West Palm Beach Birth Injury Attorney

An injury to a newborn child during birth is one of the most difficult things a family can face – this West Palm Beach Birth Injury Lawyer sympathizes with that. Birth injuries can be overwhelming and devastating and can cause physical, learning, language or behavioral developmental disabilities or delays for a child that unfortunately might last a lifetime. Mr. Quackenbush can handle birth injury cases everywhere in the State of Florida. He helps clients get the fair compensation that is important for their child’s future care and needs.

Birth injuries can result from many different things. For instance, a birth injury can be experienced by a child during labor or delivery, or soon after birth. Birth injuries might range from minor problems such as lacerations or bruising to severe injuries that could prove fatal - for instance, a spinal cord injury.

Additionally, a mother might be injured during the birth also. When the mother is having difficulties expelling the child from the birth canal, a vacuum might be needed to help her. Vacuums can be latched onto a baby’s shoulder or skull and guide the child through the birth canal. To extract the baby from the mother’s birth canal, vacuum extraction or forceps are used. But these types of equipment might exert severe pressure to a baby’s head or face, and when this happens paralysis might result. Lack of ability to shut eyes or move the muscles of the face are the main symptoms.

Caput succedaneum is a condition which might result after a vacuum extraction. In this condition, an infant might experience severe swelling on her or his scalp. Improper use of tools such a forceps (or other tools used to help with the birthing-process) might result in Cephalohematoma. It is normally characterized as a bump present on an infant’s head. It is generally caused by a loss of blood.

Sometimes, during the birthing process, an infant can become stuck. For example, he or she might get stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone. If this occurs, the doctor should be able to gently remove the baby from its stuck position. However, if this isn’t done correctly, then the baby may be injured. A brachial palsy injury may result. Brachial palsy injuries include Erb's palsy and Klumpke’s palsy. These conditions can result in a baby’s inability to move its arms, hands or fingers.

If a baby is delivered while “breached” (i.e., upside down) during the birthing process, then he or she might break a shoulder or collar-bone. This can result in the baby’s not being able to move a portion of his or her body.

If your child has been the victim of a birth injury in Florida, you might be able to receive compensation for your losses through the legal process and for that hire Mr. Quackenbush, an experienced birth injury lawyer for a free, no-obligation consultation by calling 954-448-7288.

Mr. Quackenbush works on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t have to pay any lawyer’s fees until he wins compensation for you. He works efficiently to obtain a fair and just result for your case.

Hypoxia (or a hypoxic event) is a condition in which a baby’s brain does not get enough oxygen during birth. During childbirth, hypoxia can be caused by a tangled umbilical cord, infection or damage to the placenta. Hypoxia can unfortunately cause all sorts of catastrophic conditions for an infant.

Oxygen deprivation can be caused if a labor has lasted too long. If labor goes on for too long and both a mother and baby are struggling, doctors should do something to quicken the process. If they don’t, the baby may lose oxygen and catastrophic results can ensure.

Medical professionals are trained to detect hypoxia well in advance and to take steps to get rid of the chance of either the mother or child facing harm. If the health care provider or doctor fails to notice the hypoxic event and take quick, essential action to avoid injury, he or she may be legally responsible for any resulting damages. The child can develop chronic mental and physical disabilities if hypoxia is not quickly addressed.

Another terrible result from a birth injury is cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy, also called ‘CP,’ is a neurological condition that is caused by a brain injury. It is often suffered at delivery. It usually impacts a child’s ability to move, and it can impair muscle coordination. It can also impact other motor skills and oral functions. Even though many children develop cerebral palsy after birth, many cases are a direct result of a brain injury that happened at birth or instantly after delivery.

Seizures are a frequent symptom of cerebral palsy. Additionally, poor vision is a typical result of the condition. Gait issues, speech issues, intellectual difficulties, learning disabilities, hearing issues, breathing issues, and difficulty with bladder/bowel control are the other symptoms of cerebral palsy.

Hypoxic events can frequently cause hypoxic events. A baby may lose oxygen during pregnancy, during the labor or after he or she is born.

Hypoxic events can be caused by an OBGYN who doesn’t properly monitor a baby’s condition during pregnancy; by doctors, nurses, medical staff or other medical providers during a labor/delivery or in the NICU/PICU (neonatal intensive care unit or pediatric intensive care unit).

In some cases, a C-Section may be necessary to prevent or alleviate ongoing emergencies. If a doctor should do a C-Section but doesn’t and catastrophic results ensure, the doctor may be liable for the failure to perform the procedure.

Conditions which require an emergency C-section include:

• Uterine damage
• cord prolapses
• placenta previa

Improper use of medications can also cause birth injury. Brain damage, hemorrhaging, and spinal cord damage can also be caused during a negligent delivery. You might be able to pursue a medical malpractice wrongful death case on your child’s behalf if your child tragically passes away during a labor or delivery.

Mr. Quackenbush will probably hire an expert called a life-care planner who will evaluate the infant’s injuries and find out how much the infant’s medical care will be expected to cost in the future.

Vaginal tears, uterine injuries, episiotomy, preeclampsia, spinal cord damage, hemorrhaging, and sepsis are other types of injuries to mothers during births. You might be able to pursue a medical malpractice wrongful death case for your wife if she has tragically passed away during a labor. In that situation, the husband will probably be appointed the personal representative of the wife’s estate and will be the beneficiary of the estate.

Contact Mr. Quackenbush if your loved one has sustained a birth injury anywhere in Palm Beach County (including Belle Glade, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Lantana, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Springs, Riviera Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Wellington). When a child has sustained a birth injury, the parents have a limited amount of time to file a malpractice suit against the hospital or doctor. Usually, a birth injury lawsuit should be filed within two years of the time of the injury. If the injury is not discovered instantly, the suit must be filed within two years of the time the injury must reasonably have been discovered but no longer than four years from the time of injury. In other words, if malpractice was committed and you did not know of the malpractice or the harm caused until later, then the two-year time period would not start running until you either knew or should have known that the injury had happened.

If your child has sustained a birth injury, you may be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. Hire Mr. Quackenbush and get the help you need to return to a normal life. You can reach Mr. Quackenbush by calling 954-448-7288 for a free, no-obligation consultation. He will work on a contingency basis that means that there will be no charge to you until you’ve made a recovery in your case.