Was your child harmed during childbirth due to a medical provider’s failure to act appropriately? Birth injuries like these often stem from preventable mistakes made during labor or delivery, and the consequences can affect every part of your child’s life as well as yours.
These situations often leave families in a state of pure shock. This is compounded by confusion regarding what went wrong and what to do next. But you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. A Florida birth injury lawyer can explain your options and help you seek justice.
At Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we’ve been helping families get justice since 2003. We are a nationally recognized birth injury law firm that has recovered more than $750 million. As your birth injury lawyer in Brandon, we’ll pursue compensation for the harm your family has suffered.
What Counts as a Birth Injury in Florida?
A birth injury is any physical harm or neurological damage sustained by a baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. These injuries can range from minor bruising to major brain damage and lifelong disabilities.
In Florida, medical professionals have a legal duty to meet an accepted standard of care. When that standard is breached—either through negligence, recklessness, or improper medical practices—and a child is harmed as a result, it can qualify as medical malpractice. These are common types of birth injuries seen in local hospitals:
- Cerebral palsy: This is often caused by oxygen deprivation or head trauma that occurs during birth.
- Erb’s palsy and shoulder dystocia: These are injuries linked to improper handling or the use of excessive force during delivery.
- Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): This pertains to a serious brain injury that results from prolonged oxygen loss.
- Fractures or nerve injuries: These are sometimes caused by the misuse of vacuum extractors or forceps.
- Kernicterus: This is a rare but preventable condition that stems from untreated newborn jaundice.
Unfortunately, these outcomes do not always stem from accidents. In many cases, they trace back to avoidable errors, like delays in performing a C-section, the failure to monitor fetal distress, or the improper use of delivery tools. Brandon birth injury attorneys can review medical records and consult with specialists on your behalf to determine if negligence occurred.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
How Negligence Can Lead to a Birth Injury
Medical malpractice in a birth setting doesn’t always look like one clear mistake. Sometimes, it’s a combination of smaller failures that accumulate and result in a tragedy.
Florida law defines medical negligence as any deviation from the level of care a reasonably prudent healthcare provider would have used in similar circumstances. These are examples of negligence often seen in birth-related cases:
- Ignoring signs of fetal distress during labor
- Mismanaging umbilical cord complications
- Administering incorrect medication doses
- Failing to diagnose maternal infections or gestational diabetes
- Delaying a necessary cesarean section
When these errors happen, they can cause permanent harm to both the infant and the mother. A birth injury attorney in Brandon can help families like yours hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
Brandon Birth Injury Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Understanding the Long-Term Impact on Families
A birth injury doesn’t end when a family leaves the hospital. Many children require years—if not a lifetime—of therapy, surgeries, adaptive equipment, and in-home care.
Parents may need to quit their jobs to become full-time caregivers, and medical costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Families often underestimate how much these expenses will add up over time. In a birth injury case, compensation can cover numerous losses, such as:
- Ongoing medical care and rehabilitation
- Specialized education programs or therapies
- Home modifications and medical equipment
- Lost wages or loss of future income
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
These financial burdens can feel overwhelming. However, with the help of birth injury lawyers in Brandon, Florida, state laws let families pursue damages that reflect both the short-term and long-term impact of a birth injury.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Florida’s Statute of Limitations for Birth Injury Cases
Like all states, Florida has a statute of limitations that limits how long families have to file a birth injury claim. Generally speaking, under Florida Statutes § 95.11, medical malpractice cases must be filed within two years from the date the injury occurred or was discovered.
However, for birth injury claims, the clock can be extended under certain circumstances, especially since the injured child is a minor. If the malpractice wasn’t immediately apparent, parents may have up to four years from the date of the incident to file.
In cases involving fraud, concealment, or intentional misrepresentation by a healthcare provider, you might have even more time. It’s worth noting that Florida requires families to go through a pre-suit investigation process before filing a claim, so contacting a lawyer as soon as possible is vital.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
For Help Taking the Next Step Toward Justice, Call Our Brandon Birth Injury Law Firm Today
Birth injuries can alter the course of a child’s entire life. These circumstances often leave parents like you facing emotional and financial consequences of someone else’s actions.
If your baby was hurt by a preventable mistake during childbirth, you have grounds to take legal action. For those who are interested in pursuing compensation for what your family has unfairly had to endure, call our Brandon birth injury attorneys as soon as possible.
At Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we are dedicated to helping families like yours hold negligent medical professionals accountable. We’re here for you.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."