Atlanta Deep Vein Thrombosis Attorney
Have you suffered deep vein thrombosis in Atlanta, GA because someone else was negligent? Whether your injury was caused by a medical professional’s negligence, assault, or a negligent driver, the experienced legal team at Hasner Law, PC, is here to help.
Because cases involving deep vein thrombosis can be very complex and often require expert medical testimony, it’s crucial to work with a reputable personal injury law firm.
At Hasner Law, PC, we represent victims in seeking full compensation for their injuries through thorough case investigation, experienced negotiations with the insurance company, and representation in court if necessary.
Your initial consultation with an Atlanta deep vein thrombosis attorney is always free and our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis which means no out-of-pocket costs for you. Contact our office at 678-888-4878 today to learn more about how we can help you.
How Hasner Law Can Help If You’ve Suffered From Deep Vein Thrombosis
The consequences of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can last a lifetime. Even after recovering, you may be left with chronic pain and an increased risk of additional complications. DVT cases are notoriously challenging because they can involve many negligent parties from reckless drivers to negligent physicians.
While you are struggling to recover from your injuries, you have medical bills piling up and potential future medical needs to consider. The insurance company isn’t on your side; they employ a team of attorneys who fight to minimize or deny your claim. You deserve an Atlanta personal injury attorney with extensive experience representing clients who have suffered DVT due to someone else’s negligence.
Stephen Hasner, the founding attorney of Hasner Law, PC, has more than 23 years of experience representing victims in personal injury cases. Our attorneys have over 80 years of combined experience that will be put to work to aggressively defend your interests and seek the full compensation you deserve.
What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?
Deep vein thrombosis is a life-threatening condition that happens when a blood clot is dislodged and travels through the body. Up to 900,000 people in the United States experience deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or venous thromboembolism (VE) every year and up to 100,000 lose their lives. While DVT can occur due to some health conditions, accidents, trauma, and medical malpractice are leading causes of DVT in Georgia.
Signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Unfortunately, sudden death is the first sign of DVT in about 25% of people. For those that do develop symptoms, signs may occur soon after an accident or surgery or up to several months later.
The most common signs of DVT include:
- Skin that is warm to the touch
- Reddened or discolored skin
- Swelling of the leg or ankle
- Cramping or pain in the leg
If you develop any symptoms of DVT, it’s important to seek treatment immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis can prevent blood clots from traveling and causing long-term damage.
Risks of DVT
Deep vein thrombosis is a serious and life-threatening condition. Anywhere from 10-30% of people die within the first month of being diagnosed with DVT. For one-quarter of people, sudden death is the first symptom.
About one-third of people with DVT go on to have long-term complications like pain, discoloration, or swelling in the affected limb in a condition called post-thrombotic syndrome. The greatest threat of DVT is that the clot will break away and travel to an organ. This can be fatal or result in permanent injuries.
Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
PE occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks a pulmonary artery. This reduces oxygen levels in the blood and may damage the lungs and heart. When the clot prevents blood from reaching parts of the lungs, it can also cause the lungs to shut down.
There are many signs of pulmonary embolism:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Heart attack
About 1 out of every 3 DVT patients develop a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition that must be treated immediately.
Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
When a DVT blood clot travels through the body but does not reach a vital organ, it may till cause long-term damage. Post-thrombotic syndrome is a condition affecting about one-third of DVT survivors and it can cause swelling, chronic pain, ulcers, tissue death, and mobility issues. It may develop weeks or even months after a deep vein thrombosis.
Cerebral Embolism
If the blood clot dislodges and travels to the brain, it can block blood flow to the brain. This can trigger a stroke. This type of stroke is known as an embolic stroke, a type of ischemic stroke, which means the blood clot formed elsewhere and traveled to the brain.
Cerebral embolism and stroke can happen very suddenly with symptoms including:
- Difficulty walking, speaking, or balancing
- Numbness of the limbs or the side of the face
- Paralysis
- Headache
- Vision and hearing changes
A cerebral embolism is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical intervention.
What Causes Deep Vein Thrombosis?
DVT often occurs in people who have underlying health problems. There are many known risk factors for deep vein thrombosis such as:
- Bed rest
- Sitting for long periods of time
- 40+ years old
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Inherited blood disorders
- Smoking
- Health conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and heart disease
- Birth control medication or hormone replacement therapy
In addition to these risk factors, many cases of DVT are associated with accidents, hospital treatment such as surgery, or medical malpractice. Some of the most common forms of trauma that lead to DVT include:
- Major surgery, especially of the knee, hip, pelvis, or abdomen
- Hospitalization for surgery or illness
- Severe trauma such as a traffic accident
- Injury to a vein which may be caused by a fracture or serious muscle injury
- Knee or hip replacement
About 70% of all known cases of DVT are “provoked blood clots” which means they are associated with one of these known risk factors, surgery, hospitalization, genetic factors, or medical illness.
DVT and Accidents
Accidents are a leading cause of deep vein thrombosis. Trauma from a fall or car accident can cause injury to a vein or require surgery or bed rest that can increase the risk of DVT. At Hasner Law, PC, we have seen clients who have suffered DVT after the following types of injuries and accidents:
- Workplace accidents
- Car accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Assault
- Nursing home abuse
If you have suffered deep vein thrombosis after an accident involving someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, you may have a claim for compensation for your injuries.
Deep Vein Thrombosis and Medical Malpractice
In many cases, patients develop deep vein clots while at a hospital or under the care of a physician or after suffering a medical complication following treatment.
We trust physicians to accurately diagnose and treat medical conditions. Unfortunately, it’s common for physicians to fail to accurately diagnose DVT following trauma, surgery, or a chronic health condition.
Hospitals, physicians, and other medical professionals have a duty to recognize patients who are high risk for clots and take steps to monitor patients for DVT. Physicians are also responsible for knowing circumstances that may cause DVT, including surgery or trauma, and taking precautions to recognize and treat a clot.
According to the CDC, VTE (including DVT and PE) is the leading cause of preventable hospital death and up to 70% of cases are preventable through measures like using blood thinning medication and compression garments. Over 50% of blood clots after discharge are also directly linked to recent surgery or hospitalization.
When a doctor fails to diagnose or treat DVT, it can cause significant injury and even death.
Among medical malpractice claims involving DVT, the most common defendants include family practitioners, emergency physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and gynecologists/obstetricians. Most of these cases involve claims of failure to diagnose and treat.
Proving a DVT Medical Malpractice Claim
If you believe your DVT was caused by failure to diagnose or treat, or you suffered serious complications after a delay or failure to diagnose and treat a blood clot, you may be eligible for compensation through a medical malpractice claim.
Medical malpractice refers to an injury or death that occurred when a medical professional did not adhere to the standard of care, or the level of care and skill a professional in the same specialty would have exercised in similar circumstances.
To prove a medical malpractice claim, your attorney will need to establish:
- The medical professional owed you a duty to adhere to the standard of care
- The medical provider’s behavior deviated from this standard of care
- The medical professional’s deviation from the standard of care directly caused your DVT or PE
- Your DVT or PE led to injuries
Medical malpractice claims are notoriously difficult to prove. An experienced Atlanta DVT lawyer at Hasner Law, PC, will help you investigate your case and uncover evidence to prove liability. This may include expert testimony about the standard of care in your case and how the defendant breached their duty.
Damages in a Deep Vein Thrombosis Case
When you have suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence, such as an at-fault driver or a medical professional’s failure to diagnose, you may have the right to financial compensation for your injuries. Anyone who contributed to your injury may be liable for your damages.
Damages that may be available in your DVT case include:
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Medical expenses including doctor bills, hospital bills, surgery costs, medical devices, prescription medications, and physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Pain and suffering
Unfortunately, because DVT is often fatal, deep vein thrombosis cases may involve wrongful death. If someone you love has died from DVT or PE that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to compensation through a wrongful death claim.
In the state of Georgia, wrongful death damages can include the wages and benefits the decedent would have earned, loss of companionship and care, and other intangible benefits the decedent provided to family members.
At Hasner Law, PC, we will help you determine how much your case may be worth and fight for the compensation you deserve as you recover from your injuries and move forward with your life.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Atlanta Deep Vein Thrombosis Attorney
Have you developed deep vein thrombosis after an accident or hospital stay in Atlanta? You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. An Atlanta deep vein thrombosis attorney at Hasner Law, PC can help you learn more about your legal rights and fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
