Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
The labor, pregnancy and delivery process can be extremely complex. Sometimes, these complications can result in birth injuries that have life-long consequences for the child and family.
A central Illinois birth injury lawyer from central Illinois can assist you in assessing your case, review all of your options, and fully understand your rights. Save all medical records related to your pregnancy and birth, as they may be useful in a future lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachialplexus is a nerve network that runs from the neck to the arms. These nerves provide the arm, shoulder, and hand movement and sensation. If these nerves become damaged during childbirth, it causes an illness known as Erb's palsy. The condition can cause permanent loss of function in the affected hand and arm. Fortunately, new medical procedures can restore some feeling and movement in many instances. However, these treatments are very expensive. Our brachial-plexus injury lawyers can assist families get the financial compensation required for treatment and other expenses that are associated with birth injuries.
Medical negligence can cause these injuries and doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals have an obligation to adhere to established guidelines for care during labor and delivery. Medical malpractice is the inability to recognize the possibility of complications, excessive force during labor and delivery, or failing to respond quickly when problems occur. In addition hospitals and birthing centers are also accountable to ensure that their staff adhere to the correct procedures and protocols.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of factors however the most frequent cause is injury to the brachial-plexus area during childbirth. This injury usually happens when a midwife or doctor uses too much force to deliver the baby. manhattan birth injury attorneys can also happen if the baby is in the breech position or in the event that a doctor does not perform an Cesarean when there are indications that a difficult delivery is taking place.
Symptoms of brachial pain include weakness or paralysis of the affected hand and arm, difficulty moving the shoulder and hand, and an inability to grip the fingers and hands. The nerves may also heal over time, but it can take years. Some people will never be able to recover the full functionality of their hands and arms even after surgery.
Injuries to the brachial plexus can be diagnosed through physical examinations, MRIs, and other tests, including nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will assess your arm's strength, range of motion and feel to the side that is not affected.
Brain Injury
A lot of the most traumatic birth injuries are brain-related. If your child has a brain injury you could be entitled to financial compensation. These damages can be used to pay for future medical care as well as therapy and other treatments that your child may need to manage his orher condition. Contact a skilled Illinois birth injury lawyer for assistance.
Brain damage during labor and birth is usually caused by asphyxia, which happens when infants do not receive enough oxygen. It can happen in many ways, such as complications with the umbilical cord, issues with the placenta or prolonged labor.
Forceps or scissors, as well as other tools are sometimes employed by doctors to assist with more complex deliveries. However, if they are used incorrectly or negligently, these can cause severe head injuries. These injuries could include facial fractures, swelling or bruises on the scalp, and also damage to the brain.
You may be able file a lawsuit for medical malpractice if your child suffered brain damage due to a mistake made by a doctor during delivery or labor. You'll need to consult with a skilled birth injury lawyer who can help you understand the law in your state and to ensure that your claim is in compliance with all requirements, such as the statute of limitations.
In general, you should submit your medical malpractice lawsuit within two (2) years of the negligent act, or in certain cases, within two (2) years from the time you reasonably discovered the injury. It is essential to speak with a birth injury lawyer in your area as quickly as possible to get started.
Medical negligence that leads to birth injuries can have life changing consequences for families. A successful legal case could result in an enormous settlement that covers your family's ongoing medical costs, replaces income that your child may not be capable of earning and also compensates for your child's pain, suffering and emotional turmoil. Our firm has the expertise and compassion to fight for your child's right to an equitable settlement. Contact us for a free consultation. We will not charge fees unless we win or settle your case.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia can be described as a type of birth injury that takes place when a baby's shoulders get stuck inside the mother's pelvis during the birth. This is a fairly common occurrence, and many doctors have been trained to recognize it and intervene to prevent serious complications for mother and child. If a doctor isn't careful when handling shoulder dislocations, both mother and child may suffer serious injuries and even disabilities.
It is typically caused by a fetus that is too large to pass through the birth canal. This is often a sign that the maternity team will need to perform a C-section to give birth safely. In certain instances, however, the obstetrician may not recognize that the fetus is large to deliver via vaginal delivery and instead applies excessive force during labor and delivery or long tension to pull the baby out of the birth canal.
If a baby's shoulder is trapped behind the mother's pubic bone during labor, it could result in a myriad of complications including fractures to the collarbone (clavicle) or 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 lead to rupture of the uterine artery and uterine hemorrhage.
Medical staff should be able to recognize shoulder dystocia by not noticing any progress following the head delivery or if the fetus pulls back into the mother's pelvis in a process called the 'turtle neck' sign. The doctor should contact assistance and request additional team members to come in the delivery room. They could include a senior obstetrician and midwife, as well as paediatricians.
If a doctor was unable to respond quickly enough to the situation or if they used force that was unnecessary during the birth the baby, it could be deemed medical malpractice. A Chicago birth injury attorney can review the medical documents and consult with experts to determine whether there was an act of negligence that led to your child's shoulder dystocia. This can then be used to prove an legal claim for compensation. Fortunately the shoulder dystocia condition is generally completely recovered by the time the child is three years old.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a condition in which the vertebrae of the spine do not close completely, leaving a small portion of the spinal cord (and meninges, which are the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal nervous system) in a sac-like membrane that protrudes from the body. Myelomeningocele is the most frequent form of Spina Bifida. It is found in about one-half to one of every 1,000 pregnancies. Spina Bifida isn't well-known to cause, but it could be caused by deficiencies in folic acids in the mother, or genetics and the environment.
Spina bifida is a condition that can be detected at the time of birth. A doctor may detect it by looking at the newborn's back, or looking at it on an image scan like an ultrasound, X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine. Treatments include surgery to close this hole, physical therapy to increasing muscle strength and range of motion as well as a wheelchair and braces. Children and babies who have this condition may also need to use diapers or undergo bowel or bladder surgery to manage problems with bowels, such as incontinence.
You should contact an Chicago birth injury lawyer as soon as you can following the child's injury. The time-limit for medical malpractice claims two years from the date of injury however, evidence could disappear as time passes. The case might be lost in the shuffle or witnesses could change their minds. The longer you delay to talk to a lawyer it will be harder to prove an argument.
If a child is born with an injury to their birth that requires ongoing care and treatment, 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 and you are a victim, you could be entitled to compensation for your child. Contact a Chicago birth injury lawyer to discuss your case and determine if you are eligible for an entitlement to financial compensation.