Tampa is a dynamic city on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The residents of Tampa may suffer from stroke, which is a serious, life-threatening health condition that can cause long-term disability, lasting brain damage, or even death. The signs of a stroke can range from numbness on one side of the body or face to mild weakness to paralysis. Other signs may include severe and sudden headaches, trouble seeing, sudden weakness, and difficulty understanding or speaking.
Approximately 90% of strokes happen due to blocked blood vessels.This is known as an ischemic stroke. A stroke caused by internal bleeding is referred to as a hemorrhagic stroke. In some instances, a stroke can get worse or occur due to the negligence of a medical professional. Consulting a Tampa stroke attorney can be helpful in getting fair compensation for your suffering.
Proving a stroke claim can be challenging. There are four elements needed to prove the stroke claim successfully, and it is important to know about them.
Duty of Care
Duty of care is the first element to prove in a stroke claim. The healthcare provider or medical professional whomyou consultowes you a duty of care.
For instance, if you went to the emergency room with symptoms of a stroke, such as numbness, weakness, vision problems, or slurred speech, the doctor should conduct various tests and diagnose you correctly. Failure to do so means that the doctor failed to meet the standard of care that was expected of them.
Breach of Duty
Breach of duty means that the doctor or medical professional failed to meet the duty of care, which is referred to as negligence. For instance, when the doctor misdiagnoses you with any other health condition, prescribes the wrong medication, delays your treatment, or fails to check your health condition properly, they have breached their duty of care.
Causation
Causation is an important element in a stroke claim. You should prove that the doctor’s or medical professional’s breach of duty contributed to or caused your stroke or its complications. Proving causation is tough, as a stroke can have several causes, which include lifestyle factors or pre-existing health conditions. Ifyou prove that the negligence of the doctor was the main factor in causing the stroke, you can file a case.
Damages
Damages are the last element to prove in the stroke claim. This means that you suffered real harm because the healthcare professional breached their duty of care.
Families pursuing compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one due to medical negligence must also provide evidence of additional injuries, including the loss of consortium and companionship.
A stroke can often lead to
- Cognitive impairment
- Physicalimpairment
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Poor quality of life
It is essential to collect all the relevant medical bills, records, and other documents to support your stroke claim for damages.
Conclusion
To prove all the above elements, you need strong evidence such as medical records, witness statements, expert testimony, and other relevant documents.
It is always better to hire an attorney for legal assistance when filing a stroke claim. They can also help you get fair compensation.
