Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious condition that impacts thousands of people every year. ARDS can be triggered by a wide range of factors, like chest injuries, inhaling toxic fumes, or severe pneumonia. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s also linked to medical errors like untreated infections or mismanaged health conditions. In these instances, the breathing challenges or need for life support are not what make it so difficult. It’s knowing that ARDS could have been avoided. If you or a loved one has experienced ARDS and suspect medical negligence was involved, it’s important to take a closer look. Uncovering the truth is an important step toward accountability and closure. At Ethen Ostroff Law, our ARDS attorneys can review your case and help you figure out the best next steps. Contact us for a free consultation about your ARDS lawsuit.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, is a serious lung condition that lowers the oxygen levels in your blood. It happens when fluid builds up in the tiny air sacs in your lungs, making it harder for oxygen to get into your bloodstream. Affecting anyone at any age, ARDS is a life-threatening situation that needs immediate attention.
So, how does ARDS develop? Normally, your lungs have tiny air sacs called alveoli that fill with oxygen when you breathe. But with ARDS, these sacs fill with fluid instead of oxygen, which means the oxygen can’t reach your blood or organs properly. This makes it harder to breathe, causing major health complications.
ARDS can develop quickly—usually within hours or up to two days after an injury or illness that triggers it. This makes it a medical emergency. For those affected by ARDS, the consequences can be severe. The mortality rate for mild ARDS is about 27%, but it jumps to nearly 45% in severe cases.
ARDS can leave lasting effects on your health. Dealing with the recovery can be physically and emotionally tough. Even if a person survives ARDS, the road ahead can still be difficult. Many survivors experience long-term respiratory problems and other complications that last long after the immediate danger has passed.
ARDS can develop quickly due to health issues, external factors, or medical errors. It’s a serious condition that can be triggered by various complications or environmental factors. Here are some common triggers of ARDS:
Some people are more at risk of developing ARDS due to factors like age, pre-existing health conditions, and lifestyle choices. These risk factors include:
Understanding these triggers and risk factors can help with prevention and early treatment.
ARDS often shows up in people who are critically ill or hospitalized. However, it can also happen to those who’ve experienced major injuries, like blunt force trauma. Symptoms usually show up quickly—often within hours or a couple of days after the triggering event. Some common signs to watch for include:
Getting through ARDS is only part of the journey. The condition can bring a host of challenges, not just during the initial crisis but long after recovery. Many patients end up on ventilators to survive, and even if they pull through, ARDS often leaves lasting marks on their health and overall well-being. Let’s break down some of the immediate and long-term complications tied to ARDS:
What can happen right away:
What can linger long after ARDS:
Recovering from ARDS takes more than time, requiring attention to physical and emotional health.
Diagnosing ARDS means looking at your medical history, checking your symptoms, and doing a few tests. Since ARDS shares symptoms with other conditions like pneumonia or heart failure, it’s important to get the diagnosis right to start the best treatment. Here’s how doctors do it:
A fast and accurate diagnosis is crucial to starting treatment immediately. If ARDS is suspected, get medical attention right away.
Treating ARDS focuses on supporting breathing and helping the lungs heal. While there’s no cure, treatments aim to manage symptoms and prevent further damage. ARDS can worsen in the days after diagnosis, so quick and effective care is essential. Here’s how ARDS is typically treated:
Each approach is tailored to the patient’s needs, with close monitoring to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Treating ARDS is expensive due to the need for intensive care, mechanical ventilation, and prolonged hospital stays, with total costs often exceeding $69,000 per patient and significant long-term expenses for survivors.
With timely treatment, 60% to 75% of ARDS patients survive, but long-term outcomes vary, with many facing ongoing health risks and a mortality rate of up to 41% within a year after discharge. Survival depends on factors like the severity of ARDS, underlying health conditions, and age, with some patients experiencing lasting effects on lung function and quality of life.
The outlook for ARDS depends on how severe it is and the person’s overall health. Hospital mortality rates are typically between 30% and 46%, but survival chances are improving with better treatments. While many people recover, some may deal with lasting issues like trouble breathing or memory problems, especially if they’re older or have other health conditions.
Healthcare professionals are expected to provide care that follows established standards, and patients trust them. But when they make mistakes, it can lead to serious problems, like ARDS. Medical negligence happens when a healthcare provider doesn’t act as a competent professional should in the same situation. If this causes a patient to develop ARDS, it could lead to a medical malpractice claim, where the patient can seek compensation for the harm they’ve suffered.
Medical negligence can lead to ARDS in different ways, affecting people of all ages. Here are some examples of how mistakes in care can cause ARDS:
These lapses in care can contribute to the development of ARDS, and in some cases, legal action may be pursued if negligence is found.
An ARDS lawsuit is a lawsuit related to ARDS due to medical negligence. It typically involves claims that a healthcare provider’s actions or omissions directly led to the patient’s development of ARDS.
If ARDS results from medical negligence, legal claims may arise. Here are potential claims that could be made:
These claims can help patients seek compensation for the harm caused by negligence. Consulting an ARDS lawyer is crucial for understanding your legal options.
If you think ARDS was caused by medical negligence, it’s important to consult an ARDS attorney Philadelphia PA who can evaluate your case and its chances of success. Here’s what’s needed to prove negligence:
These elements are key in proving a case of medical negligence. ARDS lawyers can help navigate through them effectively.
Filing an ARDS lawsuit doesn’t guarantee a specific outcome, but it does offer victims of medical negligence the chance to seek compensation for the impact of ARDS. Here’s a breakdown of the compensation that can be pursued:
If you believe medical negligence caused your ARDS, having a lawyer who understands these cases can be helpful. They can assess whether you have a case, gather the necessary evidence, and navigate the legal process for you. Going through legal steps while recovering from ARDS can be stressful but an ARDS lawyer can manage the details, letting you focus on your recovery.
At Ethen Ostroff Law, our ARDS attorneys have years of experience handling medical malpractice cases and understand the serious impact these conditions can have. We know that doctors and healthcare providers have a responsibility to prevent harm. We use that knowledge to build a strong ARDS lawsuit for your compensation, like medical costs, lost wages, and long-term care needs. When medical professionals or facilities try to avoid responsibility, it’s crucial to have ARDS attorneys who will fight for your rights. Our team will gather the evidence needed and advocate for you—without charging fees unless we win your case.
Nicholas began his post-graduate career clerking for the Honorable Linda Rovder Fleming in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas. From there, he quickly found his calling in workers’ compensation, personal injury, and Social Security disability law—areas where he could directly impact people’s lives in moments of crisis. He’s helped clients navigate complex legal claims, including securing a settlement exceeding $300,000.
Nicholas brings clear communication, genuine empathy, and an unrelenting drive to achieve the best outcomes for his clients. Whether he’s navigating a complex workers’ comp claim or pushing for a major settlement, he brings focus, dedication, and deep legal knowledge to every case.
He’s also a proud member of Pennsylvania Advocates for Justice and remains active in various professional legal organizations. Nicholas is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.
When he’s not fighting for the injured, Nicholas is enjoying time with his family, kicking a soccer ball around, hitting the golf course, or cheering on Pittsburgh’s local teams.
Joe Ring heads the workers’ compensation department at Ethen Ostroff Law, where he takes pride in fighting for injured workers.
Joe is a Philadelphia native and maintains deep roots in the area. As the grandson of a Philadelphia Firefighter, son of a Philadelphia public school teacher, and veteran of the United State Marine Corps, he was taught to value service, dedication, and hard work. He applies these values to every case and takes great satisfaction in representing hard-working clients with those same traits.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Vincent College in Western Pennsylvania, he graduated from Villanova Law School in 2012 and, since then, has litigated hundreds of workers’ compensation hearings and trial depositions on behalf of both employers and injured workers. During this time, Mr. Ring has written articles and presented Continuing Legal Education courses on developments in Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law. He is active in local professional organizations, and, in 2022, he served a Co-chairperson of the Philadelphia Bar Associations Workers’ Compensation Section.
Since coming to EOL in 2024, he has dedicated his practice entirely to helping injured workers navigate the system and obtain their rightful benefits.
Joe is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.
Brandon Zanan heads the personal injury claim department with Ethen Ostroff Law.
Brandon’s education in both law and medicine assist him in expertly representing badly injured victims. Brandon has a Master’s Degree in Forensic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, with a concentration in anatomy and pathology. With this knowledge, Brandon is skilled at analyzing medical records and understanding injuries that are common in personal injury claims. He uses this expertise in conjunction with listening carefully to each client’s needs, in order to fiercely advocate for clients and tell their stories when they would not otherwise have a voice.
Brandon’s background includes a variety of experience and skills in various areas of civil practice. He is the author and editor of numerous books for the George T. Bisel Publishing Company, including “Pennsylvania Damages” and the “Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Annotated,” two texts that are frequently relied on by lawyers and judges across Pennsylvania as authoritative resources on personal injury law.
Brandon is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. He is also a member of Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and has served as an executive board member of the Montgomery American Inn of Court.
He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Middle District of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Brandon has represented many clients in motor vehicle, premises liability, animal bite, and products liability cases across Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has obtained outstanding results with millions of dollars recovered for his clients.
He has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star from 2021 onward. The “Super Lawyers-Rising Star®”, list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state
Brandon currently lives in Malvern with his wife Rachel and their son Max.
Effective Date: July 10, 2024
General Information
Welcome to the website of Ethen Ostroff Law, PLLC (“EO”). By accessing or using our website, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”). If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use our website.
Use
EO hereby grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable, limited right and license to access and use the Site solely for your personal use in accordance with these Terms of Use. You shall not, in any way, otherwise copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, modify, create derivative works from, sell, or exploit the Site.
EO may at any time, for any reason, and without notice or liability: (a) modify, suspend, or terminate operation of or access to the Site and related services, or (b) change, revise, or modify the Site and affiliated services.
Messaging and Automated Calls
When you opt-in, you will receive text messages (SMS/MMS) on your mobile number. These messages may contain information about your case, and the message frequency may vary from user to user. Please note that message and data rates may apply. If you wish to opt out of this service, you can do so anytime by simply texting “STOP” to the phone number. Once you text “STOP” to us, we will send you an SMS to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. If you encounter any issues, you can reply with the keyword “HELP” to get assistance. Please be aware that carriers are not responsible for any delayed or undelivered messages.
By providing your phone number and submitting a form on our website, you consent to receive communications, including automated calls, texts, and pre-recorded messages, from EO and its affiliates. These communications may include updates about your case, promotional offers, and other information. You understand that these calls may be generated using automated technology, and that standard message and data rates may apply.
Your consent to receive automated calls is not a condition of any purchase or service. By checking the consent box on our contact form or by calling our firm, you agree to these Terms and Conditions and provide your written consent to receive these communications. You may opt out of these communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message or by contacting us at [insert contact information].
State-Specific Compliance
EO complies with all federal and state laws regarding automated calls and telemarketing practices. Certain states have additional restrictions on the use of automated dialing systems and pre-recorded messages. The following states have more restrictive regulations:
If you are a resident of one of these states, EO will obtain your prior express written consent before making any automated calls or sending pre-recorded messages to you.
By submitting a form inquiry or calling our firm, you agree to us contacting you, and your checking the box when submitting your form inquiry serves as written consent.
Information and Legal Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice. Testimonials and case results contained in this website are for demonstrative purposes only, and do not constitute a guarantee of any particular outcome in a specific case.
By requesting a free consultation with Ethen Ostroff Law, PLLC, you agree to the following:
The law differs in every jurisdiction, and you should not rely on any opinion except that of an attorney you have retained, who has a professional duty to advise you after being fully informed of all the pertinent facts, and who is licensed in the applicable state, and is familiar with the applicable law. Internet subscribers, mobile application users, and online readers should seek professional counsel about their legal rights and remedies. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information found on the Site. Any actions or decisions about your legal rights should be based on the particular facts and circumstances of your situation, and appropriate legal advice from an attorney retained directly by you. EO EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO ACTIONS TAKEN OR NOT TAKEN BASED UPON ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS SITE. Viewing the Site, or communicating with EO by Internet e-mail or through the Site does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship with anyone. The content and features on the Site do not create, and are not intended to create, an attorney-client relationship, and shall not be construed as legal advice. The content and features of the Site, including means to submit a question or information, do not constitute an offer to represent you or otherwise give rise to an attorney/client relationship.
THE SITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”. EO MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE SITE AND ONLINE SERVICES AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EO DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE ONLINE SERVICES OR PRODUCTS WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR WILL BE ERROR-FREE, UNINTERRUPTED, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT ANY DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED.
Accounts
To use some features of the Site, you may be required to create an account. In connection therewith, you agree to provide and maintain true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the information you hold for your account login, including your password, and for all Submissions made from your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your login. EO may suspend access to your account if it suspects illegal or improper use, or for other reasons, such as for account management purposes, at its sole discretion.
Confidentiality is Not Guaranteed
Information sent to Ethen Ostroff Law, PLLC. via Internet e-mail or through the Site is not secure and is done on a non-confidential basis. EO may make reasonable efforts to keep communications private, but because of the nature of Internet communications and the absence of an attorney/client relationship, we cannot promise or guarantee confidentiality.
DISCLAIMER – This Site Does Not Provide Medical Diagnosis or Advice
The content provided on the Site, such as documents, text, graphics, images, videos, news alerts, pharmaceutical drug recalls, prescription medication history, or information on litigation concerning the foregoing topics, or other materials, is for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition or for any questions you may have regarding a health concern. Never disregard professional medical advice, alter a prescription plan in any way, or delay or refrain from seeking medical advice because of something you have read or seen on the Site. Links to other sites are provided for information only. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not constitute endorsement by EO.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Site may present information about pharmaceutical drug recalls, which is for information purposes only. Such information is not necessarily the most current information on the subject and may or may not be updated based on the last information concerning such recalls. Do not make any decisions regarding medication or medical providers based on information from the Site, including but not limited to information we provide about drug recalls.
EO Is Not Responsible for Content; Limitation on Liability
EO may periodically change, remove, or add the material on the Site without notice. This material may contain technical or typographical errors. EO DOES NOT GUARANTEE ITS ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR SUITABILITY. EO assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the contents of the Site. Your use of the Site is at your own risk. Under no circumstances shall EO or any other party involved in the creation, production, or delivery of the Site be liable to you or any other person for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages of any kind arising from your access to, or use of, the Site. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW IN NO EVENT SHALL EO BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATING TO THIS MATERIAL, FOR ANY USE OF THIS WEBSITE, OR FOR ANY OTHER LINKED WEBSITE.
Third-party Web Sites
The Site contains links to third-party websites for the convenience of our users. EO does not endorse any of these third-party sites and does not imply any association between EO and those sites. EO does not control these third-party websites and cannot represent that their policies and practices will be consistent with these Terms of Use. If you use links to access and use such websites, you do so at your own risk. EO is not responsible for the contents or availability of any linked sites. These links are provided only as a convenience to the recipient. These Terms only apply to the Site and do not apply to any linked sites. We encourage you to read and understand the terms of use of any linked sites that you visit. Links do not imply that we sponsor, endorse, are affiliated with or associated with, or are legally authorized to use any trademark, trade name, service mark, design, logo, symbol, or other copyrighted materials displayed on or accessible through any linked site.
EO Clients
Only individuals who have entered into a mutually signed retainer agreement with EO are EO clients (“EO Clients”).
Legal and Ethical Requirements
EO has tried to comply with all legal and ethical requirements in compiling the Site. We welcome comments about our compliance with the applicable rules and will update the Site as warranted, upon learning of any new or different requirements.
Ethen Ostroff Law reserves the right to refer or sell leads that come through any of Ethen Ostroff Law’s marketing.
Ethen Ostroff Law also may sell leads on certain campaigns generated in association with third party marketing companies.
Governing Laws in Case of Dispute; Jurisdiction
These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, USA, without regard to any choice of law principles. Any and all disputes arising hereunder shall be governed as set forth in the Arbitration section below.
Submissions
You are solely responsible for any information, content, or material you transmit to or through the Site (“Submissions”). You understand that Submissions are considered non-confidential and non-proprietary. Furthermore, you grant EO an unrestricted, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, sublicensable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, copy, reproduce, display, publish, publicly perform, transmit, and distribute any Submission, without compensation or accounting to you or anyone else. You represent and warrant that: (a) you have the right to submit the Submission to EO and grant the licenses as described above; (b) EO will not need to obtain licenses from any third party or pay royalties to any third party for its use of the Submission; (c) the Submission does not infringe any third party’s rights, including intellectual property rights and privacy rights; and (d) the Submission complies with these Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations.
EO takes no responsibility and assumes no liability for any Submission.
Arbitration
Any and all claims by you arising out of or related to the Site or your use thereof may be resolved only through a binding arbitration proceeding to be conducted under the auspices of the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Both your agreement to arbitrate all controversies, disputes and claims, and the results and awards rendered through the arbitration, will be final and binding on you and may be specifically enforced by legal proceedings. Arbitration will be the sole means of resolving such controversies, disputes and claims, and you waive your rights to resolve such controversies, disputes and claims by court proceedings or any other means. You agree that judgment may be entered on the award in any court of competent jurisdiction and, therefore, any award rendered shall be binding. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. You understand that by agreeing to arbitration as a mechanism to resolve all controversies, disputes and claims between us, you are waiving certain rights, including the right to bring an action in court, the right to a jury trial, the right to broad discovery, and the right to an appeal. You understand that in the context of arbitration, a case is decided by an arbitrator (one or more), not by a judge or a jury.
International Use
The Site is controlled, operated, and administered by EO from offices within the United States of America and is only intended for use therein. We make no representation regarding use of the Site outside of the United States.
Other Terms
If, for any reason, our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, or any portion thereof to be unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to give the intended effect thereof, and the remainder of these Terms of Use and Privacy Policy shall continue in full force and effect. EO’s failure to act with respect to a breach by you or others does not waive our right to act with respect to that breach or subsequent or similar breaches. No consent or waiver by EO hereof will be deemed effective unless in writing. These Terms of Use, together with our Privacy Policy, as each is currently posted, constitute the entire agreement between EO and you with respect to your use of the Site and supersede all previous written or oral agreements relating to the subject matter hereof, that this agreement shall not supersede, restrict, or replace any agreements governing the attorney-client relationship between EO and EO Clients.
EO may, in its sole discretion and without prior notice, block and/or terminate your access to the Site and if we determine that you have violated these Terms of Use or other terms or agreements or that may be associated therewith or if you use the Site in a way that we deem, in our sole discretion, to be an unacceptable use.
