Intubation errors can cause devastating injuries, from throat damage and vocal cord paralysis to oxygen deprivation and brain injury. If you or a loved one suffered complications due to negligent intubation, you may be entitled to compensation.

Hospitals and insurance companies work to minimize their financial obligation. A seasoned surgical error attorney could help you protect your rights by ensuring you avoid accepting a low settlement offer or fighting back against a valid claim rejection.

A Charlottesville intubation complications lawyer from our firm could investigate your case, gather evidence, and initiate a claim or lawsuit. You can count on us to fight for a fair and just settlement for your recovery.

Common Complications of Tracheal Intubation

Tracheal intubation is a procedure for maintaining an open airway during surgery or respiratory failure. It is associated with potential complications, including:

  • Dental trauma: This is the most frequently occurring complication, and involves damage to teeth, particularly the upper incisors, loose teeth, dental crowns, and bridges, due to the force applied during laryngoscopy insertion
  • Sore throat and hoarseness: These are common and typically temporary, but can persist for days and occasionally indicate more serious laryngeal injury
  • Laryngeal trauma: This includes vocal cord injury, arytenoid dislocation, and laryngeal edema, and occurs in varying degrees of severity, causing prolonged voice changes, difficulty swallowing, or breathing problems that require additional intervention
  • Tracheal injuries: Including mucosal tears or, in severe cases, tracheal perforation, these can represent serious complications that may lead to mediastinitis, pneumothorax, or a need for a surgical airway
  • Esophageal intubation: This occurs when a care provider places the tube in the esophagus rather than the trachea, which, if unrecognized, rapidly causes oxygen deprivation and brain damage
  • Aspiration of gastric contents: This can occur during intubation attempts, potentially causing chemical pneumonitis or acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Cardiovascular responses: These include hypertension, tachycardia, or dangerous arrhythmias, and may result from the stimulation of intubation, particularly in high-risk patients

A Charlottesville attorney from our firm could help you identify the intubation complications you suffered and assess the compensation you deserve based on your injuries.

How Can an Intubation Complication Attorney Help?

When you suffer injuries from intubation complications in Charlottesville, an experienced attorney could manage every aspect of your claim. Our team’s in-depth knowledge of airway management standards means we could identify whether your health care provider deviated from accepted protocols. We could thoroughly investigate your case, strengthen it with evidence, and stand up to the insurance companies on your behalf.

Investigating Thoroughly

We could investigate your case by obtaining and reviewing your medical records. We could also consult medical experts who can testify about proper intubation techniques and establish whether negligence caused your injuries. Our lawyers understand the technical aspects of intubation and could determine whether your provider failed to assess potential risks.

Building a Strong Case

Our attorneys could build a strong case by compiling and presenting evidence, connecting the provider’s actions to your suffering and expenses. We could comprehensively calculate your losses, including economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.

Standing Up to Insurance Companies

Insurance companies employ aggressive tactics to minimize settlements. We counter their strategies with solid evidence and expert testimony. We know how far insurers are willing to go and will negotiate firmly for fair compensation that reflects your losses. Our medical malpractice attorneys are ready to litigate when settlement negotiations stop progressing, presenting your case in court to maximize your recovery.

Contact a Charlottesville Attorney After Suffering an Intubation Complication

Intubation complications can cause ongoing pain, expensive treatments, and time away from work. We could help you collect evidence that demonstrates how medical negligence caused your injuries.

A Charlottesville intubation complications lawyer from our firm could work with medical experts and fight to protect your legal right to compensation. Contact us today to seek recovery and justice.