Chicago Sepsis Injury Lawyer

When an infection turns to sepsis, the situation becomes life-threatening.

The immediate physical injuries caused by an accident are often severe. However, sometimes, the lingering effects of an accident can pose a much greater risk to an accident victim’s long-term health. Infections, for example, are common following accident-related injuries and can significantly prolong an accident victim’s recovery.
 
At the Chicago personal injury law firm of Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, we help accident victims and their family members understand their rights and effectively pursue meaningful compensation for what they have been through. Regardless of the nature of the accident or its long-term effects on your life, Briskman Briskman & Greenberg is here to help in any way we can. With more than 35 years of experience handling a wide range of personal injury cases, our compassionate lawyers have what it takes to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.

What is Sepsis?

Sepsis is an extremely serious condition in which an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout the body. Sepsis can set in after any type of infection, although infections that start in the lungs, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract and skin are the most likely to lead to sepsis. If untreated, sepsis can quickly cause permanent damage to the organs, which may lead to organ failure and death.

Because infection is a precursor to sepsis, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in the number of sepsis cases. Some medical experts claim that COVID-19 is essentially a case of “viral sepsis,” given that COVID-19 can cause widespread organ failure, similar to the effects of sepsis.

How Common is Sepsis?

SEPSIS IS COMMON IN THE U.S.

Sepsis is a common medical condition diagnosed in more than 1.7 million adults each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 270,000 people die from sepsis in the United States every year. Sepsis is the cause of death in one out of every three people who die in the hospital.

Once the signs of sepsis set in, a patient’s condition can rapidly deteriorate. This may lead to septic shock, which causes a precipitous drop in blood pressure, often resulting in organ damage and organ failure.

SEPSIS IS CHARACTERIZED BY

• High heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Confusion or disorientation
• Extreme pain and discomfort
• Feverish symptoms
• Shortness of breath
• Sweaty or clammy skin

It is imperative to seek immediate medical attention at the first signs of sepsis. Doctors treat patients with sepsis by administering strong antibiotics, usually intravenously.

Who is Susceptible to Sepsis?

Anyone can develop sepsis. However, certain factors, like having had sepsis already, make it more likely that an infection will progress into a sepsis diagnosis. These factors include:

Age

Those over the age of 65 are at a much higher risk of developing sepsis. Young children under the age of one are also at greater risk.

Medical History

Individuals with a history of chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and lung disease, are more likely to develop sepsis.

Immunocompromised

Patients with a weakened immune system, either due to medical conditions or prescription medication, face a higher risk of sepsis.

Former Hospitalization

Hospitals are a major source of infection. Thus, those who recently spent time in the hospital are more likely to have an infection that turns into sepsis.

Causes of Sepsis

Sepsis is the body’s extreme reaction to an infection. Thus, anytime someone develops an infection, there is a possibility they will develop sepsis. Below are a few common causes of sepsis.

Personal Injury Accidents

Anytime someone is injured in an accident, the risk of infection is present. For example, car accidents, slip and falls, and workplace accidents can increase an accident victim’s risk of infection. Even minor conditions can result in sepsis.

Those who are injured in an accident and develop sepsis may be able to hold the person who caused the accident responsible for their accident-related damages. This includes injuries that progress beyond those caused by the accident, such as any subsequent infections. Generally, a negligent party is responsible for the full impact of their actions. For example, if a negligent motorist causes an accident and the victim later develops sepsis, the negligent driver may be on the hook for the injuries caused by the accident and the sepsis-related injuries.

Medical Malpractice

Doctors, nurses, hospitals and emergency rooms must provide patients with a reasonable level of care. This includes taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe place where patients can heal from their injuries. Healthcare providers must also constantly monitor a patient’s condition to detect any signs of infection, which may lead to sepsis. If a medical professional’s negligence causes or contributes to a case of sepsis, they may be liable to the patient for any resulting damages. However, connecting a sepsis diagnosis to a healthcare provider’s negligence can be challenging, depending on the circumstances. Thus, the assistance of an experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyer is highly recommended.

Nursing Home Neglect

While sepsis itself is not contagious, the infections that cause sepsis are often easily transmitted. Nursing homes are a particular area of concern for sepsis, given the vulnerable population and the proximity of residents to one another. Infections thrive in unsanitary conditions; nursing home staff and management must take special care in ensuring a clean environment to prevent the spread of infections.

Damages Available Through a Sepsis Lawsuit

In many cases, sepsis is a preventable medical condition. Thus, those who are diagnosed with sepsis may have a legal claim against the party responsible for their condition. These claims are based on the legal theory of negligence, which requires an accident victim, patient or nursing home resident to prove that the other party violated a duty of care that was owed to them.

If you successfully bring a sepsis lawsuit, you can recover meaningful compensation that will help you overcome the financial impact of your injuries.

Illinois allows accident victims, nursing home residents and hospital patients to recover for their compensatory damages following a case of sepsis.

There are two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages

Economic damages include the out-of-pocket expenses you must face as a result of your sepsis diagnosis. Economic damages also include any money you would have earned but could not because of your injuries or hospitalization. Economic damages include:

• Past medical expenses
• The cost of follow-up medical treatment
• Lost wages while you cannot work due to your injuries
• Any decrease in your ability to earn income in the future

Proving economic damages often involves gathering and presenting objective evidence of your damages. For example, you can prove the amount of your medical expenses by presenting your medical bills, or you can show the amount of lost wages you suffered through your work records.

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional and psychological impact that your injuries had on your life. Non-economic damages are harder to pinpoint because they are subjective. Common types of non-economic damages in a sepsis lawsuit include:

• Pain and suffering
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of society

To prove non-economic damages, you must explain how the accident affected you. For example, are you living with lingering pain, or did you miss out on important family events or milestones due to your injuries? At Briskman Briskman & Greenberg, our dedicated team of sepsis lawyers painstakingly review all the available evidence to identify the full extent of your damages.

Contact a Chicago Sepsis Lawyer to Schedule a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one recently developed sepsis, either after a hospital stay or an accident, contact the knowledgeable lawyers at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg for immediate assistance. For nearly 40 years, we have been helping accident victims and their families recover meaningful compensation that helps them begin to move on with their lives after what can only be described as a life-changing event. Our lawyers offer free consultations to all prospective clients, during which we will explain the recovery process in clear, understandable terms so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family. To learn more and schedule a free case evaluation today, give Briskman Briskman & Greenberg a call at 877-595-4878. You can also connect with us through our online form. And because we accept all sepsis cases on a contingency basis, we will not ask you to pay for any of our services unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries. 

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