Dealing with a birth injury can be a stressful and emotional experience. You’ve placed your trust in healthcare professionals to give you and your child adequate care, and now you’re facing the consequences of their errors.
It’s crucial to have the backing of experienced Baton Rouge birth injury lawyers to secure the compensation you deserve. Dudley DeBosier helps families pursue compensation in birth injury cases in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana. Our team not only fully understands the legalities of birth injuries and medical malpractice, but is dedicated to fighting for families’ rights.
If you suspect a birth injury, seek help today by contacting Dudley DeBosier for a free consultation.
Identifying Fault in Birth Injury Cases
Determining who is at fault is a key part of seeking compensation in birth malpractice cases. In particular, medical negligence refers to a healthcare professional’s failure to provide the standard of care that would be expected from similar professionals under similar circumstances. Identifying responsible parties can be a complex task involving multiple healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, midwives, anesthesiologists, and other medical staff.
Even the hospital or healthcare facility where the birth took place could be held responsible. Proving fault requires accumulating evidence and expert opinions, which can involve scrutinizing medical records, conducting witness interviews, consulting medical experts, and documenting the injury’s extent. Our Baton Rouge injury lawyers can guide you through this complex legal process, helping you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Obtaining Compensation for a Birth Injury
A birth injury can lead to emotional distress, physical pain, and financial burdens. Various types of compensation are available to support birth injury victims and help alleviate the strain. Compensation can be pursued for:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Rehabilitation and long-term care costs
- Costs for home modification and specialized transportation or equipment
- Lost wages from caring for your child
- Lost future wages
- Pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Disability and impairment
The compensation awarded will vary depending on factors such as the injury’s severity and the extent of the losses above. Working with an experienced attorney can ensure you’re demanding the full compensation you’re entitled to.
Contact the Baton Rouge birth injury lawyers at Dudley DeBosier today for a free consultation.
Common Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence
When doctors, nurses or other medical staff fail to provide the appropriate standard of care before, during, or after childbirth, it can lead to devastating injuries to the baby. Some examples of birth injuries that may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit include:
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): This brain injury is caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the baby’s brain during labor and delivery. It can lead to seizures, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and cognitive impairments.
- Intracranial Hemorrhages: Bleeding inside the skull from excessive force during delivery can cause brain damage and disabilities.
Spinal Cord Injuries
- Erb’s Palsy: This form of brachial plexus palsy causes weakness or paralysis in the arm due to nerve damage from the baby’s shoulder becoming stuck during delivery.
- Klumpke’s Palsy: This rarer type impacts the lower nerves, causing paralysis in the forearm and hand.
Bone Fractures
- Collar bone and skull fractures are among the most common birth injuries from excessive force used during difficult deliveries.
Facial Paralysis
- Injuries to the facial nerves can cause paralysis on one or both sides of the baby’s face.
Cerebral Palsy
- This group of disorders impacting movement and muscle tone is often caused by brain damage or disrupted brain development before or during birth.
If your child was diagnosed with any of these conditions after a difficult labor and delivery, it may have been the result of medical negligence or malpractice. Speaking to an experienced birth injury lawyer can help determine if you have grounds for a claim.
Contact Our Baton Rouge Birth Injury Lawyers
If your child has suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence, seek legal representation. At Dudley DeBosier, our Baton Rouge birth injury lawyers are committed to helping families pursue justice. We take the time to get to know our clients and their stories, focusing on their specific needs. We treat every client who walks through our doors like family.
Contact Dudley DeBosier today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We’re here to help you deal with the legal system and seek justice for your child.