Tempe Birth Injury Attorneys
Holding doctors and hospitals accountable for injuries to your newborn
Holding a health newborn baby should be one of the sweetest joys in life. Taking the baby home to a newly decorated nursery should be the next thing on your mind. When a doctor informs you that your baby won’t be coming out right away because of a birth injury or that there are “complications,” your whole world turns upside down.
At Plattner Verderame, P.C., our experienced Tempe birth injury lawyers fight to protect your family and your future. We work with obstetricians and other birth doctors to determine what went wrong and how these serious medical errors could have been avoided. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
Serious birth injuries caused by negligence
The sad truth is, there are times when a child is born with a genetic defect which can lead to all sort of problems later. We know it hurts, but birth defects aren’t always the result of negligence. A birth injury, however, usually is. When a medical professional acts in a negligent or careless way, your child may sustain serious, life-altering injuries such as:
- Cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy can occur when a newborn doesn’t get enough oxygen during delivery. Cerebral palsy affects the child’s development. It can cause severe mobility problems and long-term cognitive and communication problems. Victims often fail to lead a normal life.
- Shoulder dystocia. This birth injury occurs when there is damage to the nerves of the newborns’ shoulder. It can lead to other disorders such as Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus. Shoulder dystocia can cause a temporary or permanent paralysis of the shoulder, hand, and arm. Brachial plexus injury happens when there is damage to the network of nerves in the neck of the baby.
- Kernicterus (hyperbilirubinemia). This birth injury is due to the baby’s liver being unable to rid itself of bilirubin. If the baby’s liver has too much bilirubin, the newborn’s blood and brain tissues may collect too much of the bilirubin, causing brain damage.
- Cerebral ischemia. If the newborn doesn’t get enough blood, then brain cells can die, which can cause memory loss, weakness of muscles, urinary incontinence, and other harm. Infections and the mother’s medications are causes of cerebral ischemia.
Other types of birth injuries include:
- Brain hemorrhage
- Facial paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Perinatal asphyxia
- Cephalohematoma
Doctors may also be liable for injuries that develop in the baby or mother after the delivery due to a failure to monitor. Both should be checked for signs of infection, bleeding, and other problems.
Some birth injuries require a lifetime of medical care and living assistance. The cost of medical care is extremely high because of the type of care needed and because the care often will be required for the child’s entire life. A successful birth injury lawsuit can mean the ability to know your child’s medical costs are covered while you focus the quality of the newborn’s life.
When birth defects are the result of negligence
While a birth defect may not be a doctor’s fault, that doesn’t always mean that no one is liable. Plattner Verderame has extensive experience working with parents whose children developed birth defects as a result of toxic chemical exposure by one or both parents. This type of exposure is usually long-term, and can be caused by medications, working conditions, or contamination of the water or soil. If your child is born with a birth defect, and you have been consistently exposed to toxic chemicals, contact us to discuss whether you may have a case. We have secured tens of millions of dollars for our clients in these types of cases, and we may be able to help you and your child, too.
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How much is my Tempe birth injury claim worth?
If your child sustains a birth injury, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills for mother and child
- Lost ages for parental caretakers
- Loss of future earnings, if the injury leaves your child unable to support him/herself
- Pain and suffering for the child
- Funeral and burial expenses, if the child or mother dies as a result of the negligence
Why do birth injuries occur?
Physicians can be held liable when they fail to take reasonable medical steps to prevent birth injuries. Some indicators of medical error during the birth of a baby include:
- Improper use of forceps or a vacuum extractor
- Failing to order a timely Cesarean section
- Not observing signs of fetal distress
- Using excessive force to deliver the baby
- Not monitoring the newborn’s oxygen level
- Using the wrong medications or the wrong dosages
- Not reading the baby’s medical charges correctly
- Poor judgment during the delivery
Our Tempe birth injury lawyers understand what steps the birth delivery team should take and when they made mistakes that they should be held accountable for - through a settlement or jury trial.
What symptoms should a Tempe parent look for?
In many cases, the medical team will explain what complications occurred during the delivery. Some symptoms may not develop until after the parents take their child home. Some of the signs parents should look for in their newborn include:
- Delays in development
- Sleeping too much
- Excessive crying
- Lack of muscle control
- Paralysis
- Bruising
- Not responding to stimuli
Parents should always err on the side of caution and have any symptoms examined.
Speak with a skilled Tempe birth injury lawyer today
At Plattner Verderame, P.C., we understand how upsetting it is to learn that your child’s life has been damaged from the beginning. Our Tempe birth injury lawyers work aggressively to fight the insurance companies for the doctors and hospitals that try to deny responsibility. We demand damages for your child’s short-term and long-term medial needs and the changes to his/her quality of life. To speak with a compassionate experienced lawyer, please call us at 602.266.2002 or contact us to schedule a free consultation.