Sepsis can set in after any type of infection.
SEPSIS IS COMMON IN THE U.S.
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.
Sepsis can set in after any type of infection.
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.
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
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.
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:
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.
Individuals with a history of chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and lung disease, are more likely to develop sepsis.
Patients with a weakened immune system, either due to medical conditions or prescription medication, face a higher risk of sepsis.
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.
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.
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 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:
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 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:
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.
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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Our attorneys represent people who have been injured and families who have lost loved ones in all types of personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation cases. All cases are handled on a contingency basis, which means that we will only accept payment if we are successful in getting compensation for you or your family.
If you were injured or lost a loved one because of the carelessness of another, you may be able to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
When you call Briskman Briskman & Greenberg for a free consultation, you will speak directly to an experienced attorney in Chicago, usually one of the firm’s principals, who will assess the facts of your situation and advise you of your rights. Don’t delay getting your free legal consultation: if you fail to pursue your claim in a timely fashion, you could forever lose your rights.