A Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney can help your family with your legal needs following a birth injury. We understand the strong emotions you may feel after an injury to your child, and we can answer your questions about building a claim.
Our Rhode Island birth injury lawyer at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group provides compassionate assistance around the clock. We focus on helping you secure compensation to cover your family’s financial losses. Reach out to us by calling or filling out our online contact form.
Why Reach Out to a Rhode Island HIE Lawyer for Help?
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) represents a kind of brain damage that occurs when infants receive insufficient amounts of oxygen to their brains. According to the National Library of Medicine, around 1.5 to 2.5 out of every 1,000 live births result in HIE.
If the improper actions of a medical professional left your child dealing with HIE, you are not alone. You can secure professional help today. A Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy lawyer can:
- Answer your legal questions
- Stand up for you when dealing with doctors and insurance agents
- Review all your losses
- Work with experts to show someone else caused your child’s injuries
- Support you through a settlement or lawsuit
Our team of experienced birth injury lawyers can step in to handle all of your legal needs, allowing you to focus on caring for your family.
Can a Rhode Island HIE Attorney Help You Secure Compensation?
HIE can leave your child with disabilities and lifelong medical conditions like cerebral palsy. Providing the necessary care to help your child throughout their life can quickly become expensive.
You may have a chance to secure compensation to cover these losses when you work with a Rhode Island hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorney. Lawyers focus on:
Assessing the Causes of the Injury
HIE can occur for many different reasons. Some of the common causes of this injury include:
- Compression or prolapse of the umbilical cord
- Trauma during childbirth or a prolonged labor
- Placental abruption or uterine rupture
- Issues with maternal blood pressure
Sometimes, there’s nothing medical professionals can do to stop these issues from occurring. However, noticing the problems quickly and responding to them appropriately can limit the injuries to your child.
Determining Fault for the Injury
Doctors and other healthcare workers have a duty of care to their patients. Therefore, they must provide reasonable care when handling medical needs.
We work with medical experts to assess the actions of healthcare workers during your child’s delivery. Our team looks for instances of medical malpractice in HIE cases. For example, we may look for evidence that a healthcare worker:
- Missed signs of fetal distress
- Incorrectly diagnosed HIE
- Started treatment too late for HIE
- Failed to order a c-section in time
Doctors, midwives, nurses, and other healthcare professionals may make dangerous choices during delivery, leading to the development of HIE.
Moving Your Case Forward
After a Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney assesses your case, they can provide you with recommendations about seeking compensation. In some cases, your lawyer may advise you to settle with the insurance company.
In other situations, you may move forward with a medical malpractice lawsuit. Learn more with our team.
What Types of Compensation Can You Get After an HIE Injury?
HIE can result in lifelong health consequences for your child. Care for your child can quickly become very expensive. Fortunately, you have a chance to seek compensation with Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy lawyers.
Our team can help you seek damages to cover:
- Current and future healthcare expenses
- Medications
- Mobility devices
- Counseling and special education services
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
You may also receive damages to cover your lost wages at work if you must take time off to care for your child’s medical needs. We focus on all the losses associated with your claim, helping you move forward after a birth injury.
When Should You Contact an HIE Lawyer in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island uses a statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims. After this period expires, it limits your ability to seek compensation for your family’s losses. Therefore, the professionals recommend that you begin working on a claim right away.
A Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney can help you keep track of the dates associated with your claim. Getting help quickly also lets lawyers gather evidence immediately, strengthening your family’s claim.
Is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Permanent?
Currently, medical professionals have no way to completely reverse the effects of HIE. However, moving quickly can help reduce the severity of the damage caused by low oxygen levels.
Doctors often perform therapeutic hypothermia to mitigate the effect of HIE on newborns. Medical professionals use a cooling cap or other forms of cooling to lower the brain’s temperature, reducing cell death.
Healthcare workers may also perform other treatments to support your child’s organs and prevent seizures. Failure to provide appropriate therapies if a doctor suspects HIE could allow a lawyer to build a claim for your family.
Is Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy a Disability?
HIE represents a kind of injury caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the brain. The effects of improper oxygen levels can lead to disabilities, which may impact your child for the rest of their lives.
We understand that HIE does not have the same effects on everyone in Rhode Island. Our team of Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorneys can review the specifics of your case, focusing on the needs of your child.
Speak to a Rhode Island Legal Team About HIE Claims
You don’t have to wait to get help after a birth injury impacts your family. Speak to a Rhode Island hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney today regarding your legal options. Our team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can step in to help.
Reach us by calling or completing our online contact form.