15 Things You Didn't Know About Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
Illinois Birth Injury Attorneys
The process of labor, birth and pregnancy can be extremely complicated. These complications can sometimes result in birth injuries that have long-lasting consequences for the child and their family.
A central Illinois birth injury attorney from central Illinois can evaluate your situation, go over your options, and help understand your rights. It is also recommended to save all medical records pertaining to your birth and pregnancy as they may be helpful in a future lawsuit.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
The brachialplexus is a nerve network that connects the neck to the arms. These nerves regulate the movement and sensation of the arm, shoulder, and hand. If these nerves become damaged during childbirth, it causes an illness known as Erb's palsy. This condition can result in permanent loss of function to the hand or arm affected. In many cases, new medical procedures can restore some movement and sensation. These procedures are costly. Our brachial-plexus injury attorneys can help families receive the financial compensation required for treatment and other expenses related to these birth injuries.
Medical negligence can cause these injuries and doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals have a responsibility to follow established guidelines for care during labor and delivery. Medical malpractice may include failing to recognize the risk of complications during labor and delivery, or using excessive force. Hospitals and birthing centers must ensure that their staff adhere to the correct protocols and procedures.
Erb's Palsy can be caused by a variety of causes however, the most frequent reason is a traumatic injury to the brachial plexus during birth. This injury is usually caused by a physician or midwife applying too much force when giving birth to the baby. It can also happen when the baby is in a breech position, or when a physician fails to perform the Cesarean section if there are signs of a complex birth.
Symptoms of brachial plexus injury include weakness or paralysis in the affected arm and hand, difficulty moving the shoulder and hand, as well as a weak grip on the fingers and hand. It is also possible for the nerves to heal over time, but this can take years. Some people will never regain the full functionality of their arms and hands even after surgery.
Brachial plexus injuries can be diagnosed through physical examinations, MRIs, and other tests, such as nerve conduction studies or electrical stimulation. The doctor will assess the strength of your arm, its range of motion and sensation to the side that is not affected.
Brain Injury
A lot of the most traumatic birth injuries are brain-related. If your child suffers from an injury to the brain, you could be entitled to financial compensation. These damages can help provide future medical treatment or therapy, as well as other treatments your child may need to manage his orher illness. Contact a knowledgeable Illinois birth injury attorney to get help.
Brain damage during labor and delivery is often the result of asphyxia, which occurs when infants do not receive enough oxygen. It can happen in a variety of ways, including complications with the umbilical cord or placenta or prolonged labor.
fort collins birth injury attorney or scissors, as well as other tools are often used by doctors to assist with more complicated deliveries. However when they are used improperly or improperly, they could result in serious head injuries. These injuries can result in facial fractures, swelling, or scalp bruises, and also damage to the brain.
You could be able to bring a lawsuit against a medical negligence if your child sustained brain damage as a result of an error made by a doctor during the delivery or labor. You will need to work with an experienced birth injury lawyer to understand the law in your state and make sure that your claim meets all requirements, including the statute of limitations.
Generally, you will need to file a medical malpractice lawsuit within two years of the date of the negligent act, or, in some cases it is within two years of the time you were able to recognize the injury. To get started it is crucial to speak with an attorney for birth injuries in your local area.
Medical negligence that results in birth injuries can have life-altering consequences for families. A successful legal battle could result in a settlement that covers the ongoing medical costs of your family, replaces any income your child may not be able earn and compensates your child for the suffering, pain, and emotional distress. Our firm has the expertise and compassion to ensure a fair settlement for your child. Contact us for a free consultation. We will not charge fees unless we win or settle your case.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a condition that occurs when the shoulders of a newborn child get stuck in the pelvis of the mother. This condition is fairly common and a large number of doctors have been trained to detect it and take action to prevent serious complications for the mother and child. However, if the doctor is not careful when treating shoulder dystocia both parties could suffer from major injuries and permanent disabilities.
This type of complication is usually caused by the fetus becoming too large to fit into the birth canal. As such, it is usually a sign that the maternity team will have to perform a C-section in order to safely deliver the baby. In some instances, however, the obstetrician does not recognize that the fetus is too large to be delivered vaginally and instead, uses excessive force during the labor and delivery process or prolonged pressure to lift the baby out of the birth canal.
If a baby's shoulder is stuck behind the mother's pubic bone during labor, it could result in a myriad of complications including fractures to the collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone (humerus). It could also cause an umbilical cord that is compressed, which cuts off blood flow and oxygen. It can also result in rupture and hemorrhage in the uterus.
The medical team should be able to recognize shoulder dystocia if they observe an absence of progress following the head delivery or if the fetus is pulled back into the pelvis of the mother, a sign known as the"turtle neck" sign. The physician should then call for help and have additional team members - typically an obstetrician who is a senior as well as a senior midwife and a paediatrician - come into the delivery room to assist in the delivery.
Medical malpractice could be a result of a doctor's failure to act swiftly or using excessive force during delivery. A Chicago birth injury lawyer can examine your child's medical records and consult with experts to determine whether negligence contributed to the shoulder dystocia. This information can be used to back an injury claim. Fortunately, most 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 don't close completely, leaving a small portion of the spinal cord (and meninges, the membranes that protect 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 called myelomeningocele. It can be found in between one and one-half out of every 1,000 pregnancies in the United States. Spina bifida is not known to cause, but it can be caused by folic acid deficiencies in the mother, or genetics and environment.
Sometimes, spina bifida isn't discovered until after the baby is born. A doctor may detect it by looking at the back of a newborn or by looking at an image scan like an X-ray or ultrasound.
If your child was born with spina Bifida, treatment might include surgery to close the hole in the spine physical therapy to increase muscle strength and range of movement, a wheelchair and braces that are specially designed for children. Children and infants affected by this condition may need to wear diapers or have bladder or bowel surgeries to help manage bowel issues like incontinence or difficulty in emptying the bladder.
You should contact an Chicago birth injury lawyer as soon as you can following the child's injury. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is two years after the date of injury. Evidence could also vanish over time. The case could be lost or witnesses may move. The longer you wait to talk to a lawyer it will be harder to prove a case.
It can be emotionally and financially draining for a family when a child is born needing lifelong care. If your child's injuries were the result of the negligence of a healthcare professional during the labor and delivery process, you could be entitled to compensation to cover the cost of your child's treatment. Contact a Chicago birth injuries lawyer to discuss your case and determine if you have an entitlement to financial compensation.