Chicago Hypoxic & Anoxic Brain Injury Lawyer

Compensation for Chicago Victims of Brain Injuries

A Chicago hypoxic & anoxic brain injury lawyer can help victims of negligence secure compensation for their damages.

Anoxic or hypoxic brain injuries can happen suddenly, with life-altering consequences for victims and their families. Oxygen is vital to every organ in the body, but the brain is particularly sensitive to disruptions in supply. According to MedlinePlus, brain cells can begin to die within five minutes of oxygen deprivation, potentially leading to brain damage.

Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Legal representation is essential in hypoxic and anoxic brain injury cases. These injuries often result in long-term or permanent disabilities that require extensive care. A lawyer understands how to investigate medical records, consult with medical professionals, and build a case capable of holding the responsible parties accountable.

Because these cases may involve medical malpractice, birth injury, carbon monoxide poisoning, or delayed response to cardiac arrest, you need legal support with specific experience in complex brain injury litigation. An experienced Chicago brain injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for financial relief, support for lifelong care, and pain and suffering. 

Verdicts and Settlements from Our Hypoxic & Anoxic Brain Injury Cases in Chicago

Our firm has helped families seek justice in anoxic and hypoxic brain injury cases tied to negligence and delayed oxygen circulation. Here are examples of past results:

• $5,000,000 – Recovery for a brain trauma caused by a lack of oxygen during a medical emergency.
  
• $11,250,000 – Settlement in a birthing injury lawsuit involving cerebral palsy due to oxygen supply failure and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
  
• $16,433,000 – Compensation for a family whose child suffered severe anoxic and hypoxic brain injury during delivery due to delayed C-section and lack of fetal monitoring.

Each case required careful analysis of medical records and expert testimony to establish how anoxic brain injuries occur and what role medical professionals played in the outcome.

Common Causes of Oxygen Deprivation Leading to Brain Damage

Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries stem from a variety of emergencies and failures that interrupt oxygen flow to the brain:

• Medical Errors: Mistakes during surgery, delayed C-sections, or mishandling of anesthesia can cause critical lapses in oxygen delivery. These events can severely affect brain cells and lead to permanent damage.
• Birth Trauma: Events like placental abruption or umbilical cord compression can interrupt oxygen intake during labor, resulting in anoxic and hypoxic brain injury or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
• Cardiac Arrest: When the heart stops, blood flow to the brain ceases. Without a constant flow of oxygen-rich blood, neural tissue begins to die rapidly.
• Stroke: A blockage or hemorrhage in the brain can prevent oxygen from reaching key regions, leading to significant brain injuries.
• Near-Drowning or Suffocation: Extended periods without air can deprive the brain of oxygen and result in serious injuries.
• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: CO replaces oxygen in the blood, silently cutting off oxygen to the brain and damaging brain matter.
• Smoke Inhalation: Inhaling toxic fumes during a fire can severely reduce oxygen flow. Smoke inhalation can even lead to lasting cognitive or physical impairments.
• Drug Overdose: Certain drugs can slow or stop breathing, reducing oxygen levels and leading to permanent brain damage.
• Severe Blood Loss or Low Blood Pressure: A sudden drop in blood flow reduces oxygen throughout the body. The brain, requiring constant oxygen, is one of the first organs affected by low blood pressure.
• Severe Asthma: Life-threatening or severe asthma attacks may block airflow entirely, resulting in a lack of oxygen and hypoxic brain injury.

Each of these scenarios can quickly turn into a medical crisis requiring fast intervention. Anoxic brain injury victims and their families may pursue a personal injury claim if someone else’s negligence caused the event.

Consequences of Hypoxic and Anoxic Brain Injury

Hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries are among the most devastating forms of neurological trauma. When the brain loses its oxygen supply completely, brain cells begin dying quickly. As a result, survivors may suffer from:

• Coma or vegetative state
• Severe cognitive impairment
• Loss of mobility or motor function
• Paralysis or muscle rigidity
• Memory loss
• Personality or behavior changes
• Death in the most extreme cases

These consequences are especially profound when the event lasts longer than a few minutes, permanently disrupting brain tissue function.

Symptoms of Hypoxic or Anoxic Brain Injuries

Symptoms vary widely depending on the duration of oxygen deprivation and the area of the brain affected:

• Mild Symptoms: Confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, headaches, memory loss, trouble concentrating.
• Severe Symptoms: Seizures, coma, significant loss of motor skills, long-term cognitive and emotional impairment.

Hypoxic ischemic events often present in infants with more severe symptoms and can lead to conditions like cerebral palsy.

Medical Malpractice and Birth Injury Leading to Oxygen Loss

Medical negligence is a leading cause of injuries related to lack of oxygen. For example, delayed C-sections, improper use of anesthesia, or failure to monitor oxygen levels during childbirth can all result in hypoxic brain injury.

In birth injury cases, errors like ignoring fetal distress or not responding promptly to complications can lead to hypoxic-ischaemic events and lifelong disabilities. These mistakes are grounds for a medical malpractice claim against the doctors, nurses, or hospitals involved.

Liability in Anoxic and Hypoxic Brain Injury Cases

Determining liability depends on the event that interrupted oxygen delivery. Commonly responsible parties include:

• Healthcare Professionals in cases involving perinatal injury or surgical complications
• Hospitals that fail to follow emergency protocols
• Drivers whose negligence leads to cardiac arrest or trauma
• Property Owners in drowning or carbon monoxide poisoning events
• Product Manufacturers of faulty safety equipment or appliances

Proving fault in hypoxic brain injury cases requires expert support and timely legal action.

Pursuing Compensation for Lifelong Care Needs

People who suffer permanent brain damage often require lifetime medical care. Hypoxic brain injury attorneys can pursue damages for:

• Medical Expenses and Future Medical Expenses
• Rehabilitation (Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapy)
• Assistive Devices and Home Modifications
• Lost Earning Capacity
• Pain and Suffering
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life

Because the costs of ongoing treatment are high, it is critical to work with a legal team experienced in these cases.

Why You Need Specialized Chicago Brain Trauma Attorneys

Anoxic and hypoxic brain injury claims are medically and legally complex. Our firm works with life care planners, neurologists, and forensic experts to calculate future needs and prove the extent of brain injuries. These cases demand focused litigation strategies and detailed documentation of both mild and critical symptoms.

Hypoxic brain injury attorneys must demonstrate how brain tissue was affected, when the oxygen supply failed, and who was responsible. We work closely with families and experts to pursue full justice for brain injury victims.

Book a Free Consultation!

If a loved one suffered cognitive damage from reduced oxygen, your family may be entitled to compensation. These cases often involve medical malpractice, heart attacks, or drug overdoses and require immediate legal evaluation.

Our firm offers free consultations and works on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing unless we win. Contact a personal injury lawyer who specializes in hypoxic and anoxic brain injury.

Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our form to get started.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.