South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Dealing with the aftermath of a serious birth injury can often leave parents and other family members devastated and not knowing where to turn. Babies who are injured at birth can live an entire lifetime with physical disabilities, neurological disorders, and emotional instability. Long term medical care, ongoing physical and psychological therapy, and at-home learning may be necessary for a child who suffers from a severe injury during the labor and delivery process.
However, the reality is that most injuries caused at birth are usually the result of negligence by the medical staff. This is why it is crucial to know what signs to look for to detect a birth injury in its early stages. You only have a limited period to file a birth injury claim in Port St. Lucie against the at-fault party. Inquiring with an experienced birth injury lawyer may be essential to help you hold the at-fault parties liable for the full and fair amount of compensation you may legally deserve.
At the law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our compassionate lawyers understand the struggles parents and family members face when a baby is injured during the birthing process. Our dedicated lawyers have more than 40 years of combined legal experience, which includes cases involving birth injuries. We offer free, first-time consultations to discuss whether your birth injury claim may be eligible for compensation. Allow our team of legal professionals guide you through the complexities of the legal process and help you pursue the compensation you may need for a healthy recovery.
Below, we discuss certain signs and symptoms to look for that may indicate brain damage from a birth injury. Noticing these signs sooner rather than later could have a significant impact on the overall health of your child.
Common Signs of an Infant With Brain Damage
The following is a list of some common signs and symptoms to look for to detect brain damage in a newborn after sustaining a birth injury. While some signs may seem obvious, others may not be easily detectable without the help of an experienced medical professional.
Look for these signs immediately after birth:
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Weak or absent cry
- Seizures
- Hypertonia (stiffness)
- Hypotonia (floppiness)
- Poor Apgar Scores for at least five minutes or more
While it can be crucial to notice the above signs within 12 to 24 hours after the birth of the child, you may want to look for these signs soon after:
- Excessive crying and fussiness (especially when refusing to eat)
- An abnormally large or small forehead
- An abnormally large skull
- Facial disfigurement
- Lack of arm or leg movement
- Inability to focus eyes
- Neck stiffness
- Being lethargic
- Over Alertness
If you notice any of these signs in your infant, we recommend seeking immediate medical attention followed by contacting an attorney from the law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Newborns
While everyone makes honest mistakes at work from time to time, medical professionals have a legal obligation to uphold a certain standard of care to keep everyone safe, especially during the birthing process. However, when a healthcare professional lacks the necessary experience or is negligent during the labor and delivery process, it could result in a traumatic brain injury to the newborn.
Traumatic brain injuries in newborns are usually caused by a violent blow or jolt to the head. Sometimes doctors and nurses need to use extraction tools to deliver the baby. However, when medical professionals lack proper training, incorrectly using tools such as forceps or vacuums, could result in severe trauma to the brain which can sometimes be deadly.
Another major cause for traumatic brain injuries during the labor and delivery process is attributed to oxygen deprivation. This is often referred to as cerebral palsy, hypoxia, anoxia, or Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It only takes a few seconds of oxygen depletion which can result in long-term effects, such as lack of motor skills, disability, blindness, paralysis and even death.
When a baby suffers damages caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, the medical staff and hospital could be held liable. This is why you must keep records of any medical exams or diagnostic tests, should you be legally eligible to file a birth injury lawsuit and pursue compensation for your damages and financial losses.
Another common birth injury, which can result in a traumatic brain injury, is known as infant brain bleeds or hemorrhage and hematoma. Often referred to as internal bleeding, a hemorrhage is when the blood escapes the circulatory vessels, which means the brain is bleeding on the inside. A hematoma is a pooling or collection of blood outside the blood vessels. While there are several different types of hemorrhages and hematoma depending on the location of the bleeding, all can lead to serious health issues for newborns and infants.
Speak to an Attorney Who Has Relevant Experience
Speaking to anyone about a serious birth injury can be one of the most difficult things you can do. Although it may be out of your comfort zone at first, it is important to discuss your birth injury claim with a licensed attorney before settling with the insurance companies. Insurers usually try to offer less compensation than what you may legally deserve.
At the law firm of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers, our compassionate attorneys understand the sensitivity that comes with a serious issue such as a birth injury. This is why we offer free, initial case reviews to help determine whether you may be eligible for monetary compensation. There is no obligation needed and we keep all your information completely confidential.
Altogether, our firm has obtained more than $100,000,000 combined in successful verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients while handling more than 6,000 cases combined. This includes cases involving medical malpractice and birth injuries. Our accomplished lawyers aim to ensure justice is served by helping our clients seek the compensation they may legally deserve.
Our reputable lawyers are active members of the community as we strive to help protect the rights of birth injury victims in the Port St. Lucie area and throughout the state of Florida (by appointment only). Allow our knowledgeable and friendly staff of legal professionals to help ease the burden of the litigation process, so you can focus on the recovery process.
Call Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers anytime, 24/7 at (561) 708-5461 or fill out a free online form.