Having a new baby is supposed to be an exciting time for parents, but if something goes wrong in the delivery room, there could be heartbreaking consequences. If your child was injured during the birthing process, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced New Orleans birth injury lawyer could review your case and help determine if a medical professional was negligent.
At Sangisetty Law Firm, we fight for babies who have been hurt during birth. It is devastating to learn that a baby has been injured, but it is even worse if the injury could have been avoided. If you have been affected by a birth injury, contact our dedicated medical malpractice attorneys to protect your legal rights.
We represent families in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama who have been affected by preventable birth injuries
What Is a Birth Injury?
A birth injury is harm that a baby sustains before, during, or shortly after birth. A birth injury can occur because of the baby’s size or position during birth. For example, if a baby is premature, the mother may have a difficult birth that results in injury to the child. A prolonged birth or a breech presentation may also harm the baby. Negligence by the medical team, such as improper use of equipment or failure to monitor or respond to a potential complication—can cause injury to the baby.
Some of the most common types of preventable birth injuries include:
- Shoulder dystocia
- Cerebral palsy
- Delivery trauma caused by improper handling during labor or delayed response to fetal distress
If your baby is injured during birth, it is important to speak with a compassionate lawyer in New Orleans for help understanding the legal options that are available to you and your family.
What are the Common Causes of Birth Injuries?
There are a variety of reasons why a baby may be injured before, during, or shortly after the birthing process. If the birth is delayed and the delivery lasts for many hours, there may be complications such as compression of the baby’s brain or elevated fetal blood pressure. A prolonged birth can result in head trauma if forceps are used incorrectly or excessive force is used during the delivery.
The medical team may fail to properly monitor the baby’s vital signs and miss signs of preventable injuries. Mistakes in the administration of anesthesia or other medications may also cause harm. Medical errors such as these can result in injuries that have a lifelong impact.
An experienced New Orleans attorney could review what occurred to cause injury during childbirth and protect your legal rights to compensation.
Possible Compensation in a Birth Injury Claim
If a birth injury occurs, it is important to hold all responsible parties liable. Responsible parties may include the doctor, nurses, birth center or hospital, and midwife. Once the responsible parties are identified, potential compensation must be determined.
Compensation may be available for any medical costs incurred, as well as for any future medical needs. Parents may be able to recover lost wages if they are unable to work because they must care for their child. Other expenses, such as hiring a nanny to care for the baby, may be included in a compensation request. Compensation may also be available if the baby has long-term disabilities. Pain and suffering because of the emotional toll of the injury on the family must be determined as well.
When calculating damages for preventable birth trauma in New Orleans, a knowledgeable lawyer could ensure that all potential compensation is requested.
Discuss Your Childbirth Trauma Case With a New Orleans Attorney
It is devastating to see your baby in pain, and even more so if your baby’s injury is likely to have a lifelong impact. If your baby was injured through the negligence of your medical team during birth, you may be entitled to compensation.
At Sangisetty Law Firm, we understand the emotional and physical toll of having a baby injured during childbirth. We are here to listen and help you. If a medical professional’s negligence caused your baby to be injured, contact a New Orleans birth injury lawyer today. We proudly represent families throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama in birth injury cases involving negligence in obstetric and pediatric care.