Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
Pregnancy, labor and delivery can be extremely complicated. Sometimes, these issues result in birth injuries that can have lasting consequences for the child and family members.
A central Illinois birth injury lawyer from central Illinois can evaluate your situation, go over your options, and help you know your rights. It is also recommended to save all medical records pertaining to your birth and pregnancy, as these documents may be useful in any future lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that runs from the neck down to the arms. These nerves allow the shoulder, arm, and hand movement and sensation. If these nerves become damaged during childbirth, they cause an illness known as Erb's palsy. This condition can result in permanent loss of function for the hand or arm affected. In a lot of cases, new medical procedures can restore partial sensation and movement. However, these treatments are extremely expensive. Our brachial-plexus injury lawyers can assist families receive the financial compensation required to cover the cost of treatment and other costs associated with these birth injuries.
These injuries could result from medical negligence. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals are responsible to follow established standards of care in relation to labor and delivery. Medical malpractice may include failing to recognize the potential for complications during labor or delivery or using excessive force. Hospitals and birthing facilities must be sure that their staff adhere to the correct protocols and procedures.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a myriad of circumstances however the most common reason is damage to the brachial plexus during birth. This injury is usually caused by a physician or midwife using too much force when giving birth to the baby. This can also happen if the baby is in the breech position or if a doctor fails to perform the Cesarean when there are signs that a complicated delivery.
Symptoms of brachial pain include weakness or paralysis of the affected hand and arm, difficulty moving the shoulder, and a weak grip on the fingers and hand. The nerves can also heal over time but it can take years. Some people might never regain full function of their arms and hands even after surgery.
The brachial plexus can be diagnosed with physical examinations, MRIs, and other tests, like nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will also assess the strength as well as the range of motion and feeling in your arm or hand with the one on your unaffected side.
Brain Injuries
Many of the most severe birth injuries are brain-related. If your child has a brain injury you could be entitled to financial compensation. These damages may aid in the payment of future medical care as well as therapy and other treatments your child will require to manage the condition. For assistance, contact an Illinois birth injury lawyer.
Brain damage during labor and delivery is often caused by asphyxia, which happens when infants do not get enough oxygen. It can happen in many ways, such as complications with the umbilical cord, problems with placenta, or prolonged labor.
Doctors often use forceps and other tools to aid in more complex deliveries, but they can result in severe head injuries if used improperly or by negligent doctors. These injuries include fractured facial bones and swelling or bruising on the scalp, as well as damage to the brain.
If your child suffered an injury to the brain due to a medical mistake during birth or labor or birth, you could be eligible to file a medical negligence lawsuit. You will need to work with a seasoned birth injury lawyer to understand the law in your state and to ensure that your claim is compliant with all requirements, such as the statute of limitations.
In general, you should file your medical malpractice suit within two (2) years of the wrongful act, or in certain cases, within two (2) years of the time you reasonably discovered the injury. It is crucial to contact an attorney for birth injuries in your local area as soon as possible to get started.
Medical negligence that results in birth injuries can have life-altering consequences for families. A successful legal case can result in a substantial settlement that covers your family's ongoing medical costs, replaces income that your child may not be able to earn, and compensates for your child's suffering, pain and emotional turmoil. Our firm has the expertise and compassion to ensure a fair settlement for your child. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation. We don't charge a fee unless we win or settle your case.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a type of birth injury that takes place when the baby's shoulders become trapped inside the pelvis of the mother during birth. This condition is quite common and a lot of doctors are trained to recognize it and take action to prevent serious complications both for mother and child. If the doctor mishandles shoulder dislocation both the mother and child could suffer severe injuries and disabilities.
This is usually due to an unborn fetus that is too large to enter the birth canal. This is a sign the maternity team may have to perform the procedure of a C section to ensure the safe delivery of the baby. However, in certain instances the obstetrician does not acknowledge that the fetus is too large for vaginal birth, and instead, they use excessive force or prolonged traction during labor and delivery to guide the baby through the birth canal.
When a baby's shoulder gets wedged behind the mother's pubic bone during labor, it can cause a variety of complications including fractures to the collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone (humerus). It can also lead to an umbilical cord that is compressed, that cuts off oxygen and blood flow. It can also cause uterine rupture and hemorrhage.
Medical personnel should be able to detect shoulder dystocia by being able to detect a lack of progress following the head delivery or if the fetus retracts back into the mother's pelvis in a movement known as the 'turtle neck' sign. The doctor should then contact for help and have additional team members - typically an obstetrician of senior standing as well as a senior midwife and an paediatrician to enter the delivery room to assist in the delivery.
Medical malpractice could be the result of a doctor's failure to act quickly or using excessive force during delivery. A Chicago birth injury attorney will review medical documents and consult with experts to determine whether there was an act of negligence that caused the shoulder dystocia that your child suffers from. This information can be used to support an legal claim for compensation. Fortunately fort collins birth injury attorney is typically fully recovered by the time a child reaches age three.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida occurs when the vertebrae of the spine don't close completely, leaving a portion of the spinal cord (and meninges, the membranes that protect the brain and spinal nervous system) in a sac-like membrane that protrudes from the body. The most common form of spina Bifida, myelomeningocele, occurs in between one and one-half out of every 1,000 pregnancies in the United States. Spina Bifida isn't well-known to cause, but it can be caused by deficiencies in folic acid in the mother or genetics or the environment.
Sometimes, spina Bifida isn't diagnosed until after a baby is born. A doctor could find it by looking at the baby's back or observing it in an image scan such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
If your child was born with spina Bifida, treatment might include surgery to close the hole in the spine physical therapy to improve muscle strength and range of motion, a wheelchair and special braces. Children and babies with this condition might also have to use diapers or undergo bowel or bladder surgery to address bowel issues such as incontinence.
You should speak with an Chicago birth injury lawyer as early as you can after the injury of your child. Not only is the statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims two years from the date of injury, but evidence may disappear with time. The case may be lost or witnesses may change their minds. The longer you wait to consult a lawyer, it will be harder to build a case.
If an infant is born with an injury that is a result of birth and requires care for the rest of their lives it can be emotionally and financially stressful for the entire family. If the negligence of a healthcare professional caused the birth injury of your child, you may be entitled to compensation for your child. Contact an Chicago birth injury lawyer to discuss your case and find out whether you have a claim for financial compensation.