Misdiagnosis of your condition
3. Missed diagnosis of your injuries
4. Infections
5. Abuse – most commonly found in nursing homes
6. Lack of oxygen (Anoxia)
7. Medications – due to the wrong dosage or medications

South Florida Brain Injuries and Blood Infections

One of the biggest causes of unintended brain injuries is when a patient contracts Septicemia. Septicemia is a bacterial infection of your bloodstream, commonly referred to as ‘sepsis.’ When sepsis occurs, your body will have a fast-inflammatory response. If you don’t receive treatment quickly, your vital organs could begin to fail, and your brain will be one of the first organs affected. Even if your doctors are able to stop sepsis from progressing further through your bloodstream, brain damage can still occur.

If you have an immune system that is compromised, a chronic illness, or severe burns and/or injuries, you may be more likely to contract sepsis. Additionally, if the healthcare facility has inadequate sanitary conditions or procedures, this can elevate your risk of sepsis. Common ways you may contract sepsis in a hospital include:

1. Urinary catheter infections – While this type of infection is more common in nursing homes, if you have a urinary catheter while hospitalized there is a risk that you could contract sepsis.
2. Intravenous catheter or central line infections – The central line may allow bacteria to enter your body.
3. Infections at your surgical site.
4. Bedsores – Bedsores are caused by neglect and inattention on the part of the nursing home or hospital staff. If left untreated, bedsores may become quite severe, and could create a path to the bloodstream letting bacteria in which could lead to sepsis.

The most frightening part of a brain injury is that often, a victim may not even be aware medical malpractice occurred as they deal with things such as memory loss or depression. It’s up to you as a family member to try to determine what happened to your loved one while attempting to give them the love, care, and support they deserve. If you find yourself in that situation, then it is important that you turn to experienced professionals for help and legal guidance.

A South Florida injury attorney may be able to help you and your loved ones who have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to malpractice or the negligence of someone else. You or your loved one may be due compensation for your medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, and future care. No one deserves to suffer such severe injuries or complications, particularly not from those in the medical field that we turn to for help.

At Friedman & Friedman, we know what it takes to take on a medical malpractice case and are ready to fight for you and your family. For more information, give us a call at 305-446-6485 or visit our website.

-Marvin

Thu Jun 27, 9:00am