Albuquerque Brain Injury Attorney

Help for Victims of Brain Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice in New Mexico

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury or brain damage as the result of a medical error, you deserve to be compensated for the medical bills, lost wages, and other financial hardships that result from the injury. 

At James Wood Law, our brain injury attorneys in Albuquerque are available 24/7 to hear the details of your brain injury malpractice case and are ready and willing to fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.

Contact our medical malpractice brain injury lawyers in Albuquerque at (505) 906-6774 or online to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation. 

What Medical Errors Can Cause Brain Injuries?

Most medical professionals have your best interests at heart and provide the highest quality care available. However, in some cases, preventable medical errors can lead to severe and permanent brain damage. When this occurs, the victim has the right to file a brain injury lawsuit against the doctor or hospital that caused the injury.

Medical errors that may cause a brain injury include:

• Surgical errors: A lack of oxygen to the brain during surgery can result in serious brain damage. An example would be excessive bleeding during a procedure that results in decreased oxygenation or improperly intubating a patient. Brain injuries may also be caused by infections acquired during a surgical procedure.
• Anesthesia errors: The improper use of anesthesia, such as administering too much at once or to a patient who is allergic, may lead to brain injuries.
• Diagnostic errors: This type of error occurs when a doctor fails to diagnose a medical condition correctly and/or promptly enough, such as failing to diagnose a patient’s stroke or pulmonary embolism in time.
• Medication errors: For example, when a patient is given the wrong dosage of a medication, or even the wrong prescription altogether.
• Birth injuries: A doctor may cause brain damage to a newborn if a medical mistake occurs during the child’s birth, such as failing to recognize fetal distress or misuse of a vacuum or forceps.

Brain injuries often result in the need for extensive follow-up treatment and care, potentially for life, so it is imperative that you seek compensation for medical negligence with the help of an Albuquerque brain injury lawyer from James Wood Law if you were injured. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case.

Traumatic vs. Acquired Brain Injuries

When it comes to brain injuries, there are two main categories: traumatic and acquired. 

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are typically caused by external forces, such as a blow to the head or penetration of the skull by a foreign object – for example, in a car accident. These injuries often result in bruising, bleeding, or tearing of the brain tissue and can have severe consequences, including permanent disability or even death. 

On the other hand, acquired brain injuries (ABI) are caused by internal factors such as stroke, infection, tumor, or lack of oxygen. While the symptoms of acquired brain injuries can be like those of traumatic ones, the underlying causes are very different. Acquired brain injuries are more commonly caused by medical malpractice.

What If My Doctor Failed to Properly Treat My Brain Injury?

Medical negligence can exacerbate the effects of brain injuries, causing unnecessary harm to patients who are already dealing with a serious condition. Whether it's a failure to diagnose a brain injury, inadequate treatment options, or improperly administered medication, medical malpractice can worsen recovery times and even lead to permanent long-term damage. 

Brain injuries can be debilitating, affecting cognitive abilities, motor function, and the overall quality of life. It is crucial that healthcare professionals take diligent care when treating patients with brain injuries to avoid worsening the condition. Doctors must prioritize thorough assessments, personalized treatment plans, and vigilant monitoring.

Strokes, Brain Damage & Medical Malpractice

Apart from medical negligence in the diagnosing or treatment of traumatic brain injuries, substandard medical care can also cause brain damage in the form of strokes. Some examples of how this may occur include:

• Failure to administer blood thinner medications to prevent clots, resulting in stroke
• Negligence during labor and delivery resulting in fetal stroke and birth injuries such as cerebral palsy 
• Failures to order CT scans for aneurysm patients, resulting in stroke
• Medication errors, such as epinephrine overdose, resulting in stroke
• Failure to diagnose / misdiagnosis of stroke, resulting in severe brain damage
• Emergency room errors resulting in preventable blood clots / strokes, including diagnostic failures, failures to monitor patients, failure to administer medications, and more. 
• Anesthesia errors or surgical errors resulting in perioperative strokes

Strokes, which are sometimes referred to as brain attacks (as compared to heart attacks), occur in one of two ways:

1. When something blocks the supply of blood to part of the brain (ischemic stroke).
2. When a blood vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). 

When either of these two events happen, the brain is deprived of oxygen and cells in the brain become damaged or die. Often, the preventable strokes that occur in medical settings are ischemic strokes caused by blood clots that prevent oxygenated blood from reaching the brain, resulting in brain damage.  

As a type of brain injury, strokes can have profound consequences, including life-altering disabilities caused by impairments in movement, eating, speech, and vision. In some cases, a stroke can be fatal. As such, cases involving strokes caused by medical malpractice demand the attention of attorneys with experience and resources.

At James Wood Law, our award-winning medical malpractice team has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims of medical negligence, including those who suffered strokes, brain damage, and other devastating injuries in a variety of medical settings. Because medical malpractice cases involving strokes are complex and fact-specific, we encourage anyone with a potential claim to consult our team for a free consultation. 

Discuss Your Rights in a Free Consultation

The brain accounts for just two percent of an adult's body weight. However, the brain uses 18% of all the energy the body uses at rest. Our brains define us as individuals. Every emotion, thought, sight, smell, sound, and taste depends on the proper function of the brain. How we relate to the people in our lives also depends on our brain.

If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury as a result of medical malpractice, you have the right to seek compensation – not only for the financial losses you have incurred, but also for the lasting effect this type of injury may have on your life. Call our Albuquerque brain injury attorneys at James Wood Law for help.

Call (505) 906-6774 or contact us online to discuss your rights and legal options in a free consultation.