An anoxic brain injury is caused by a lack of oxygen flowing to the brain. Unfortunately, these injuries can occur in a wide variety of ways. Here, we want to take some time to more thoroughly define anoxic brain injuries. We also want to examine some common causes of anoxic brain injuries in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We hope that this information helps inform injury victims and their family members about what they can expect when it comes to brain injuries and holding any possible liable parties accountable for causing the injury.
What Causes Anoxic Brain Injuries?
There are a variety of mechanisms of injury that can lead to an anoxic brain incident. Some of these include:
- Hypoxic-ischemic injury: This is also called stagnant anoxia and occurs anytime the blood carrying oxygen in the arteries is unable to reach the brain. Thus, the brain is deprived of the oxygen that it needs to survive. Usually, this type of anoxic brain injury is associated with strokes, but it can also be caused by various cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest.
- Toxic anoxia: These anoxic brain injuries occur when there are chemicals or poisons inside of the body that prevent the brain from receiving enough oxygen. Sometimes, these chemicals prevent oxygen transfer inside the blood vessels.
- Anoxic anoxia: Anoxic anoxia may sound repetitive, but this is another way of saying that a person does not receive enough oxygen because they are suffocating.
- Anemic anoxia: This type of anoxic brain injury occurs if the blood is unable to carry enough oxygen on its own or if there is a limited amount of blood supply in the body. This type of injury is often associated with traumatic incidents that lead to major blood loss.
Can a Person Recover From an Anoxic Brain Injury?
Recovering from any type of brain injury, including an anoxic brain injury, can take time – if recovery is even possible at all. In general, the longer the brain goes without oxygen, the more severe the damage. Sometimes, anoxic brain injury victims will be able to make close to a full recovery after lengthy periods of rehabilitation and physical therapy. However, it is not uncommon for anoxic brain injury victims to make only a partial recovery or nearly no recovery at all.
Anoxic brain injury victims and their family members typically have to adjust to a “new normal,” which can completely alter their lives. This new normal often means accommodating the anoxic brain injury victim’s physical or cognitive limitations.
Is Compensation Available for an Anoxic Brain Injury Victim?
Anoxic brain injury victims and their family members may be able to recover compensation for the injury if it can be shown that the careless or negligent actions of someone else caused the brain trauma. There are a variety of ways that the negligence of others can cause an anoxic brain injury, including:
- Birth injuries
- Drownings in pools or hot tubs
- Medical mistakes
- Vehicle accidents
- Premises liability incidents
- Defective products
- …and more
If you are somebody you care about has sustained an anoxic brain injury caused by the actions of another individual, business, or entity, you need to work with an attorney as soon as possible.