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Kentucky Failure to Diagnose and Treat a Stroke Lawyers
Committed representation when your doctor fails to diagnose a stroke in Kentucky
Picture this. You wake up with a severe headache, dizziness, or weakness on one side of the body. You rush to the hospital, expecting doctors to recognize your symptoms and act quickly. But what happens if they don’t? What if they misdiagnose your condition or delay treatment? When a doctor fails to diagnose and treat a stroke in time, the consequences can be life-altering or even fatal. At Crandall & Pera Law, we help victims of this type of negligence seek justice for their damages and losses.
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Table of Contents
- What is a stroke?
- Why is a delayed diagnosis of stroke so dangerous?
- Why do Kentucky medical professionals fail to diagnose a stroke?
- How can your Kentucky medical malpractice lawyers help?
- What is the value of my Kentucky failure to diagnose and treat a stroke case?
- How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Kentucky?
What is a stroke?
The Cleveland Clinic defines a stroke as follows:
A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when something prevents your brain from getting enough blood flow. A blocked blood vessel or bleeding in your brain can cause strokes.
Healthcare providers sometimes refer to strokes as cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) or brain attacks.
Strokes are the second leading cause of death worldwide and the fifth most common in the U.S.
Why is a delayed diagnosis of stroke so dangerous?
Remember, a stroke is a medical emergency. When a stroke isn’t diagnosed and treated quickly, brain cells start to die, leading to permanent disability or death.
Common warning signs of a stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg (particularly on one side of the body)
- Confusion or trouble speaking
- Vision problems in one or both eyes
- Loss of balance and coordination
- A severe headache with no known cause
The sooner doctors act, the better your chances for recovery from a stroke. This is why the failure to diagnose and treat a stroke is so serious. Patients may be unable to receive the life-saving treatment they need.
Why do Kentucky medical professionals fail to diagnose a stroke?
Doctors and emergency room staff should be trained to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. However, mistakes can happen, often due to negligence, misinterpretation of symptoms, or a failure to order proper tests. Common reasons strokes tend to go undiagnosed include:
- Stroke symptoms can sometimes mimic other conditions, like migraine or vertigo. If doctors don’t consider a stroke as a possibility, they might dismiss your symptoms.
- Doctors need a CT scan or MRI to confirm a stroke. If they fail to order these tests in time, they may miss the diagnosis.
- Some patients have a higher stroke risk due to high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, or a history of strokes. If doctors don’t consider these factors, they may not take your symptoms seriously.
- Time is critical when treating a stroke. If doctors delay administering clot-busting medications (like tPA) or other interventions, the damage can be irreversible.
How can your Kentucky medical malpractice lawyers help?
If your doctor’s negligence led to a missed or delayed stroke diagnosis, the medical malpractice lawyers at Crandall & Pera Law can help in a variety of ways.
We will review your medical records, speak with experts, and gather evidence to determine if medical malpractice occurred. This includes finding out whether your doctors followed standard medical procedures for stroke diagnosis and treatment.
For a successful medical malpractice case, our attorneys work to demonstrate that:
- The doctor owed you a duty of care.
- The doctor failed to meet this standard of care by missing or delaying the stroke diagnosis.
- The failure directly caused you harm, like severe disability, brain damage, or wrongful death.
A stroke can lead to lifelong medical expenses, lost wages, physical therapy, and emotional suffering. Our attorneys calculate these damages and fight for fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Hospitals and doctors often have powerful insurance companies that try to deny or minimize your claim. Our experienced lawyers know how to negotiate aggressively on your behalf.
If settlement negotiations don’t lead to fair compensation, we are always prepared to take your case to court. Many cases settle before trial, but having a strong legal advocate on your side increases the chances of securing the compensation to which you’re entitled.
Medical malpractice cases involving strokes can be complicated. Proving that a doctor’s mistake directly caused harm requires expert testimony, thorough investigation, and strong legal representation. Our lawyers understand how to build a compelling argument and fight against hospitals and insurance companies.
What is the value of my Kentucky failure to diagnose and treat a stroke case?
If you or a loved one have been harmed by medical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical bills, including hospital stays, medications, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity, if you can no longer work due to your stroke-related disability.
- Pain and suffering, which is compensation for your physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
- Long-term disability costs, if the stroke resulted in permanent damage that requires ongoing care.
- Wrongful death damages, if a loved one passed away due to a misdiagnosed stroke.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit in Kentucky?
Kentucky law has a statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases. Generally, you have one year from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) the malpractice to file a claim. However, exceptions may apply, particularly in cases involving minors or situations where the harm wasn’t immediately apparent. Our medical malpractice attorneys can help determine the exact deadline for your case.
Talk to our failure to diagnose stroke lawyers today for legal help
Did you or a loved one suffer harm due to a doctor’s failure to diagnose and treat a stroke in Kentucky? Don’t wait to seek legal help. Medical professionals should be held accountable when their negligence results in devastating consequences. Contact the Kentucky medical malpractice lawyers at Crandall & Pera Law today to discuss your case and find out your options for pursuing justice. Please call our offices or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Kentucky failure to diagnose stroke attorney. We have offices conveniently located in Lexington and Louisville.