Brain injuries can have a drastic impact on your daily life. Depending on the location and severity of the damage, you could require lifelong medical care and experience difficulties with movement, memory, concentration, feeling, and more.
Hypoxic brain injuries, also known as hypoxia, are a type of brain injury that occurs when you suffer prolonged oxygen loss. The longer that your brain is deprived of oxygen, the more severe and life-threatening the condition will be.
To survive, the brain needs a steady supply of oxygen. Without a reliable source of oxygen, the cells in your brain will begin to die, leading to permanent and life-altering complications. Brain cells cannot regenerate, meaning that once a cell is dead, it is gone forever.
When oxygen to the brain is partially cut off, you can develop a hypoxic brain injury. There are many situations where hypoxia may occur, such as the following:
If you develop a hypoxic brain injury, it is important to call 911 and seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible. Hypoxia is a serious condition and can lead to a coma or death without intervention. Seeking medical care can help reduce the injury’s impact.
After stabilizing your condition, your medical team will evaluate the severity of the brain damage and determine if you have experienced any permanent damage. From that stage, treatment for hypoxia will focus on managing symptoms and helping you learn or regain certain skills, such as movement and speech.
Hypoxic brain injuries are very serious and can lead to lifelong impairments. However, patients with hypoxia typically respond better to treatment than patients who suffer from anoxia, or complete oxygen loss. As a result, it may be possible to recover from a hypoxic brain injury partially or fully.
However, your recovery timeline will depend heavily on your unique case. The symptoms and effects of hypoxia can vary based on the severity of the injury and the affected location. Your care team will discuss your next steps with you and your loved ones to ensure that you understand your prognosis.
Hypoxic brain injuries can occur due to several factors, including negligence. If you developed hypoxia because of someone else’s wrongful actions, you may be eligible for legal action and financial compensation. In these situations, it is important to consult with a Chicago brain injury lawyer.
Under Illinois law, hypoxia victims may qualify for a lawsuit against a liable party if his or her negligence caused the injury to happen. By filing a brain injury lawsuit, you could recover a settlement to pay for several losses associated with your condition, such as the following:
An experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer can craft a compelling case for your right to compensation, advocating aggressively for your maximum settlement. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible following your accident to identify your optimal path to recovery.