Ischemic stroke, caused by a clogged blood vessel, and hemorrhagic stroke, causes by a ruptured blood vessel that leaks blood into the brain, are both life threatening medical conditions that can result in permanent neurological injury or death.

The New York stroke injury lawyers and personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool have the medical knowledge, and legal experience to help protect your rights in the wake of a serious stroke.

Nearly 800,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke each year – an average of one every 40 seconds, according to the American Stroke Association. Strokes claim 143,000 lives a year, making it the No. 3 killer behind heart disease and cancer.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is considered the most common cause of stroke. So called “mini strokes”, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a warning sign that a stroke may occur. TIA results from blood flow to the brain being stopped or reduced. Symptoms can include blurred vision, behavior changes, slurred speech and weakness or numbness on one side of the body.

Strokes can also be caused by a number of other medical conditions, surgical procedures and surgical errors.

About 85 percent of stokes are ischemic, or the result of an obstruction within the blood vessel. The obstruction can result from cerebral thrombosis, a blood clot that develops at the clogged part of the vessel, or cerebral embolism, which forms in another location before breaking loose until it travels through the circulatory system and lodges in an artery too small to allow it to pass.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of an ischemic stroke is vital to the patient’s outcome. Ischemic stroke is a medical emergency. Patients need emergent referral to an appropriate hospital setting so they can be evaluated for, and if appropriate administered, clot-busting medication so that blood and oxygen can reach the brain.

In a hemorrhagic stroke, blood leaks from a ruptured blood vessel and accumulates in the brain, compressing the surrounding tissue. Hemorrhagic strokes often result from a ruptured aneurysm.

This life-threatening condition must be treated with medication, and in some cases, surgery, to reduce the risk of re-bleed, seizure, brain swelling, herniation and vasospam (blood vessels spasm and close).

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a stroke, the New York medical malpractice attorneys and personal injury and wrongful death lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool offer free appointments to discuss your rights.

Call the New York law office of Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool at 212-406-1700.

Resources
American Stroke Association: www.strokeassociation.org