If a medical professional doesn’t provide proper care to a mother and baby during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, severe injuries can occur. Birth injuries are sometimes impossible to prevent, but if there was negligence involved and your baby developed cerebral palsy, it can be possible to pursue a personal injury claim with help from an Ocala birth injury lawyer.
At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, our Ocala, Florida, team can assist you as you begin legal action for medical malpractice. We can gather the necessary evidence and negotiate for the compensation you need. Contact us at (352) 351-3258 at today for a free consultation.
How Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury in Ocala, FL
Cerebral palsy can mean your child might need special care for the rest of their life. If a medical professional caused the injury, you should not have to shoulder all of these losses on your own. With help from Ocala birth injury attorneys at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, you can receive the support you need as you begin a personal injury claim.
Our Ocala personal injury lawyers provide the following services:
- Assessment of your claim
- Investigation into what caused cerebral palsy
- Collection of evidence, including eyewitness statements
- Establishment of liable parties
- Calculation of economic and non-economic damages
- Negotiations with insurance companies
- Litigation if a settlement cannot be reached
With over 100 years of combined experience and a fierce dedication to each of our clients, we have helped people throughout Ocala, FL, recover losses after accidents. We understand how devastating birth injuries can be, and we strive to make the process as simple as possible so that you can focus on your child. Contact our team to schedule a free case assessment.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of conditions that impact posture and movement. It occurs if there’s damage to a baby’s brain. Although it can occur during the gestational period as a result of gene changes, cerebral palsy is most likely to result from some form of medical error.
It’s a condition that can lead to a number of signs in babies, including:
- Variations in muscle tone
- Tremors
- Lack of coordination and balance
- Spasticity
- Stiff muscles
- Writhing movements
- Problems with fine motor skills
- Walking trouble
- Delays in speech development
- Problems swallowing
- Excessive drooling
- Delayed growth
Cerebral palsy symptoms don’t get worse over time. In some cases, they could even improve with appropriate treatment.
Medical Errors That Can Cause Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can occur as a result of a number of medical errors including the following:
Failure to Diagnose and Treat Maternal Infections
The failure to diagnose and treat maternal infections can cause cerebral palsy. Both the baby and the mother need to be assessed regularly to ensure that everything is normal. If that doesn’t occur, it’s much easier for infections to develop and impact the baby’s development.
Improper Use of Assistive Birth Devices
The improper use of assistive devices is a potential cause, too. In complex births, doctors may rely on forceps or vacuum extractors. If they don’t use these tools correctly, they can cause all manner of head trauma. They can place too much pressure on the baby’s head, which could lead to brain damage.
Prolonged Labor Without Timely Medical Intervention
The same can occur if a medical professional allows labor to go on for too long. If they see that it doesn’t progress, they must quickly perform a Cesarean section to relieve the pressure that the contractions place on the baby’s head.
Jaundice
Another potential issue is untreated jaundice. If it’s severe, it can result in kernicterus, which damages the brain because it allows high levels of bilirubin to build up in its tissues.
Oxygen Deprivation
The most frequent cause of cerebral palsy, however, is oxygen deprivation. There are a number of reasons why this could occur, including the failure to monitor the baby’s vital signs, umbilical cord issues, placental problems, and even the rupture of the uterus. If a doctor doesn’t notice these complications, the baby’s brain might not get enough oxygen, leading to damage.
Contact Our Ocala Birth Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If your baby sustained such a serious injury as cerebral palsy because of a medical professional’s negligence, the best step you can take is to hire experienced attorneys to guide you through the process of taking legal action. These are complex cases that require proving that another healthcare provider would not have made the same error, so you need representation.
At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we provide the ongoing support you need as you navigate these claims. With tenacity, we can fight for fair compensation. Contact our team to speak with one of our Ocala birth injury attorneys.
