Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
The pregnancy, labor and delivery process can be extremely difficult. Sometimes, these problems cause birth injuries that can have long-lasting consequences for the child as well as the family members.
A central Illinois birth injury lawyer from central Illinois can assist you in assessing your situation, review all of your options, and understand your rights. www.accidentinjurylawyers.claims should also save all medical records that pertain to your birth and pregnancy as they could be useful in any future lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
The brachialplexus is a nerve network that connects the neck to the arms. These nerves control movements and sensations of the shoulder, arm, and hand. If these nerves become damaged during childbirth, it can cause an illness known as Erb's palsy. This condition can lead to permanent impairment to the arm or hand affected. In many cases, new treatments for medical conditions can restore partial sensation and movement. These treatments are expensive. Our brachial plexus injury lawyers can help families obtain the financial compensation they need for treatment and other expenses connected to these birth injuries.
These injuries can be caused by medical negligence. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals are accountable for following established guidelines of care in relation to labor and delivery. Medical malpractice could include ignoring the potential for complications during labor and delivery or using excessive force. Moreover hospitals and birthing centers are also accountable for ensuring that their staff adhere to the correct procedures and protocols.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes however, the most frequent reason is damage to the brachial plexus during birth. The injury is usually caused by a doctor 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 when a doctor fails to perform an Cesarean when there are indications that a difficult delivery might be taking place.
Symptoms of brachial plexus injury include weakness or paralysis of the affected arm and hand and shoulder, difficulty in moving the shoulder and hand, and a weak grip on the hand and fingers. It is also possible for the nerves to heal over time, but this can take years. Some people will never regain full functionality in their arms and hands even after surgery.
Injuries to the brachial plexus can be diagnosed with physical examinations, MRIs, and other tests, such as nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will assess your arm's strength, range of movement, and sensation to the unaffected side.
Brain Injuries
The majority of the most devastating birth injury are brain-related. If your child suffers from an injury to the brain, you could be entitled to financial compensation. These damages could help pay for future medical treatments as well as therapy and other treatments that your child may require to manage his orher condition. Contact a reputable Illinois birth injury attorney for help.
Asphyxia is a common cause of brain injury during birth. It occurs when an infant doesn't receive enough oxygen. It can happen in many ways, including complications with the umbilical chord, problems with placenta, or prolonged 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 include facial fractures, swelling, or bruises on the scalp as well as brain damage.
You could be able to make a claim for medical negligence if your child sustained brain damage as a result of an error made by a doctor during birth or labor. You will need an experienced birth injury attorney to ensure you know the laws of your state, and that your claim meets the legal requirements.
In general, you have to submit your medical malpractice lawsuit within two (2) years of the negligent act, or in some instances, within two (2) years from the date you first realized the injury. It is important to contact an attorney for birth injuries in your local area as soon as you can in order to begin.
Medical negligence that leads to birth injuries can have life changing consequences for families. A successful legal action could result in a substantial settlement that covers the cost of medical treatment for your family, replaces income your child might not be capable of earning, and compensates for your child's suffering, pain and emotional stress. Our firm has the compassion and experience to advocate for a fair settlement for your child. Contact us today for a free case review. We don't charge fees until we have won your case or settle it.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia happens when the shoulders of a newborn child get stuck in the mother's pelvis. This condition is a common one, and lots of doctors are trained to recognize it and take action to avoid serious complications for both mother and child. If a doctor isn't careful when handling shoulder dislocation, both mother and child could suffer serious injuries and even disabilities.
It is typically caused by an unborn fetus that is too large to enter the birth canal. This is often a sign that the maternity team may need to perform a C-section to give birth safely. However, in some cases the obstetrician fails acknowledge that the fetus is too large for vaginal birth and instead, they use excessive force or a prolonged traction during labor and delivery to guide the baby through the birth canal.
If a baby's arm gets wedged between the mother's pubic bones during labor, it could result in a variety of complications. These include fractures in the collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone(humerus). It can also lead to an umbilical cord that is compressed, which blocks blood flow and oxygen. Finally, it can cause uterine rupture and hemorrhage.
The medical staff should be able to recognize shoulder dystocia if they see an inability to progress after the head delivery or if the fetus is pulled back into the mother’s pelvis, a sign known as the ‘turtle neck’ sign. The doctor should then call for help and have other members of the team - typically an obstetrician of senior standing, a senior midwife and a paediatrician - come into the delivery room to assist in the delivery.
If a doctor did not respond swiftly enough to this situation, or used unnecessary force during the delivery this could be considered medical malpractice. A Chicago birth injury lawyer can review the medical records of your child and consult experts to determine if negligence contributed to the shoulder dystocia. This information can be used to back the claim for injury. Fortunately, the majority of children who suffer from shoulder dystocia recover completely by three.
Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida is an open neural tube defect that occurs when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not completely close, leaving some of the meninges and the spinal cord (protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal nerves) contained in a sac-like membrane that protrudes into the body. The most prevalent form of spina Bifida, myelomeningocele, occurs in between one and one-half out of every 1,000 pregnancies in the United States. No one knows exactly what causes spina bifida but it is believed to be related to folic acid deficiencies in the mother, genetics, and the environment.
Sometimes, spina Bifida isn't diagnosed until after a baby is born. A doctor might discover it by examining the baby's back or observing it on an image scan like an X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
If your child was born with spina bifida treatment could include surgery to close the gap in the spine, physical therapy to improve the strength of muscles and range motion, a wheelchair and special braces. Children and infants with this condition may need to wear diapers or have bladder or surgery for bowels to manage issues with their bowels such as incontinence, or difficulty in emptying the bladder.
It is crucial to talk to an Chicago birth injury lawyer immediately following your child's injury. The limitation period for medical malpractice lawsuits is two years following the date of injury. Evidence may also disappear in time. Witnesses may move away or their memories of the case might fade, and the longer you wait to consult with a lawyer the more difficult it will be to build your case.
It can be emotionally and economically stressful for families when a child is born and requires lifelong care. If the negligence of a healthcare professional caused the birth injury of your child it is possible that you are 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.