Sepsis Injury Claims

As professionals who represent victims, we understand the sad reality that sepsis sometimes occurs. We represent individuals who are affected by this type of injustice, whether due to short staffing or a myriad of other reasons.

In the United States alone, more than 1.7 million people develop sepsis each year, and at least 350,000 people die from it. It is the leading cause of death in hospitals, especially for patients with certain risk factors.

This makes vulnerable populations especially at risk, and we are here to help victims and their families receive compensation when neglect plays a role.

Sepsis can be fatal or leave you with septic injuries that cost even more money to manage, as if the hospital bill isn’t expensive enough. The average cost of treating sepsis is over $32,000.

If you or a loved one has been affected by sepsis due to untreated infections, bedsores, or neglect, book a free consultation with us to discuss your claim. It is risk-free, and we offer expert legal advice for victims of sepsis. 

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What is sepsis?

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to an infection. If untreated, it can lead to shock, organ failure, and even death.

Causes and risk factors of sepsis in medical settings

There are many sepsis risk factors, including hospital-acquired infections, sepsis from medical negligence, and other factors such as:

• Age
• Pregnancy
• Antibiotic use
• Medical devices
• Chronic diseases
• Compromised immunity

Sepsis typically occurs as a result of medical malpractice or medical negligence. Because sepsis is the body’s response to infection, it is crucial for hospital or nursing home staff to take all necessary precautions to prevent infections in patients. 

Negligent care during or after a sepsis diagnosis can make a bad situation worse, often with tragic consequences. Common examples of negligence in sepsis care include:

• Failure to monitor patients adequately after sepsis diagnosis, leading to worsening conditions such as septic shock.
• Delayed escalation of treatment, such as not administering life-saving antibiotics or fluids promptly.
• Inadequate staffing or lack of supervision, resulting in patients being overlooked during critical stages of sepsis treatment.
• Failure to identify and treat organ dysfunction early, allowing preventable complications to progress.
• Ignoring warning signs of worsening sepsis, such as increased heart rate, low blood pressure, or lab abnormalities.
• Substandard infection control procedures post-diagnosis, contributing to secondary infections or complications.

Because medical malpractice cases can be very involved, we are here to assist patients in the process of filing a lawsuit. You may be asking yourself who is at fault, how to prove that, and how to sue for medical negligence. 

These can be difficult questions to answer, especially when you are trying to recover from sepsis and have no background in law. Here at The Law Offices Of Craig L. Cook, we specialize in this practice. 

How to recognize sepsis 

Symptoms of sepsis in nursing homes or hospitals include the following:

• Fever
• Shivering
• Body pain
• Confusion
• Fast heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Lightheadedness
• Sweating for no reason

Symptoms vary from person to person, so it may look differently depending on the patient. Sepsis may progress to septic shock. This involves a severe drop in blood pressure, which raises the risk of death. 

Septic shock symptoms include:

• Inability to stand
• Difficulty staying awake
• Major changes in mental status

The Long-Term Impact of Sepsis

People may wonder why taking legal action to receive compensation is important. There can be long-term effects of sepsis, also known as post-sepsis syndrome. These long-term effects could include:

• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Joint pain
• Weakness
• Mood swings
• Poor attention
• Memory problems
• Organ dysfunction
• Difficulty breathing
• Maybe even PTSD

These effects can last for months or years depending on the severity of the sepsis episode. 

Who Can Be Held Liable for Sepsis Injuries?

• Nursing homes
• Nurses and care staff
• Surgeons and doctors
• Hospitals and medical facilities

Our process for sepsis injury claims

We help victims of sepsis by first having a conversation about what happened. Sometimes a traumatic medical experience can lead to feelings of shock. We are here to help you understand what happened and if there is something you can do about it from a legal standpoint.

We assess the case, inform you of your rights, determine the possible financial worth of pursuing action, gather evidence, collect medical records, take witness statements, and include any relevant documentation to support your claim. 

We help you prove medical negligence by:

• Identifying that the provider owed the patient a duty of care
• Proving that the provider breached that reasonable standard of care
• Establishing that the provider’s action or lack of action led to septic injury
• Making the case that the patient’s injury resulted in significant damages, economically and non-economically

We also may negotiate with insurance companies, depose the providers and corporate representatives, and take the case to trial if necessary. We possess both medical and legal knowledge to understand the issues at play. 

Responsible parties may try to cover up what happened, so we are here to advocate for you every step of the way.

How to File a Sepsis Injury Lawsuit

You may be wondering what steps are involved on your end. Here is a list of the tasks a sepsis injury lawsuit may entail: 

1. Initial consultation with an attorney
2. Gathering medical records and evidence
3. Filing the complaint
4. Negotiations and settlement
5. Going to trial (if necessary)

Justice for septic injuries: receiving compensation

The purpose of these types of lawsuits is to compensate the victim for the following:

• lost wages
• medical bills
• pain and suffering

Loved ones can also file wrongful death claims related to sepsis. If you or a loved one is looking to recover damages for sepsis, book a free consultation with us to get started.