The birth of a child should be a time filled with excitement and hope. When a medical mistake causes a birth injury, however, your family may suddenly be facing difficult questions about your child’s health and future.
You may wonder what went wrong, whether the injury could have been prevented, and what care your child may need going forward; a birth injury lawyer in Sandy Springs can help provide guidance on next steps. At Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we have recovered more than $750 million for clients, and our team understands how much families can have at stake.
If you believe medical negligence may have played a role in your child’s injury, Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help you investigate what happened. Reach out to us for a free consultation with a Georgia birth injury lawyer.
Sandy Springs Birth Injury Attorneys Who Deliver Results
Birth Injury Lawyers Group has focused on birth injury cases since 2003. Led by Robert Goldwater, the firm works with families across the country who are looking for answers after a child suffers an injury around the time of birth.
A birth injury case requires more than simply showing that an injury occurred. Medical records, fetal monitoring strips, delivery records, test results, and other evidence may need to be reviewed to determine what happened.
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group approaches these cases with both the legal focus needed to investigate medical care and the compassion families deserve during a difficult time.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
What is Considered a Birth Injury?
A birth injury is physical harm to a baby or mother that happens during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. Birth injuries are common in the United States, and some birth injuries that may be linked to medical negligence include:
- Cerebral palsy: A group of conditions that can affect movement, balance, muscle control, and development.
- Erb‘s palsy and other brachial plexus injuries: Nerve injuries that can affect movement and strength in a baby’s arm, shoulder, or hand.
- Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): Brain damage that can occur when the brain does not receive enough oxygen or blood.
- Bone fractures: A baby may suffer a fracture during a difficult delivery or from excessive force during delivery.
- Facial paralysis: Nerve damage can sometimes affect movement on one side of a baby’s face.
- Maternal injuries: A mother may suffer injuries such as uterine rupture or severe hemorrhage during pregnancy or delivery.
Not every birth injury means that a doctor, nurse, or hospital was negligent. Some complications can happen even when appropriate medical care is provided. A review of the medical records and circumstances surrounding the birth is usually necessary to determine whether medical negligence may have occurred.
Sandy Springs Birth Injury Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Common Causes of Birth Injuries in Sandy Springs Hospitals
Birth injuries can happen for many reasons, and the cause is not always immediately clear. In some cases, medical negligence may involve a failure to recognize a problem or respond quickly enough when a mother or baby is in distress. Potential examples include:
- Delayed C–section: Failing to perform a cesarean delivery when medical circumstances require one may increase the risk of serious injury.
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors: These tools can sometimes be necessary during delivery, but improper use may cause injuries to the baby or mother.
- Failure to monitor fetal distress: Changes in a baby’s heart rate can provide important information about the baby’s condition. Failing to recognize or respond to signs of distress may cause harm.
- Medication or anesthesia errors: Mistakes involving medication or anesthesia may affect the mother or baby.
- Failure to treat infections: Some infections during pregnancy or delivery can create serious risks if they are not recognized and treated appropriately.
The fact that an injury happened at a particular hospital does not by itself mean negligence occurred. Each case requires a careful review of the medical care provided and the circumstances surrounding the injury.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Potential Compensation Available in Birth Injury Cases
A birth injury can create costs that continue for years or even throughout a child’s lifetime. The potential compensation in a case depends on the child’s injuries, the evidence of medical negligence, and the care and support the child may need in the future.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
- Past and future medical expenses: A child may need doctor’s visits, hospital care, medication, surgery, and other medical treatment.
- Therapy and rehabilitation: Physical, occupational, speech, and other therapies may be needed to help a child develop skills and manage the effects of an injury.
- Special education needs: Some children with birth injuries may need additional educational services or specialized support.
- Home modifications: A serious disability may require changes to a family’s home, such as ramps, accessible bathrooms, or other equipment.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation may account for the physical pain and suffering caused by an injury.
- Lost parental income: Parents may need to reduce their work hours or leave a job to care for a child with significant medical needs.
- Loss of future earning capacity: A serious injury may affect a child’s ability to work and earn an income as an adult.
- Wrongful death damages: When a birth injury results in a child’s death, certain family members may have a wrongful death claim under Georgia law.
There is no universal “average settlement” for a birth injury case. Two cases involving the same type of injury can have very different values based on the medical evidence, circumstances of the negligence, long-term care needs, and other losses. Our Sandy Springs birth injury lawyers can help you determine what your case may be worth.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
Georgia’s Deadlines for Birth Injury Claims
Georgia generally gives you two years to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit after the injury or death caused by a negligent or wrongful act. Georgia also has a five-year statute of repose, which generally prevents a medical malpractice action from being brought more than five years after the negligent act or omission.
Birth injury cases involving children have additional rules. Under Georgia law, a child who was younger than five when the medical malpractice occurred generally has two years from the child’s fifth birthday to bring a medical malpractice action.
Different rules can apply when the child was five or older when the alleged negligence occurred. If you believe your child suffered a birth injury because of medical negligence, contacting a lawyer early can give your family more time to obtain medical records, review the care provided, identify potential experts, and preserve other evidence.
Contact a Sandy Springs Birth Injury Lawyer Today
When your child suffers a birth injury, you deserve answers about what happened and why. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group helps families investigate whether medical negligence played a role in their child’s injuries and understand what legal options they may have.
Our firm was founded in 2003 with a mission of helping families affected by birth injuries get answers. Birth Injury Lawyers Group has experience handling complex birth injury cases while keeping the needs of families at the center of its work.
Reach out to our Sandy Springs birth injury attorneys about your situation. Your initial consultation is free, and you do not pay attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."