Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
The labor, pregnancy and delivery process can be extremely difficult. These complications may cause birth injuries that can have life-long effects for the child and their family.
A central Illinois birth injury attorney from central Illinois can examine your situation, discuss your options, and help you learn about your rights. Keep all medical records pertaining to your pregnancy and delivery in case they be useful in the event of a lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachialplexus is a set of nerves that runs from the neck to the arms. These nerves give the arm, shoulder and hand movement as well as sensation. If attorney for birth injury become damaged during childbirth, it can cause an illness known as Erb's palsy. The condition can cause permanent loss of function in the affected hand and arm. Fortunately, modern medical procedures can restore partial sensation and movement in many cases. These treatments are costly. Our brachial-plexus injury lawyers can assist families get the financial compensation required to cover the cost of treatment and other costs related to these birth injuries.
Medical negligence can cause these injuries and doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals have an obligation to adhere to established standards of care during labor and birth. Medical malpractice may be a result of not recognizing the risk of complications during labor and delivery or using excessive force. Additionally hospitals and birthing centres are also responsible for ensuring that their staff adhere to the correct protocols and procedures.
Erb's Palsy is caused by many factors however the most common cause is an injury to the brachial-plexus area during birth. This injury is usually caused by a doctor or midwife using too much force when delivering the baby. It can also happen when the baby is in a breech posture or when a doctor fails to perform an Cesarean section when there are signs of a complex birth.
The signs of abrachial plexus injury include weakness or paralysis of the affected hand and arm and shoulder, difficulty in moving the shoulder and hand, and an inability to grip the hand and fingers. The nerves can also heal over time but it can take years. Some people never recover full functionality in their hands and arms, even after surgery.
The brachial nerve is identified by physical examinations, MRIs and other tests like nerve conduction studies and electrical stimulation. The doctor will also assess the strength, range of motion, and feeling in your hand or arm with the one on your unaffected side.
Brain Injuries
A lot of the most traumatic birth injuries are brain-related. If your child is suffering from brain injuries you could be legally entitled to financial compensation. These damages can help pay for future medical care as well as therapy and other treatments your child might require to treat their condition. For help, contact an Illinois birth injury lawyer.
Asphyxia is the most common cause of brain damage in the course of delivery. It happens when the baby isn't getting 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 during more complicated deliveries, however they can result in severe head injuries when used incorrectly or by negligent doctors. These injuries include fractured facial bones and swelling or bruising on the scalp, as well as 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 a mistake made by a doctor during delivery or labor. You'll need a seasoned birth injury lawyer to ensure that you understand the laws in your state and that your claim is in line with the requirements.
Generally speaking, you'll need to file a medical negligence lawsuit within two years of the date of the negligence or in some instances, within two years of the time you were able to recognize the injury. To get started, it is important to consult an attorney who handles birth injuries in your local area.
The medical negligence that results in birth injuries can have life-changing consequences for families. A successful legal case can result in an amount that is substantial enough to cover the ongoing medical expenses of your family and also replaces income that your child may not be capable of earning and also compensates for your child's suffering, pain, and emotional distress. Our firm has the experience and compassion to fight for a fair settlement for your child. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation. We don't charge any fees until we have won your case or settle it.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a kind of birth injury that occurs when the baby's shoulders become trapped inside the pelvis of the mother during delivery. This condition is a fairly common one, and lots of doctors are trained to notice it and intervene to prevent serious complications for mother and child. If the doctor mishandles shoulder dislocation the child and mother may suffer serious injuries and disabilities.
This complication is generally due to the fetus being too large to fit through the birth canal. As such, it is often a sign that the maternity team will need to perform a C-section in order to give birth safely. However, in certain instances the obstetrician fails acknowledge that the fetus is too large to be delivered vaginally and instead resorts to excessive force or prolonged tension during labor and delivery to help the baby get through the birth canal.
If a baby's shoulder is stuck 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 result in a compressed umbilical chord, which stops blood and oxygen flow. It could also cause rupture of the uterine artery and uterine hemorrhage.
Medical staff should be able to detect shoulder dystocia by not noticing any 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 - usually a senior obstetrician as well as a senior midwife and a paediatrician - come into the delivery room to help in the delivery.
If a doctor failed to respond swiftly enough to this situation, or used unnecessary force during the delivery the baby, it could be deemed medical malpractice. A Chicago birth injury lawyer will review your child's medical records and consult experts to determine if negligence contributed to the shoulder dystocia. This information can be used to back the injury claim. Fortunately, the majority of children who sustain shoulder dystocia recover completely by three.
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 membranes that protect the brain and spinal nervous system) in a saclike membrane that extends out of the body. The most common type of spina bifida is myelomeningocele. It occurs in about one-half to one out of every 1,000 births in the United States. There is no precise answer to what causes spina bifida, but it is believed to be linked to folic acid deficiency in the mother, genetics and the environment.
Spina Bifida can be identified at the time of birth. A doctor may find it by looking at the baby's back or observing it on a scan of an image, such as an X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.
If your child was born with spina Bifida treatment options include surgery to close the hole in the spine physical therapy to increase the strength of muscles and range of motion, a wheelchair and special braces. Children and babies with this condition may require diapers or undergo bladder or surgery for bowels to manage problems with bowels, such as incontinence or difficulty in emptying the bladder.
It is essential to speak to a Chicago birth injury attorney as soon as possible after your child's injury. The time-limit for medical malpractice claims two years from the date of the injury however, evidence could disappear with time. Witnesses might relocate or their memories of the case could fade. The longer you put off consulting with an attorney the more difficult it becomes to present your case.
When a child is born with an injury to their birth that requires care for the rest of their lives it can be financially and emotionally exhausting for the whole family. If a healthcare provider's negligence 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 determine if there is an opportunity to claim financial compensation.