When a child is born with injuries, the experience can be devastating for the entire family. In some cases, these injuries may have been caused by the negligence of a healthcare provider during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. In such cases, a birth injury lawyer can help a client recover compensation for the damages their child has suffered.
The birth injury attorneys at the Moore Law Firm have the knowledge and expertise necessary to help families navigate the complex legal system and recover financial compensation for their child’s injuries.
Medical records are particularly important in birth injury cases because they provide crucial information about the care that was provided to the mother and child during labor and delivery.
Expert testimony may also be necessary to establish the standard of care that should have been provided and to demonstrate how the healthcare provider’s actions or inaction fell short of that standard.
Birth injury lawyers often work with medical experts and other professionals to build strong cases for their clients. These experts can provide valuable insight into the medical issues involved in the case and can help establish liability for the child’s injuries.
If you believe your child sustained a birth injury due to medical malpractice, an attorney can review the circumstances of the incident and identify any medical errors that resulted in your child’s injuries.
The types of medical errors that can result in a birth injury include:
During labor, a medical professional may fail to identify signs of fetal distress when monitoring the infant’s vital signs. These signs can indicate that the infant is suffering from oxygen deprivation. When a doctor fails to identify signs of fetal distress, this can result in long-term injuries
Birth injuries can occur when the attending physician fails to deliver an infant in a reasonable period of time. Prolonged labor can put a child at risk of a birth injury. When a physician ignores the signs of non-productive labor or fails to take action, the mother and/or child can suffer permanent injuries.
Some physicians do not use forceps correctly. These devices are used to help maneuver an infant’s head through the birth canal during vaginal delivery. If the doctor uses excessive pressure it can cause serious damage to the skull and brain, resulting in permanent brain damage. Additionally, improper use of forceps can also cause severe bruising and nerve damage.
Another serious condition called shoulder dystocia can occur if a medical professional pulls too forcefully. In this case, an infant may be stuck in the birth canal. A physician must quickly take action to prevent further complications including Erb’s palsy or damage to the brachial plexus nerves. If the physician uses too much force or improperly uses delivery aids, it can cause severe and permanent birth injuries.
A medical error can also result in cerebral palsy. When a physician assists with a difficult labor and uses instruments designed to aid in the delivery process improperly it can worsen or cause a birth injury. For example, if a physician applies too much pressure when using a vacuum extractor, it can cause a permanent brain injury.
Birth injuries can take many forms, ranging from minor to severe, and can have lasting effects on the child’s development and quality of life.
A birth injury can result in the following conditions:
A group of neurological disorders that affect movement, posture, and muscle tone, often caused by brain damage during birth.
Paralysis of the arm is caused by nerve damage in the brachial plexus, often resulting from a difficult delivery or the improper use of delivery tools.
Brain injuries are caused by a lack of oxygen during birth, leading to permanent damage that can result in developmental delays, seizures, and cognitive impairment.
When the umbilical cord slips into the birth canal before the baby, cutting off oxygen and blood flow to the baby.
When a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, increasing the risk of complications and long-term health problems.
Victims of birth injuries and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for their damages, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. If your child suffered an injury as the result of medical negligence, you must take legal action. A personal injury lawyer at the Moore Law Firm can help you pursue maximum compensation for your child’s injuries to cover the cost of medical bills, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and other damages.
We will negotiate with the insurance company and provide proof of liability. Our goal is to obtain maximum compensation for your child’s injuries, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and other damages. A large settlement cannot erase what has happened to your child, but it can ease the financial burden you and your family have suffered due to the preventable mistakes made by medical professionals who were supposed to provide quality care to you and your child.