A birth injury can transform a child’s life before it even begins. If serious harm is done to an infant due to a healthcare provider’s careless mistakes, the at-fault party should be held accountable. At Meyers & Flowers, our Chicago personal injury attorneys advocate for birth injury victims and their families in the fight for justice and financial compensation. Contact our Chicago birth injury lawyers to request a free case consultation.
Why Hire Our Chicago Birth Injury Lawyers?
- Our law firm consists of a team of experienced and creative trial attorneys and medical malpractice lawyers in Chicago. We routinely take on challenging cases and succeed.
- We have the ability to go up against powerful defendants in birth injury cases, including hospitals and major healthcare providers in the Chicago area.
- Our attorneys work hard to achieve the best possible results for life-changing birth injury cases. Our results include a $43.5 million jury verdict in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
- You will not pay us anything as your Chicago birth injury attorneys unless we win your case. We operate on a contingency fee basis, with $0 in attorney’s fees charged upfront.
What Can a Birth Injury Attorney in Chicago Do for You and Your Family?
If your child suffered a birth injury in Chicago, your family could be facing a great deal of turmoil. Birth injuries can take a physical, emotional, and financial toll on the entire family. While no amount of money can make things right, a fair settlement or judgment award for your family could deliver justice.
When you hire a birth injury lawyer in Chicago to handle your birth injury claim, you can benefit from the advocacy of an experienced negotiator and litigator. Your Chicago birth injury attorney can investigate the cause of the birth injury, search for evidence of medical malpractice, hire medical experts, and seek the financial compensation your family needs. A Chicago birth injury lawyer can negotiate a fair settlement or bring your case to trial while you focus on the future.
What Is a Birth Injury?
A birth injury describes physical harm suffered by an infant during labor and delivery or shortly after delivery. Birth injuries can range from minor to severe or even fatal. They can occur due to natural complications associated with the birthing process, but they can also result from errors made by the medical team.
Common examples of birth injuries include:
- Bruising and contusions
- Lacerations
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Broken bones and greenstick fractures
- Facial injuries and nerve damage
- Head and scalp injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Brain hypoxia (lack of oxygen)
- Cerebral palsy
- Shoulder dystocia
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Erb’s palsy
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
Some birth injuries are immediately noticeable upon the delivery of the child, while others can take weeks, months, or even years for the family to notice. Victims may make full recoveries with time or they may have to live with the effects of a birth injury indefinitely, depending on the case.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries in Chicago
Birth injuries can arise as a consequence of simply being born, but they can also result from medical negligence or malpractice. Medical negligence is when a healthcare professional does not perform according to the correct standard of care. If a nurse, doctor, obstetrician, or surgeon fails to behave in a way that a reasonably prudent professional would have in the same circumstances, it is medical malpractice.
Examples of medical negligence or malpractice that could cause a birth injury include:
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum
- Delayed ordering of a Cesarean section
- Infant oxygen deprivation
- Failure to monitor the mother and infant’s vital signs
- Failure to notice signs of fetal distress
- Lack of proper emergency response
- Medication or anesthesia errors
- Improper handling of the newborn baby
- Mistakes made during the mother’s pregnancy
Hospitals, birthing centers, and all healthcare providers are subject to certain standards of care while assisting and treating a patient during the birthing process. Many births involve a number of healthcare professionals. All must behave properly and appropriately to safely deliver the child. If anyone on the care team makes a careless mistake, it can lead to a serious birth injury.
How to Navigate the Aftermath of a Birth Injury
Finding out that your child has suffered a birth injury can be overwhelming. However, it is important to understand and protect your rights during this difficult time. You can help plan for your child’s future with greater peace of mind by correctly handling the legal process.
Take these steps to craft your birth injury claim in Chicago:
- Take your child to a different doctor for a medical evaluation. Follow all recommended treatments and keep detailed records of your child’s medical care.
- Write down exactly what happened during the birthing process in your own words. Gather the information of any witnesses and people who were in the room.
- Bring all of your information and documentation to a birth injury attorney at Meyers & Flowers for a free case review. We will determine whether your case has merit.
- Allow your birth injury lawyer in Chicago to investigate the cause of the birth injury, look for signs of medical negligence, and consult with birth injury experts to build your case.
- Plan for your child’s future to fully understand the long-term consequences of the birth injury. Seek emotional support for your own benefit as a parent.
As soon as you entrust your case to our birth injury attorneys in Chicago, you and your loved ones can focus on healing while we take on the challenging legal aspects of your claim. Meyers & Flowers will do everything necessary to ensure the best care for your child while protecting your family’s legal rights.
Request a Free Birth Injury Case Review in Chicago at Meyers & Flowers
Your family may be eligible for financial compensation for related medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more if your child sustained a preventable birth injury in Chicago. Speak to an attorney at Meyers & Flowers right away to discuss your specific situation. We will carefully analyze your case and provide guidance for what to do next. We understand that the journey after a birth injury can be daunting, but we are here for your family every step of the way. Contact us anytime by calling (630) 232-6333 to schedule a free consultation about your birth injury case.