St. Petersburg Birth Injury Lawyers Representing the Rights of Individuals Who Have Been Injured by Medical Malpractice
Birth injuries can be devastating. The types of injuries that can affect a developing human being during pregnancy, labor and delivery often have a profound impact on the rest of that person’s life and can potentially result in significant physical or cognitive disabilities. In the most serious cases, individuals who suffer severe birth injuries have a significantly reduced life expectancy and may be unable to even live independently.
While some birth injuries are unavoidable, a significant number of them are caused by the negligence of medical professionals involved in prenatal care and delivery. Fortunately, under Florida law, people who are injured by medical malpractice are often legally entitled to compensation for their losses, including their medical expenses and loss of quality of life—both of which are often significant in birth injury cases. At the Dolman Law Group, our St. Petersburg birth injury attorneys are committed to helping birth injury victims recover compensation for their losses and have the skill and experience required to hold negligent medical professionals accountable.
An Attorney Can Investigate Your Case to Uncover Medical Malpractice
As a parent of a child who has sustained a birth injury, it is important to understand that not every adverse outcome is the result of medical malpractice. Under Florida law, medical malpractice occurs when a physician fails to use the “level of care, skill, and treatment which, in light of all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar health care providers.” Some specific examples of the kinds of medical malpractice that could potentially result in a serious birth injury include the following:
- Misuse of instruments, such as forceps or vacuum extractors
- Failure to monitor fetal vital signs
- Failure to diagnose a condition in the mother
- Failure to order a timely cesarean section
- Inaccurate genetic testing
- Failure to order a pregnancy test prior to starting medical treatment for an unrelated condition
Not every instance of medical malpractice is obvious to the untrained eye, and medical professionals such as nurses or doctors are not often forthcoming when it comes to letting patients know that they have made a mistake. For this reason, it is extremely important for all parents whose child has sustained a birth injury to have their case reviewed by an attorney. If the circumstances warrant it, a lawyer will thoroughly review your and your child’s medical history to determine whether there is any evidence of medical malpractice. In some cases, it may even be appropriate to consult with other medical professionals to determine whether a particular course of action was within the accepted standard of care within the profession.
This type of investigation can require significant resources in the form of both time and money. Fortunately for victims, when you retain an attorney, the lawyer’s firm will typically cover any upfront costs associated with investigating whether medical malpractice was the cause of your child’s injuries. In addition, if you choose to have the Dolman Law Group represent you, you will not owe anything in legal fees unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.
What Kinds of Birth Injuries Can Be the Result of Medical Malpractice?
As mentioned above, medical malpractice can cause extremely serious birth injuries, some of which can have lifelong consequences for victims. Here are some of the more common birth injuries that can be caused by the negligence of medical professionals:
Cerebral Palsy – Cerebral palsy is often caused by medical mistakes that result in a baby not getting enough blood or oxygen during pregnancy or labor. In many cases, it is the result of mistakes such as failing to order a cesarean section in time or failing to diagnose an infection in the mother. People who have cerebral palsy often have difficulties with coordination, reflexes, posture, and muscle control. In addition, some individuals with cerebral palsy have some degree of cognitive impairment.
Nerve Damage – Nerve damage is another common birth injury that often is the result of medical malpractice. The brachial plexus, which is a bundle of nerves that is found in the neck and shoulder, is particularly at risk for injury during birth. In many cases, nerve injuries result in weakness, loss of feeling, or even paralysis in the affected area. These kinds of injuries are often the result of doctors employing too much force during delivery or misusing forceps.
Other Physical Injuries – Delivery can be a difficult process for both mothers and newborns, but that does not mean that bruises, lacerations, and broken bones are an unavoidable part of giving birth. Serious injuries that cause pain or lasting issues such as disfigurement or scars should always be investigated and could lead to an actionable legal claim.
Birth Injury Victims Are Often Entitled to Significant Compensation
Birth injury cases often involve medical conditions that will require a lifetime of treatment and management and may significantly limit what victims will be able to accomplish in their lives. For this reason, the awards and settlements that injury victims obtain are often significant and can reach well into the millions of dollars. This means that hospitals and insurance companies often vigorously defend birth injury claims, making it imperative for victims to retain qualified legal counsel as soon as they can.
Call the Dolman Law Group Today to Speak with a Birth Injury Lawyer in St. Petersburg
If you believe that your child suffered a birth injury as a result of the negligence of a medical professional, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. At the Dolman Law Group, our St. Petersburg birth injury lawyers are dedicated to helping injured victims obtain the compensation they deserve under Florida law. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call our office today at (727) 222-6922. If you would prefer to send us an email, please fill out and submit our online contact form available here.
Comments for this article are closed.