Is Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys The Greatest Thing There Ever Was?
Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
The process of labor, birth and pregnancy can be extremely complicated. Sometimes, these problems cause birth injuries that can have long-lasting consequences for the child and family members.
A central Illinois birth injury lawyer from central Illinois can assist you in assessing your case and review all of your options, and fully understand your rights. You should also keep all medical records that pertain to your pregnancy and birth, as these documents may be useful in any 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. Erb's Palsy can be caused when these nerves are damaged in the birth of a child. This condition can result in permanent loss of function in the affected hand and arm. Fortunately, medical advances can restore partial sensation and motion in a lot of cases. However, these procedures are expensive. Our brachial plexus injury attorneys can assist families in obtaining the financial compensation they require to pay for medical treatment and other expenses associated with the birth injuries.
Medical negligence can lead to these injuries and nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals also have the responsibility of adhering to established guidelines for care during labor and delivery. Medical malpractice is the failure to recognize a risk of complications, excessive force during labor and delivery or failing to act quickly when problems occur. In addition hospitals and birthing centers are also responsible to ensure that their staff adhere to proper protocols and procedures.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes, but the most common reason is damage to the brachial plexus after birth. The most common cause of this injury is when a midwife or doctor makes use of excessive force to deliver the baby. It could also occur when the baby is in a breech position, or when a physician fails to perform the Cesarean section if there are indications of a complicated birth.
The signs of a brachial-plexus injury are weakness or paralysis of the hand and arm affected, difficulty moving the shoulders and hands, and a weak grip on the fingers and hands. It is also possible for the nerves to heal over time, but this can take years. Some people never recover full functionality in their hands and arms, even after surgery.
Brachial plexus injuries can be diagnosed through physical exams, MRIs, and other tests, including nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will compare the strength of your arm, its range of movement and sensation to the unaffected side.
Brain Injury
A lot of the most devastating birth injuries are brain-related. If your child is suffering from a brain injury, then you could be entitled to financial compensation. These damages could aid in the payment of future medical treatment as well as therapy and other treatments your child might require to manage the condition. Contact a skilled Illinois birth injury lawyer to get help.
Brain damage during labor and birth is usually caused by asphyxia, which happens when infants do not receive enough oxygen. It can occur in many ways, including problems with the umbilical cord, problems with the placenta or long labor.
Forceps as well as other tools are often employed by doctors to help with more complex deliveries. However, if they are used improperly or negligently, they can cause severe injuries to the head. These injuries could include facial fractures, swelling or scalp bruises, and also brain damage.
If your child suffered an injury to the brain because of a medical error during the birth or during labor or birth, you could be eligible to file a medical negligence lawsuit. You'll need a seasoned birth injury lawyer to ensure that you understand the laws in your state, and to ensure that your claim satisfies the standards.
Generally, you will need to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within two years of the date of the negligence or, in some cases the two-year period from the date you first realized that you had suffered an injury. For you to begin, it is important to contact an attorney for birth injuries in your area.
Medical negligence that results in birth injuries can have life-altering consequences for families. A successful legal case can result in an amount that is substantial enough to cover your family's ongoing medical costs and replaces the income that your child may not be able to earn and compensates you for your child's suffering, pain, and emotional distress. Our firm has the experience and understanding required to defend your child's right to a fair settlement. Contact us today for a free case review. 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 a baby's shoulders get trapped inside the pelvis of the mother during birth. This is a fairly common occurrence, and many doctors have been trained to detect it and take action to avoid serious complications for the mother and child. If a doctor fails to recognize shoulder dislocation the child and mother may suffer serious injuries and even disabilities.
This complication is generally caused by the fetus being too big to fit into the birth canal. It is usually a sign that the maternity team will have to perform a C-section to safely deliver the baby. In some instances, however, the obstetrician may not recognize that the fetus was too large to be delivered vaginally and instead, uses excessive force during labor and delivery or prolonged traction to get the baby out of the birth canal.
If a baby's hand gets trapped between the pubic bones of the mother during labor, it could cause a variety of complications. These include fractures in the collarbone (clavicle) or upper arm bone(humerus). It could also cause a compressed umbilical cord that cuts off oxygen and blood flow. It could also cause uterine hemorrhage and rupture.
Medical personnel will be able recognize shoulder dystocia by being able to detect a lack of progress after the head delivery or if the fetus pulls back into the mother's pelvis in a process known as the 'turtle neck sign. The physician should then call for help and have additional team members - typically an obstetrician of senior standing as well as a senior midwife and paediatrician enter the delivery room to assist in the delivery.
If a doctor failed to respond swiftly enough to this circumstance or if they used force that was unnecessary during the delivery the baby, it could be deemed medical malpractice. A Chicago birth injury lawyer can review the medical documents and consult with experts to determine if there was an act of negligence that caused your child's shoulder dystocia. This information can be used to prove a legal claim for compensation. Fortunately, maternal birth injury lawyer of babies who suffer from shoulder dystocia recover completely by age three.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a condition in which the vertebrae of the spine do not close completely, leaving a part of the spinal cord (and meninges, which are the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal nerve system) in a sac-like membrane that protrudes out of the body. The most frequent form of spina Bifida is myelomeningocele. It occurs in between one and one-half out of every 1,000 births in the United States. No one knows exactly what causes spina bifida however, it is believed to be linked to folic acid deficiency the mother, genetics, and the environment.
Sometimes, spina bifida can't be diagnosed until after a baby is born. A doctor may find it by looking at the newborn's back, or looking at 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 hole in the spine physical therapy to improve the strength of muscles and range of movement, a wheelchair and braces that are specially designed for children. Babies and children with this condition might also require diapers or undergo bladder or bowel surgeries to help manage problems with bowels, such as incontinence or difficulty emptying the bladder.
It is important to contact a Chicago birth injury lawyer as soon as you can after the child's injury. The time limit for medical malpractice claims set at two years from the date of injury, but evidence may disappear with time. Witnesses could move or their memories of the case might fade, and the longer you put off consulting with an attorney the more difficult it is to build 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 draining for the whole family. If your child's injuries were caused by a healthcare worker's negligence during the labor and delivery process, you could be entitled to compensation to pay for your child's care. Contact an Chicago birth injury lawyer to discuss your case, and determine if there is an entitlement to financial compensation.