Birth Injury Attorneys

The following are common diagnoses that were the result of a traumatic labor and delivery.

• Brachial Plexus Palsy (Erb’s Palsy)
• Cerebral Palsy
• Klumpke’s Palsy
• Clavicle Fracture
• Brain Damage or Head Trauma
• Kernicterus
• Infant Hematoma
• Facial Paralysis
• Shoulder Dystocia
• Any injuries resulting from Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Delayed Cesarean Section (C-Section)
If your child is suffering from fetal distress an emergency C-section may be ordered. This can occur when your child’s heart rate slows as a result of the bleeding from placental abruption, a drop in the mother’s blood pressure or other delivery problems. If your delivery team failed to recognize that the mother needed to have a C-section delivery, their negligence may cause them to be liable for the injuries to the mother and child.

Improper use of forceps
If a child isn’t properly positioned in the womb or the mother is having some difficulty delivering their child, the attending nurse or medical professional will use forceps to help the child through the birth. If the forceps are used improperly they can induce fetal distress and increase the child’s risk of oxygen deprivation (both of which have been linked to cerebral palsy and other birth injuries). Improper forceps use can also lead to nerve damage in the neck or chest and other less severe injuries to the head.

Improper use of a medical vacuum
If the mother is experiencing difficulties pushing out the fetus from the birth canal, a vacuum may be used to help. The vacuum is latched onto the baby’s skull or shoulder to help guide him or her through the birth canal. If the doctor or nurse that is responsible for placing the vacuum on the infant does so improperly it can lead to severe birth injuries for the child and cause health problems for the mother.

Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a condition where the child’s brain is not receiving the proper amount of oxygen. This is caused by an infection or damage to the placenta. This often leads to a tangled umbilical cord. Medical professionals are trained to detect Hypoxia in advance. There are defined steps to be taken when this condition is present during childbirth. Hypoxia can lead to mental and physical disabilities for your child.

• Failing to note and address changes in the fetus’ condition
• Neglecting to refer high-risk patients to specialized doctors
• Improperly using the labor-inducing drug, Pitocin
• Insufficient prenatal testing
• Not diagnosing or treating infections, placental abruption or previa, premature rupture of the membranes, or umbilical cord entrapment
• Neglecting to communicate problems to doctors

Birth injuries are caused by negligence or medical malpractice that occurs during the delivery itself.

Birth defects involve harm caused to the baby prior to labor and birth. Birth defects are the result of issues that develop during the pregnancy.

There’s a misconception that personal injury lawyers cost too much money and that you can’t afford one. Washington Law Center is different. We do not get paid upfront and we don’t charge you unreasonable fees before any work has been done. Unless we get you compensated in your personal injury case, there are no lawyer fees.

Video Transcript: How Much Does A Lawyer Cost?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: The question is often asked, “How much does an attorney cost?” And there’s a misconception in that “an attorney costs way too much and you can’t afford one.” We’re different. We do not get paid up front. We do not take a deposit. We do not take a retainer. We don’t ask for your credit card information. We simply are paid based on the value and money earned on your case. So if there’s no recovery, then there are no attorneys fees. It’s as simple as that.

Following an injury is often when people have the least amount of resources. They may be out of a job. They may need to pay medical expenses and just keep food on the table. We let you focus on the things you need to for your family, and we’ll focus on your case, on your specific claim, so that you don’t have to. Unless we get you compensated, there are no attorneys fees. So, give us a call early, maybe following the injury, and we’d be more than happy to get going.

No two birth injury cases are exactly the same. It is important to find an experienced attorney who puts in the work to learn and understand all the details of your case before giving you a number or making false promises to you and your loved ones. Washington Law Center is committed to results and always has your best interest in mind.

Video Transcript: What Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

ATTORNEY ASHTON DENNIS: Wondering what your case is worth is a natural question to ask. It’s something that all of our clients have asked: what is my case worth? If an attorney is willing to give you what your case is worth over the phone, without meeting you, without understanding the facts, they’re doing you a disservice. Knowing precisely what your case is worth requires a lot of work and a lot of understanding. That’s not something that you can just simply answer off the cuff.

If that’s advice you’ve gotten, we’d encourage you to give us a call because we’ll ask the right questions. We’re going to ask you how this injury affected your life. How did it affect your family’s life? Are you able to work again? How much work did you miss? What type of treatment did you go through? What is the future going to look like? Those are the questions we’re going to ask you. We’re not just going to give you some boilerplate answer that your case is worth ‘x’.

That’s not what good injury attorneys do. They look at the specific facts. They look at how you’ve been hurt, how it has impacted your family, and then they determine how to best approach it and whether that’s through negotiations, through a trial process, but no two cases are the same.