Baltimore Attorney for Nerve Damage Caused by Surgery
The nervous system plays a role in almost all of our bodily functions, from coordinating movements, to regulating organs, to transmitting information about the world around us. When a patient’s nerves are damaged or severed during a surgical procedure, the victim may permanently lose sensation or mobility in the affected area. If nerve damage is caused by a surgical error, surgeons, nurses, and other parties could be liable. A Baltimore nerve damage lawyer, like Randolph Rice, can help you explore your legal options if you or one of your family members suffered nerve damage due to medical malpractice.
At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we are experienced in complex medical malpractice litigation, enabling us to provide effective, strategy-driven legal representation to the victims of negligence. We may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. If you believe you could have a medical malpractice claim against your surgeon, anesthesiologist, a hospital, or other doctors for nerve damage in Baltimore, contact us online or call (410) 694-7291 for a free legal consultation.
How Surgical Errors Can Cause Nerve Damage
Surgeons must take precautions to avoid causing nerve damage or other patient injuries during an operation. However, even experienced surgeons sometimes make serious errors.
There are several ways in which a surgeon, anesthesiologist, or other medical professional can accidentally cause nerve damage during a surgery. Causes of surgery-related nerve damage include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Cutting too deeply or in the wrong area during a surgical procedure
- Failing to monitor the patient’s circulation during a lengthy surgery, resulting in tissue damage
- Making anesthesia errors, such placing the patient into an improper position when administering anesthesia
- Using the wrong surgical instruments, or using medical instruments incorrectly
Signs + Effects of Nerve Damage
The effects of nerve damage can be permanent and debilitating, particularly in cases where the nerve is completely severed. Severe health problems can also result from other nerve injuries, such as nerves being nicked, pinched, compressed, or deprived of oxygen. Depending on how badly and in what manner the nerve is damaged, potential effects of surgical nerve damage may include:
- Difficulty balancing or controlling muscle motions
- Loss of bladder or bowel control (incontinence)
- Loss of fine motor control, such as the ability to use pencils, buttons, or zippers
- Muscle wasting (atrophy) caused by loss of mobility
- Numbness or loss of sensitivity to pressure, temperature, pain, and/or other sensations and perceptions
- Paralysis (paraplegia, quadriplegia/tetraplegia)
Can I Sue My Surgeon for Nerve Damage in Baltimore, MD?
You may be able to file a lawsuit against your surgeon, hospital, or other parties if you suffered nerve damage as a result of medical malpractice. it depends on factors like whether your injuries were caused by negligence, and how long ago your injuries occurred.
To show that your doctor or surgeon was negligent, you will need to gather medical evidence, which a nerve damage lawsuit attorney from our office can handle for you. This process may involve interviewing medical experts to learn what actions your surgeon should have taken or avoided during the procedure that injured you. If your surgeon breached the duty of care that was owed to you, he or she may be liable for your injuries and resulting health complications.
Compensation for Medical Malpractice Causing Nerve Damage in Baltimore
Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, the victim may lose their ability to work, support their family, or live independently. Since nerve injuries can be irreversible and disabling, the associated medical expenses may be substantial. If the patient is paralyzed due to nerve damage, his or her medical costs may climb into the millions.
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit may enable the victim to recover compensation for nerve damage caused by surgical errors. For example, the victim may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, surgical costs, caregiver costs, hospitalization costs, rehabilitation costs, medication costs, lost wages, and other damages.
A small number of cases are tried in court, while many others are settled prior to trial. the amount of a medical malpractice settlement or award depends on factors that are unique to each case.
Baltimore Lawyer for Nerve Damage Caused by Surgery
Nerve damage can affect every part of your daily life, causing physical pain, emotional suffering, and financial distress. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries if they were caused by a surgical error. Our office can help you understand the steps you must take to pursue compensation for your losses and out-of-pocket expenses.
To discuss your legal options confidentially in a free consultation with a Baltimore nerve damage injury lawyer, contact the law offices of Randolph Rice online, or call (410) 694-7291 for assistance. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to serve medical negligence victims throughout the Baltimore region.
