Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
Pregnancy, labor and delivery can be a bit complicated. These complications can sometimes cause birth injuries that can have long-lasting consequences for the child as well as their family.
A central Illinois birth injury lawyer in central Illinois can help you assess your situation and review all options and know your rights. Keep all medical records relating to your pregnancy and birth in case they be useful in a future lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that extends from the neck to the arms. These nerves provide the arm, shoulder, and hand movements and sensation. If these nerves are damaged during childbirth, it causes an illness known as Erb's palsy. This condition can result in permanent loss of function for the arm or hand affected. In a lot of cases, new medical procedures are able to restore partial sensation and movement. These treatments are costly. Our brachial plexus injury attorneys can assist families in obtaining the financial compensation they need for treatment and other expenses related to the birth injuries.
Medical negligence could cause these injuries, and doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are held to a responsibility to follow established guidelines for care during labor and delivery. Medical malpractice can include failing to recognize the possibility of complications during labor or delivery or using excessive force. Birthing centers and hospitals must ensure that their staff adhere to the correct protocols and procedures.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes however the most common reason is the damage to the brachial plexus during birth. This type of injury is typically caused by a doctor or midwife using too much force while giving birth. It can also happen when the baby is in a breech position or when a physician fails to perform an Cesarean section if there are signs of a complicated birth.
The signs of abrachial plexus injury include weakness or paralysis in the affected hand and arm, difficulty moving the shoulder and hand, and an inability to grip the fingers and hands. It is also possible for the nerves to heal over time, but this can take years. Some people may never recover the full functionality of their hands and arms even after surgery.
The brachial plexus can be identified through physical exams, MRIs, and other tests, including nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will also compare the strength as well as the range of motion and sensation in your arm or hand to that on your unaffected side.
Brain Injuries
Many of the most devastating birth injuries are brain-related. If your child has an injury to the brain, you may be eligible for financial compensation. These damages could be used to pay for the cost of future medical treatment as well as therapy and other treatments your child will require to treat his or her condition. For assistance, contact an Illinois birth injury lawyer.
Brain damage during labor and birth is often caused by asphyxia, which occurs when infants do not receive enough oxygen. It can happen in many ways, including complications with the umbilical cord, issues with the placenta or long labor.
Doctors sometimes use forceps and other tools to aid in more complex deliveries, but they can cause serious head injuries when used incorrectly or by negligent doctors. These injuries can result in facial fractures, swelling, or scalp bruises, and also damage to the brain.
You could be able to make a claim for medical negligence if your child suffered brain damage as a result of an error made by a doctor during delivery or labor. You'll need a skilled birth injury lawyer to ensure that you understand the laws in your state and to ensure that your claim satisfies the standards.
In general, you must submit your medical malpractice lawsuit within two (2) years of the negligent act, or in certain cases, within two (2) years from the date at which you were able to discover the injury. To begin, it is important to contact a birth injury attorney in your area.
Medical negligence that results in birth injuries can have life changing consequences for families. A successful legal action could result in a substantial settlement that covers the ongoing medical expenses of your family and also replaces income that your child may not be capable of earning and compensates you for your child's pain, suffering and emotional stress. birth injury attorney near me has the knowledge and understanding required to defend your child's right to a fair settlement. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation. We will not charge fees unless we win or settle your case.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a type of birth injury that occurs when the shoulders of a newborn get trapped inside the pelvis of the mother during delivery. This condition is fairly common and a large number of doctors have been trained to recognize it and intervene in order to prevent serious complications both for the mother and the child. However, if the doctor mishandles shoulder dystocia, both parents could suffer major injuries and permanent disabilities.
This type of complication is usually caused by the fetus becoming too big to fit into the birth canal. This indicates that the maternity team may have to perform a C section to ensure the safe delivery of the baby. In some instances the obstetrician does not realize that the fetus may be too large for vaginal birth and instead uses excessive force or prolonged traction during labor and delivery to guide the baby through the birth canal.
When a baby's shoulder gets trapped behind the pubic bone of the mother during labor, it may cause a variety of complications including fractures to the collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone (humerus). It could also cause an umbilical cord that has been compressed which cuts off blood flow and oxygen. It can also lead to rupture and hemorrhage in the uterus.
Medical personnel should be able to detect shoulder dystocia by being able to detect a lack of progress after the head delivery or if the fetus retracts back into the pelvis of the mother in a movement called the 'turtle neck' sign. The physician should then call for assistance and request that additional team members - usually an obstetrician of senior standing as well as a senior midwife and paediatrician enter the delivery room to help with the delivery.
If a doctor did not respond swiftly enough to this circumstance, or used unnecessary force during the birth, it can be considered medical malpractice. A Chicago birth injury lawyer will review medical documents and consult with experts to determine whether there was an act of negligence that led to the shoulder dystocia of your child. This information can be used to prove the claim for injury. Fortunately the shoulder dystocia condition is generally completely recovered when a child reaches age three.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a condition in which the vertebrae of the spine do not close completely, leaving a portion of the spinal cord (and meninges, the membranes that protect the brain and spinal nervous system) in a saclike membrane that protrudes out of the body. Myelomeningocele, the most common type of Spina Bifida. It is found in about one-half to one in every 1,000 pregnancies. There is no precise answer to the cause of spina bifida but it is believed to be linked to folic acid deficiency in the mother, genetics, and the environment.
Sometimes, spina bifida isn't discovered until after the baby is born. A doctor may find it while examining the back of a newborn or taking a look at an image scan such as an X-ray, or ultrasound.
If your child was born with spina Bifida treatment options include surgery to close the gap in the spine, physical therapy to improve the strength of muscles and range of movement, a wheelchair and special braces. Children and infants with this condition might also require diapers or have bladder or surgery to treat issues with their bowels such as incontinence, or difficulty emptying the bladder.
You should contact a Chicago birth injury lawyer as early as you can after your child's injury. The statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims set at two years from the date of injury and the evidence could be lost as time passes. Witnesses could move or their memories of the incident may fade. The longer you wait to consult with a lawyer and the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to build your case.
It can be emotionally and financially draining for a family when a child is born needing ongoing care for the rest of their lives. If the negligence of a healthcare professional caused your child's birth injury it is possible that you are entitled to compensation for your child. Contact a Chicago birth injury lawyer to discuss your case and find out whether you're eligible for financial compensation.