Imagine if your baby was born with a swollen bump on the head, like someone had struck their delicate skull. For some parents, this is a reality and it could be a sign of medical malpractice. We encourage you to speak with our infant cephalohematoma attorneys in Maryland if this happened to your baby.
While this condition can clear up without trouble, it’s a sign that your doctor may have made errors in your baby’s care. You could get financial compensation to pay for your child’s cephalohematoma care with the help of a Maryland birth injury lawyer.
For a free legal consultation, call 1-800-222-9529
What Is Infant Cephalohematoma?
A hematoma is a spot under the skin swollen with blood where it shouldn’t be. You may know them as blood blisters. The prefix “cephalo” means head. So a cephalohematoma is a blood blister on the head. These are caused by trauma to the head.
Since the head contains many capillaries, head injuries bleed quite a lot. This makes cephalohematomas quite firm and painful to touch. They usually clear up in a few weeks with medical care, though they can create serious complications.
The question parents have when they come to our lawyers is how it happened in the first place? The force of a mother’s contractions aren’t usually enough to cause a cephalohematoma. Instead, it could be a sign that a doctor or nurse was too rough on your baby during birth.
Maryland Infant Cephalohematoma Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
Complications of Infant Cephalohematoma
Besides the pain of the injury, there are some complications that can happen to babies with this condition. If it’s a large injury, so much blood can collect in the bump that it causes anemia in a baby.
As the body processes the blood, this puts a lot of stress on the liver. Sometimes jaundice can develop from the excess bilirubin created by the body as the bump heals. Infants can suffer liver damage without a doctor’s care.
Sometimes the blood doesn’t drain from the bump. Instead, it calcifies and creates a bone-like structure. This causes deformity and requires surgery to remove if it is not caught in time.
Cephalohematoma may also be a sign of deeper skull trauma. Any baby with a cephalohematoma should get a scan immediately for any skull fractures and brain bleeding. Uncaught brain bleeding can lead to brain damage.
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Birth Assistance Devices and Cephalohematoma
The most common reason for infant cephalohematoma is the use of forceps and vacuum extraction devices by devices. These are used to assist in delivery, especially when a baby gets stuck in the birth canal. They pull the baby free enough for the mother’s contractions to finish the job.
While these devices may be necessary in some emergency situations, they may have been used unnecessarily. One thing our Maryland infant cephalohematoma attorneys will investigate is if another method would have avoided the injury entirely.
If it could have, then your doctor may be guilty of malpractice. The Birth Injury Lawyers Groups helps families with babies who have suffered harm get financial compensation. This can help you pay for the injuries caused by negligent medical professionals.
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When Should I Contact an Attorney?
The top priority after a birth injury is to get your child medical care. Early intervention is crucial to prevent further complications. While a cephalohematoma isn’t as serious as something like birth asphyxia, complications can still happen.
After they have diagnosed your child with a birth injury, then call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group. We will connect you with a qualified Maryland infant cephalohematoma lawyer who can help you. They will tell you if your child’s case qualifies as malpractice and explain your legal options.
Don’t delay this call for too long. The longer you wait, the harder it is to collect evidence of what happened in the delivery room. Waiting too long also puts you at risk of breaching the statute of limitations. This can make you ineligible for compensation.
What Damages Could I Receive for My Baby?
When you sue or make a claim with a malpractice insurer, we have to list the damages your baby and the parents have suffered because of the injury. The baby will have experienced some pain and suffering, and potentially other non-economic damages in severe cases.
Parents also lose time and money caring for their baby’s injuries and you can get those costs paid back. You can get compensated for medical bills, lost wages, transportation to specialists, and much more. If we believe you have a strong case, we will spare no effort to seek every penny you’re owed.
If an insurer contacts you with a settlement offer, don’t sign or agree to anything until you can speak with an infant cephalohematoma lawyer in Maryland. Once you accept an offer, you cannot get more money afterward for the same injury.
Maryland Malpractice Laws to Know About
Maryland requires expert certification before a malpractice lawsuit will be accepted by the court. This is testimony from a medical expert that explains how your medical provider failed to meet the standards of care and how that failure caused your injury.
There are also arbitration rules for cases that involve more than $30,000 in damages. The state has a Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office that handles serious malpractice cases. You may be asked to go to arbitration. Your birth injury lawyer will advise you about whether arbitration is the best route or if you should waive arbitration and go to trial.
There are also caps on medical malpractice damages in Maryland for non-economic damages. As of 2023, the maximum limit for non-economic damages is $875,000 and raises by $15,000 each year. There is no limit for economic damages.
Speak With Our Birth Injury Attorneys in Maryland Now
Even if your child’s bump seems minor, don’t let your doctor get away with medical malpractice. Your case doesn’t have to be worth millions to be worth the time of a birth injury lawyer. We seek justice for victims of birth injuries. That goes beyond financial compensation.
Find out your legal options by contacting the Birth Injury Lawyers Group right away. We will put you in touch with an experienced Maryland infant cephalohematoma attorney to answer your questions. Call now to schedule a free consultation.
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