What Is Exsanguination?

June 6, 2024 | Wrongful death

What Is Exsanguination?

Exsanguination refers to losing such a significant amount of blood that the body can’t survive. It’s also known as bleeding to death. If your loved one’s exsanguination occurred because of another party’s negligence, consider reaching out to personal injury lawyers for help. You could be entitled to compensation for the suffering and losses you’ve sustained. 

How Exsanguination Occurs

Exsanguination can be the result of a medical condition. Often, though, it occurs because of some type of physical trauma, such as when an artery is severed, and there’s no way to stop the bleeding. 

Although it’s possible to bleed out from veins, it’s less common than from arteries because the pressure at which blood flows through an artery makes bleeding out much faster. Because arteries also carry oxygenated blood (and veins don’t), arterial blood loss means the whole body is rapidly deprived of oxygen.  

Bleeding out can occur from both external and internal injuries. External exsanguination tends to happen as a result of punctures or lacerations, while internal exsanguination can be caused by surgical errors. Keep in mind, too, that a person can bleed out without a penetrating injury if a powerful force damages blood vessels in your skull, abdomen, or chest. 

In other instances, certain medications can also increase the risk of exsanguination. One common example is blood thinners.

Fetal Exsanguination

If a doctor makes an error during a C-section and cuts the placenta, or if an amniocentesis test goes wrong, it could lead to fetal exsanguination. In some cases, fetal exsanguination can occur as a result of the placenta attaching too low to the uterus and other gestational problems. If a fetus bleeds out in the uterus, that can result in their death.

Wrongful Death Lawsuits Involving Exsanguination

In certain cases, a person’s death from exsanguination can be caused by someone else’s negligence, including those involving medical malpractice, workplace accidents, car accidents, and more. When this happens, it’s possible to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Pennsylvania. 

These kinds of claims are similar to personal injury claims. However, since the victim is no longer able to file a lawsuit themselves, their family or estate can do so for them. 

During these types of lawsuits, you have a right to ask for certain damages. These can include any burial or funeral expenses, as well as medical costs. Damages can also cover estate management expenses. 

You could be entitled to lost wages and benefits, too. This will be based on what your loved one would have been expected to earn throughout their lives. You can also claim loss of consortium, which compensates you for the loss of the support and love you’d otherwise have received.

Compensatory damages are usually for the parent, child, or spouse. But even if the victim didn’t have surviving close relatives, a representative of their estate can still file the lawsuit to be reimbursed for losses like funeral and other expenses. 

Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations of two years from the day of the person’s death when filing a wrongful death lawsuit. However, the exact amount of time you have can vary based on the circumstances of each case. As a result, it’s best to turn to a personal injury lawyer for help as soon as possible. 

Losing a loved one because someone else’s negligence led them to exsanguinate is devastating. Under Pennsylvania law, you have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit and get compensation for the suffering you and your loved one underwent. By turning to a wrongful death lawyer in Lebanon, PA, you can get the support you need.

Please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:

Lebanon Law Office
937 Willow Street, Suite D Lebanon, PA 17042-1140
(717) 995-8963

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945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

York Law Office
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998

Wyomissing Law Office
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325

Chambersburg Law Office
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378

Carlisle Law Office
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732

Carbondale Law Office
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810

Lancaster Law Office
2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster Pa 17603
(717) 616-2954