Malpractice Attorney Helping Stroke Victims Pursue Legal Options in Bronx, Brooklyn, Kinston, Queens, Manhattan, Poughkeepsie, New York
If you've suffered a stroke caused by chiropractic treatment, you have 2 1/2 years from the negligent act to begin a chiropractic malpractice lawsuit. Under certain limited circumstances this period can be extended. Contact Charles Rock, an experienced chiropractic malpractice attorney, to evaluate you opportunity to hold your chiropractor legally responsible for their professional malpractice and claim restitution for the harm you've suffered.
A chiropractic malpractice lawsuit often claims professional negligence - including failing to assess the patient's existing condition and failing to determine that performing an upper cervical manipulation presents a substantial risk of harm. A second cause of action in many chiropractic malpractice lawsuits is for the chiropractor's failing to explain relevant factors in the treatment plan. This is called lack of informed consent. The chiropractor must be given permission by the patient to begin treatment and that permission must be with the patient fully understanding the risks, benefits, alternatives, the patient's medical condition and the risks of having no treatment at all. The jury will decide if a reasonably prudent patient would have undergone that treatment after knowing all the relevant facts of their condition and the treatment plan.
At the Law Offices of Charles N. Rock in New York, we help stroke victims nationwide pursue legal claims against chiropractors and their insurance companies. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with experienced chiropractic malpractice attorney Charles Rock.
Learn More About Chiropractic Stroke
A chiropractic treatment known as high-velocity upper cervical (neck) manipulation is known to cause strokes in some patients by injuring (tearing) the inside of the arteries that bring blood to the brain, either the vertebral or carotid arteries. Our New York law firm believes people deserve to be informed about the risk of stroke from vertebral artery dissection that can happen when neck manipulation is done on a person at risk or when neck manipulation is misused or abused.
Below is some general information about stroke:
- Signs and symptoms of stroke:
If you notice one or more of these signs, don't wait. Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 or your emergency medical services. Get to a hospital right away!
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Take action in an emergency.
- Not all the warning signs occur in every stroke. Don't ignore signs of stroke, even if they go away!
- Check the time. When did the first warning sign or symptom start? You'll be asked this important question later.
- If you have one or more stroke symptoms that last more than a few minutes, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical service (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can quickly be sent for you.
- If you're with someone who may be having stroke symptoms, immediately call 9-1-1 or the EMS. Expect the person to protest — denial is common. Don't take "no" for an answer. Insist on taking prompt action.
- If you have received chiropractic treatment recently, you should tell your doctor.
- Effects of chiropractic stroke: Depending on the severity of your stroke and how quickly you receive medical attention, you could end up with neurological injuries that permanently impact your physical and mental abilities.
- Why didn't I know this was a risk?: Information about chiropractic stroke is not widely distributed in the United States, partially due to legal actions that were taken by chiropractors that claimed medical providers were unfairly restraining their trade. That is why many people are unaware of the risks of chiropractic treatment.
- Informed consent: Our firm believes that chiropractors have a legal duty to give their patients accurate information about the risk of stroke before performing neck manipulations. Unfortunately, most of them do not do so.
- Holding chiropractors responsible: Attorney Charles Rock and our team are experienced at helping clients document the causes and effects of their injuries and seek fair compensation from chiropractors and their insurance companies.
- Chiropractic standards of care: When chiropractors follow the safety standards of good care, injuries are infrequent. Unfortunately, many chiropractors do not adhere to these safety standards and their patients are harmed.
- Risk reduction in chiropractic treatment: Chiropractors can reduce the risk of stroke by, among other things, treating patients without performing high-velocity upper cervical manipulations, especially when those patients are vulnerable to stroke.
To learn more about what chiropractic malpractice attorney Charles Rock and our team can do to seek accountability and compensation for injuries caused by chiropractic negligence, contact us.
