I Was Seriously Hurt By A Chiropractor and Had to Pay for Medical Treatment. Can I Recover Damages? 

 Posted on March 16, 2022 in Personal Injury

While medical doctors like surgeons and anesthesiologists are most commonly associated with medical malpractice lawsuits, any professional engaging in the practice of the “healing arts” may treat patients in a way that is inconsistent with the standard of care. When this poor treatment rises to the level of negligence, it may be considered malpractice whether the medical professional is a midwife, acupuncturist, dietician, or chiropractor.

People generally see a chiropractor to help with neuromusculoskeletal issues, such as back pain, neck pain, or joint pain. Chiropractors often use a technique called “adjustment” or “realignment” in which they use their hands or a special instrument to apply a controlled movement to a patient’s spine. While many patients find chiropractic treatment beneficial, a careless practitioner can cause serious injuries when an adjustment is performed incorrectly. If you have been seriously injured by a chiropractor, you may want to consider a lawsuit with the help of an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney.

What Are Common Injuries From Chiropractic Malpractice? 

Research suggests that spinal manipulation is the most common event during which patients are injured by chiropractors. Overaggressive manipulation, or using too much force, can cause severe and debilitating injuries, including: 

• C5-C6 disc herniation 

• C6-C7 disc herniation 

• Spinal stenosis

• Stroke

• Rib fractures

• Paralysis

• Pinched arteries

• Headaches, nausea, and vertigo 

These injuries often require extensive medical treatment to remedy, which can be very costly. For example, herniated discs often require surgical treatment to repair, costing well upwards of $50,000 without taking into account hospital and anesthesiologist fees. Even if a herniated disc can be treated without therapy, the cost of steroid injections and physical therapy can be overwhelming.

Other times, there is no real treatment for an injury such as paralysis, which can leave the victim with a lifetime of lost wages, pain and suffering, diminished relationship capacity, and loss of mobility. In the most serious cases, such as a stroke or broken neck, the injuries can be fatal.

Call a Joliet, IL Chiropractor Malpractice Lawyer Today 

People go to the chiropractor expecting to be helped, not hurt. If you have experienced a serious or permanent injury because of the negligent actions of a chiropractor, you may want the skill and experience of a Joliet chiropractor malpractice attorney with Schwartz Injury Law on your side. We fight aggressively on our clients’ behalf for a favorable outcome and handle the heavy lifting of the legal work so you can focus on getting well. Call us today at 708-888-2160 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-622 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1905885/