BIRTH INJURY

Including Brain Injuries, Nerve Injuries, and Wrongful Death

More than 4 million babies are born in the United States every year, with approximately 86,000 births occurring in Washington State alone. While childbirth is often a joyous event, it can also be accompanied by various risks and complications that may lead to birth injuries. From medical conditions affecting the health of the mother and baby to negligence during the birthing process, there are numerous factors that can contribute to birth injuries.

One of the critical aspects of addressing birth injuries is legal recourse, particularly in cases where negligence or medical malpractice is involved. In Washington State, families facing the consequences of birth injuries can seek assistance from experienced legal professionals known as birth injury attorneys. These attorneys specialize in navigating the complexities of birth injury cases and advocating for the rights of affected families.

Understanding Birth Injuries

Before delving into the role of birth injury attorneys, it’s essential to understand what constitutes a birth injury. Birth injuries are harm sustained by an infant during the labor and delivery process. These injuries can range from mild to severe and may have long-lasting implications for the child and their family.

Some common types of birth injuries include:

  1. Cerebral Palsy: A group of disorders affecting movement and muscle tone, often caused by brain damage during childbirth.
  2. Brachial Plexus Injuries: Damage to the nerves that control arm movement, typically occurring when there is difficulty delivering the baby’s shoulder.
  3. Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): Brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation during birth.
  4. Bone Fractures: Fractures or breaks in the infant’s bones, which can occur during difficult deliveries.
  5. Facial Nerve Injuries: Damage to the facial nerve, leading to facial paralysis or weakness.

Causes of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries can arise from various factors, including medical conditions affecting the mother or baby, complications during labor and delivery, and medical negligence. Some common causes of birth injuries include:

  • Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress: Inadequate monitoring of the fetal heart rate or signs of distress during labor can lead to oxygen deprivation and brain damage.
  • Delayed C-Section: Failing to perform a timely cesarean section when medically necessary can result in birth injuries such as HIE or cerebral palsy.
  • Improper Use of Assisted Delivery Devices: Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery can cause trauma to the baby’s head and neck.
  • Failure to Diagnose and Treat Maternal Infections: Infections such as Group B Streptococcus (GBS) or maternal conditions like gestational diabetes can increase the risk of birth injuries if not properly managed.
  • Mismanagement of Shoulder Dystocia: Failure to address shoulder dystocia promptly and appropriately can lead to brachial plexus injuries or other birth traumas.

The Role of Birth Injury Attorneys

In cases where birth injuries occur as a result of medical negligence or malpractice, families may seek legal recourse by consulting with birth injury attorneys. These legal professionals specialize in handling cases related to birth injuries and advocating for the rights of affected families.

CMG Law: Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys in Seattle are equipped with the knowledge, experience, and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of birth injury cases. Their primary role includes:

  1. Case Evaluation: Birth injury attorneys conduct a thorough evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the birth injury to determine if there are grounds for legal action.
  2. Legal Representation: Attorneys represent affected families in negotiations with insurance companies, healthcare providers, and other parties involved in the case.
  3. Gathering Evidence: Birth injury attorneys gather medical records, expert opinions, and other evidence to support the case and establish liability.
  4. Advocacy: Attorneys advocate for fair compensation on behalf of their clients to cover medical expenses, ongoing care, rehabilitation, and other damages resulting from the birth injury.
  5. Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, birth injury attorneys are prepared to take the case to court and litigate on behalf of their clients.

Why Choose CMG LAW: Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys in Seattle?

When seeking legal representation for a birth injury case in Washington State, families may wonder why they should choose attorneys in Seattle specifically. Here are some reasons why Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys in Seattle stand out:

  1. Specialized Expertise: These attorneys specialize specifically in birth injury cases, ensuring that they have in-depth knowledge and experience in this complex area of law.
  2. Local Knowledge: Being based in Seattle, these attorneys are familiar with the local healthcare landscape, including hospitals, medical practices, and healthcare providers.
  3. Proximity to Resources: Seattle is home to numerous medical experts, consultants, and resources that can be invaluable in building a strong case for birth injury compensation.
  4. Personalized Attention: Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys in Seattle prioritize personalized attention and compassionate support for their clients, understanding the emotional and financial toll of birth injuries.
  5. Track Record of Success: These attorneys have a proven track record of successfully representing families in birth injury cases, securing favorable outcomes and fair compensation for their clients.

Conclusion

Birth injuries can have devastating consequences for families, impacting not only the affected child but also their parents and loved ones. In cases where birth injuries result from medical negligence or malpractice, seeking legal representation is crucial to ensure that affected families receive the compensation and support they deserve.

Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys in Seattle specialize in advocating for the rights of families impacted by birth injuries, offering expert legal guidance and compassionate support throughout the legal process. By choosing experienced and dedicated birth injury attorneys, families can pursue justice and secure the financial resources needed to provide the best possible care for their child.

Birth Injury Practice Areas

Newborn Brain Injury

Cerebral Palsy
HIE (Oxygen Deprivation)
Skull Fracture

Newborn Nerve Injury

Brachial Plexus Injury
Spinal Cord Injury
Facial Nerve Palsy

Wrongful Death

Newborn death
Maternal death

Why Work With CMG Law?

Honesty.

We work with you and communicate with you every step of the way. You will be informed about each part of the legal process as it evolves.

Understanding.

We understand how hard it can be to be involved in a lawsuit. We sympathize with the injuries inflicted on your family.

Experience.

Medical malpractice is all we do. We have the knowledge, resources, and expertise to advance your case and get you fair compensation.

Mary was 37 weeks pregnant when her membranes ruptured shortly before midnight. She was taken to the hospital for the delivery of her first child. Her physician, whose practice included obstetrics but not cesarean deliveries, was notified and gave routine orders for her care.

At about 5 a.m., Mary was given an epidural for pain. As a result, she became hypotensive with her blood pressure dropping from 124/63 down to 69/26, a condition that persisted for an hour unnoticed and untreated. During this time, her fetus developed heart-rate decelerations, which required that her physician be informed. Her physician testified that had he been informed, he would have ordered a fetal scalp electrode to monitor the fetal heart rate pattern and then would have asked the on-call obstetrician to meet him at the hospital to evaluate Mary. But by the time the physician was actually notified and able to call in an obstetrician to perform a cesarean section, her baby had suffered brain damage and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

CMG Law – Malpractice Attorneys in Seattle, filed a lawsuit, conducted extensive discovery, and secured favorable testimony from experts in nursing, obstetrics, neurology, developmental pediatrics, life-care planning, and economics. We were successful in obtaining a large settlement that will provide funds necessary for the child’s care over the course of his lifetime and compensate his parents for the loss of what should have been a normal parent-child relationship. 
If you think you have a birth injury case in Washington State then get in touch with CMG Law, Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys Seattle

Jessica and Andrew S. East Wenatchee, WA

“Two years ago, we were looking forward to the birth of our first child, a boy, and it was a perfect pregnancy. But after being in labor for 41 hours, Jessi had an emergency Cesarean section and the baby was airlifted to Seattle Children’s Hospital, where the doctors found he was brain-dead from a lack of oxygen. Three days later, his body shut down.

We were referred to Paul Chemnick, and he was just awesome. We had a good feeling about working with him from the first moment we talked with him. We completely trusted him with all the details. He was straightforward and a great advocate. We decided to settle because Jessi was in the late stages of another pregnancy, and we wanted to focus on our new baby girl.

We couldn’t be happier with the settlement. It allowed us to move to a new community and start over with our lives.”

Jessica and Andrew S.
East Wenatchee, WA

Tim and Autumn R. Kennewick, WA

“While doing our research, we were impressed that Pat was recognized in both the nursing and legal fields. Pat was phenomenal: easy to talk to, personable, responsive, and always ahead of the game. Medically, she knew her stuff, often more than the doctors.

We had a unique case. Autumn was pregnant and a blood test at nine weeks showed a result that needed immediate treatment. But because it was overlooked, we were devastated to lose the baby at 25 weeks. Pat supported our decision to settle rather than putting our family through the trauma of a trial, and we were extremely happy with the result. We now have two healthy sons and have been able to move on with our lives.”

Tim and Autumn R.
Kennewick, WA
If you think you have a birth injury case in Washington State then get in touch with CMG Law, Washington State Birth Injury Attorneys Seattle

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