Causes of A Heart Attack:

A heart attack happens if the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked.

The two main causes of a Heart Attack are:

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

CHD is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. The buildup of plaque occurs over many years and eventually, an area of plaque can rupture inside of an artery. This causes a blood clot to form on the plaque's surface. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. If the blockage isn't treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle fed by the artery begins to die. Healthy heart tissue is replaced with scar tissue. This heart damage may not be obvious, or it may cause severe or long-lasting problems.

Coronary Artery Spasm:

A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery. Spasms can occur in coronary arteries that aren't affected by atherosclerosis. The cause, while not always clear, are:

Drugs, such as cocaine
Emotional stress or pain
Exposure to extreme cold
Cigarette Smoking

How do I know if there was Medical Malpractice?

The failure to diagnose or properly treat a heart attack is malpractice. Doctors are required to perform certain tests to determine if a patient had a heart attack, the severity of it, and the damage caused by it. Failure to do this is malpractice. Furthermore, failure to provide proper and timely treatment for a heart attack is malpractice.

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All I can say is that years of trial experience is something no one should ever take for granted, especially when you're filing a lawsuit against someone who caused your injury. Weltchek Mallahan & Weltchek has that experience, and I would recommend them to anyone in need of a medical malpractice attorney.
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Personal Injury - $11.8 Million Verdict

Drunk Driving Accident Victim Awarded Almost $12M By Jury

WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ) A record-setting judgment from a Carroll County jury, which awarded nearly $12 million to the crippled victim of a drunk driving accident.

Derek Valcourt reports the decision came as a surprise in the conservative county, where juries aren’t known to dole out big awards in lawsuits.

Part of the reason the $11.8 million verdict was such a surprise is because the accident that crippled the victim was little more than a fender bender.

What happened at a Westminster intersection nearly five years ago forever altered Michael Harris’ life.

“It’s not only changed me but it’s changed my whole family,” Harris said.

While Harris sat at a red light on Route 140, he was rear-ended by repeat drunk driver Stephanie Ann Richardson, who later fled the scene. Though the minor accident barely damaged his truck, doctors believe it triggered a rare nerve condition called complex regional pain syndrome, leaving the once active landscaper wheelchair-bound with crippling pain and lesions on his arms and legs.“It disrupts your whole life, your daily living, your sleep,” Harris said. “It’s a really hard condition to live with.”

His family hired Robert Weltchek and his law partners to sue the drunk driver and her insurance company. A Carroll County jury rejected the defense’s arguments that Harris’ medical problems were not caused by the accident and awarded him $2.6 million for future medical expenses, $800,000 for past and future lost wages, $256,000 to modify his home, $5.6 million for non-economic damages and $2.5 million for the effect on his marriage.

“It was obvious to the jury that this car accident, albeit a relatively minor car accident, caused this cascading of events, a downward spiral that continues to this day,” said Weltchek.

The massive judgment means peace of mind for Harris as he tries to live with the crippling condition.

“I do have RSD but RSD doesn’t have me,” he said. “I’ll continue fighting to get better.”

The defense has 30 days to file an appeal. Harris’ attorney says he will strongly contest any attempt to reduce the judgment.

The defendant and her attorney declined to be interviewed.

Attorney Profile

Nolan Weltchek

Mr. Weltchek earned his Bachelors of Arts Degree magna cum laude from Middlebury College and earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Maryland, where he was awarded the Order of Barrister for excellence in trial advocacy. While in law school he was also a member of the national champion Trial Team.