Infant Brain Damage
One of the most joyous times in a family’s life should be the birth of a child. Unfortunately, if a healthcare provider is negligent, a moment of celebration can turn into a nightmare for parents and family members. Infant brain damage can occur during pregnancy and childbirth when medical practitioners fail to provide an appropriate level of care. In those situations, families are left struggling to cope with the tremendous emotional and financial impact of raising a child with brain damage.
At the Chicago law firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our infant brain damage lawyers know what an emotional and devastating time this can be for families. We have decades of experience managing birth injury cases and can lead families through the legal process of pursuing meaningful compensation to cover their child’s medical expenses and other losses.
Did your child suffer brain damage during pregnancy or childbirth? Do you believe a medical professional is to blame? If so, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today to speak with an experienced birth injury lawyer at no cost. Our compassionate legal team is here to explain your rights and outline your legal options for recovering compensation.
How Our Chicago Birth Injury Lawyers Can Help You During This Difficult Time
Brain damage can impact a child for the rest of their life, causing physical disabilities and cognitive issues. Families may face daily struggles managing their child’s condition and financial obligations, all because of the negligence of a medical professional who delivered substandard care during pregnancy or childbirth. Families can experience complex emotions during this time; knowing where to turn for support and help can be challenging.
The infant brain damage lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. understand the pain and confusion you are going through. Our knowledgeable staff has the experience and resources to help you through this difficult period, offering tireless legal representation and moral support.
Our team has recovered more than $2.5 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We have recovered substantial jury verdicts and settlements in child’s birth injury cases and cases involving infant brain damage.
In addition to record-breaking results, our clients praise our dedicated service and personal approach to handling cases. One client said, “I recently had the privilege of being represented by Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard for representation, and I cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional service I received. From start to finish, their team demonstrated unparalleled expertise, responsiveness, understanding, and integrity, making them highly recommendable to anyone in need of legal assistance.”
Causes of Infant Brain Damage During Birth
Pregnancy and childbirth can be traumatic. Without immediate medical intervention or recognition of common signs of fetal distress (in which the fetus is not getting enough oxygen), there are numerous ways childbirth can lead to infant brain damage and other serious medical complications.
Common causes of infant brain damage during birth that may merit a medical malpractice claim can include the following:
- Failure to recognize signs of fetal distress
- Failure to act on signs of fetal distress
- Improper use of delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extraction
- Fetal monitoring errors
- Medication errors
- Surgical errors during a cesarean section
- Failure to recognize or treat infection during pregnancy or at the time of birth
These medical errors can lead to oxygen deprivation, infection, and physical injuries that can cause brain damage and other fetal injuries. Some common birth injuries related to brain damage in infants include the following:
- Cerebral palsy, which is a broad category of conditions that refer to medical disorders impacting muscle movements
- Erb’s palsy, which is a nerve injury affecting the upper arm and shoulder
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which results in oxygen deprivation or a reduction in blood flow to the brain
- Asphyxiation
- Skull fracture
- Intracranial hemorrhage or brain bleeding
Signs Infant Brain Damage Was Due to Medical Malpractice
Sometimes, the signs of infant birth trauma and brain damage are not always apparent immediately after birth. Many families do not recognize the signs of brain damage and conditions such as cerebral palsy until their child starts missing significant developmental milestones.
Some of the potential signs that an infant or child suffered brain damage during pregnancy or delivery can include the following:
- Failure to reach physical or cognitive milestones, such as motor skills, language, and social interaction
- Seizures
- Abnormal eye movements
- Excessive crying or fussiness
- Mobility issues or muscle weakness
- Paralysis
- Sensitivity to light
Some infants may also exhibit physical signs such as a malformed spine, a prominent forehead, or a small head. If you notice that your child struggles to lift its head, has uncontrolled muscle movements, or fails to reach physical or cognitive milestones such as rolling over, crawling, walking, or talking, contact your child’s doctor.
Next, speak with an experienced infant brain damage lawyer in Chicago. An attorney can review your medical records and other evidence to establish whether substandard medical care during pregnancy or childbirth is the cause of your child’s medical condition.
Legal Claims to Provide for a Lifetime of Care
Unfortunately, brain damage can lead to life-long medical treatment and disability. Not only does this impact the child’s quality of life, but brain damage can prevent a child from earning a living and experiencing an independent life. Your child deserves compensation that accounts for the medical and financial challenges ahead.
A medical malpractice claim will allow your family to pursue compensation for your child’s injuries. Successful legal claims help families care for their child’s immediate and long-term medical needs. Although all cases are unique, you may pursue money for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Caretaking costs
- Lost services and earnings
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we keenly understand the legal issues that make infant brain injury cases challenging. Our goal is to help you recover maximum compensation to ensure you have the means to care for your child today and tomorrow.
Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation
Knowing that substandard medical care may be the cause of your child’s birth injury can be devastating. Now more than ever, you need empathetic support and personalized legal advice. The infant brain damage lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. want to help your family by investigating your case and holding negligent medical providers accountable for their actions.
Contact our Chicago office today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. You owe us nothing unless we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf.
