Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
The labor, pregnancy and delivery process can be extremely complex. Sometimes, these problems can result in birth injuries that can have lasting consequences for the child and family members.
A central Illinois birth injury lawyer from central Illinois can assist you in assessing your situation, review all of your options, and fully understand your rights. Keep all medical records relating to your pregnancy and delivery, as they may be useful in a future lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachialplexus is a network of nerves that runs from the neck to the arms. These nerves give the arm, shoulder, and hand movement and sensation. When these nerves are damaged during childbirth, they cause an illness known as Erb's palsy. This condition can result in permanent loss of function in the affected arm and hand. Fortunately, new medical procedures can restore partial sensation and motion in many instances. These treatments are expensive. Our brachial-plexus injury lawyers can help families get the financial compensation required to cover the cost of treatment and other costs related to these birth injuries.
These injuries can result from medical negligence. Nurses, doctors, and healthcare professionals are accountable to adhere to established standards of care with regard to labor and delivery. Medical malpractice could be a result of not recognizing the risk of complications during labor or delivery or using excessive force. Hospitals and birthing facilities must ensure that their staff adhere to the correct protocols and procedures.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a myriad of circumstances, but the most common reason is a traumatic injury to the brachial plexus during birth. The injury is usually caused by a physician or midwife using too much force when giving birth. It can also happen when the baby is in the breech position, or when a doctor fails to perform a Cesarean when there are indications that suggest a difficult delivery is 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, as well as an inability to grip the hand and fingers. The nerves can also heal over time but it takes years. Some people will never regain full functionality in their hands and arms, even after surgery.
Injuries to the brachial plexus can be diagnosed through physical exams, MRIs, and other tests, such as nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will also compare the strength and range of motion and sensation in your hand or arm to that on your unaffected side.
Brain Injury
A lot of the most severe birth injuries are brain-related. If your child is suffering from suffered a brain injury, you could be entitled to financial compensation. These damages can be used to pay for the cost of future medical treatment or therapy as well as other treatments your child will require to manage his or her condition. Contact a skilled Illinois birth injury attorney to get help.
Asphyxia is the most common cause of brain damage during delivery. This occurs when the baby isn't getting enough oxygen. It can happen in a variety of ways, such as complications with the umbilical chord, problems with placenta, or prolonged labor.
Doctors sometimes use forceps and other tools to aid during more complex deliveries, but they can cause serious head injuries if used improperly or by a negligent doctor. These injuries include fractured facial bones swelling or bruising of the scalp, and damage to the brain.
If your child suffered a brain injury because of a medical error during birth or labor, you may be able to file a medical negligence lawsuit. You'll need a skilled birth injury lawyer to ensure that you are aware of the laws of your state, and that your claim is in line with the requirements.
In general, you must file your medical malpractice suit within two (2) years of the negligent act, or in some instances, within two (2) years of the date at which you were able to discover the injury. For you to begin, it is important to consult a birth injury attorney in your area.
Medical negligence that causes birth injuries can have devastating consequences for families. A successful legal battle could result in an agreement that covers the ongoing medical costs of your family, and replaces any income your child may not be able to earn and compensates your child for the pain, suffering and emotional distress. Our firm has the expertise and compassion to fight for a fair settlement for your child. Contact us today for an initial free case review. We don't charge fees until we win your case or settle it.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a kind of birth injury that takes place when a baby's shoulders get stuck inside the mother's pelvis during birth. This condition is a common one, and many doctors are trained to spot it and intervene to prevent serious complications for both mother and child. If a doctor fails to recognize shoulder dislocations, both mother and child could be afflicted with severe injuries and disabilities.
It is typically caused by an unborn fetus that is too large to fit through the birth canal. This is usually a sign that the maternity team may need to perform a C-section to safely deliver the baby. In some instances, the obstetrician fails to realize that the fetus may be too large for vaginal birth and instead uses excessive force or prolonged contractions during labor and birth to get the baby through the birth canal.
When a baby's shoulders get stuck behind the pubic bone of the mother during labor, it could cause a variety of complications including fractures to the collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone (humerus). It can also result in an umbilical chord that is compressed which can stop blood flow and oxygen flow. It could also cause rupture of the uterine artery and uterine hemorrhage.
The medical team will be able to detect shoulder dystocia when they notice an absence of progress following the head delivery or if the fetus pulls back into the mother’s pelvis this is known as the"turtle neck" sign. The physician should call for assistance and request additional team members to come in the delivery room. These include a senior obstetrician and midwife and paediatricians.
If a doctor failed to respond swiftly enough to this situation or if they used force that was unnecessary during the birth, it can be considered medical malpractice. A Chicago birth injury lawyer can examine your child's medical records and consult with experts to determine if negligence led to the shoulder dystocia. This information can be used to back the claim for injury. Fortunately the shoulder dystocia condition is generally completely recovered when a child reaches age three.
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida occurs when the vertebrae of the spine don't close completely, leaving a portion of the spinal cord (and meninges, which are the membranes that protect the brain and spinal nerve system) in a sac-like membrane that protrudes out of the body. Myelomeningocele is the most common type of Spina Bifida. It occurs in one-half to one in every 1,000 pregnancies. Spina bifida is not known to cause, however it could be caused by folic acid deficiencies in the mother or genetics or the environment.
birth injury attorneys near me can be diagnosed following the birth of a baby. A doctor might find it while examining the back of a newborn or by looking at an image scan such as an X-ray, or ultrasound.
Spina bifida is a disorder that affects the spine. Treatments include surgery to close this gap, physical therapy for strengthening muscles and improving range-of-motion as well as a wheelchair and braces. Children and infants affected by this condition may need to wear diapers or undergo bladder or bowel surgeries to help manage issues with their bowels such as incontinence,
