Attorneys Seeking Justice For Birth Injury Victims And Families
At Power Rogers, LLP, when we take on a case, we give it every ounce of our effort. With our full passion and focus behind the cases we handle, our clients benefit from having an aggressive and skillful advocate from Chicago in their corner.
Birth injury cases are among the most tragic and complex we handle, but we do it well. These cases deserve attorneys who are experienced, not only in the courtroom but also with the nuances of proper medical procedure. By choosing our litigators, you’ll have a team of experienced professionals on your side who have recovered more than $5 billion for the injured.
We Have Achieved Record-Breaking Results For Birth Injury Victims
We have the largest medical malpractice litigation verdict in the history of the state of Illinois and have handled numerous high-value birth injury cases for clients, including:
- $35 million in a birth injury case where the patient suffered brain damage because of delayed delivery, causing the child to suffer from seizures, cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia.
- $23 million in a birth injury case involving failure to treat high blood pressure caused by brain damage to the mother.
- $21.175 million in a birth injury case where the doctors failed to detect abnormal blood pressure and delayed cesarean section. The expectant mother died and her son sustained permanent brain damage.
These are just a few examples of our many successful legal outcomes on behalf of clients.
What Is The Difference Between Birth Injuries And Birth Defects?
Approximately seven out of every 1,000 children born in the United States suffer a birth injury. A birth injury refers to an injury that occurs during labor or delivery. A birth defect, on the other hand, describes a malformation or disability that is the result of genetics or some environmental influence. For example, some prescription drugs have been known to cause birth defects when taken by pregnant mothers. Doctors and other health care professionals should be able to use imaging technology and other tests to determine the health of the baby (such as whether there are any birth defects or abnormalities) before delivery. Failing to run the proper tests and adequately provide care to a mother and her growing child can constitute negligence.
Our firm is ready to assist you with all types of birth injury cases, including those involving:
- Development of cerebral palsy
- Erb’s palsy
- Shoulder dystocia
- Maternal death
- Problems related to cesarean sections
- Neonatal subgaleal hemorrhage
- Forceps injuries
- Vacuum extractor injuries
- Failing to diagnose and respond to preeclampsia
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
If you believe your child has suffered a birth injury but aren’t sure, it is a good idea to consult with a trusted physician. If confirmed, please contact us to discuss your options.
What Are The Causes Of Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries may be caused by a variety of doctor, nurse, midwife or hospital mistakes. If a medical professional fails to provide the mother or unborn baby with suitable care, or if the medical facility makes a mistake in sanitizing equipment or providing usable medical equipment, it can ultimately cause a birth injury.
Birth injuries can be caused by any of the following:
- Delayed birth
- Preterm labor
- Delayed C-section delivery
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum
- Prolonged labor
- Overlarge infant
- Inadequate fetal heart rate monitoring
- Oxygen deprivation
We will thoroughly and carefully investigate your claim to determine what went wrong and who may have been at fault.
Is Cerebral Palsy A Birth Injury?
Although cerebral palsy is not a direct birth injury, several different types of birth injuries can result in the development of cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a medical condition that affects the baby’s ability to control their muscles, often resulting in poor movement, underdeveloped muscle tone and other motor skill issues. Head trauma, misuse of forceps, excessive force during delivery, prolonged labor, maternal infection and oxygen deprivation can all result in infant brain damage, which may cause the development of cerebral palsy.
Can A Birth Injury Cause Autism?
Research and ongoing studies have shown the existence of a direct link between autism and birth injuries. Studies have shown that approximately 80% of children with autism or attention deficit disorders are those who have experienced birth injuries. The most common injuries have occurred during labor and delivery, where the nervous system may be damaged. Other studies have shown that oxygen deprivation during labor or delivery may lead to autism.
Birth Injury Compensation: Verdicts And Settlements
Compensation for birth injuries can come in many forms. If your child sustained brain damage during delivery, for example, and suffered cerebral palsy as a result, you could seek compensation to cover the costs of ongoing medical care, in-home care providers, loss of future earning capacity, and more. Babies born with defects or who sustain serious injuries during delivery suffer physical damage that often requires a larger financial commitment than what is required for a healthy baby.
Factors that influence the amount of damages a plaintiff can receive include the following:
- Each element of the negligence-caused damages as proven by evidence should be taken into consideration
- The nature and extent of the injury
- Preexisting ailments or conditions
- Disfigurement
- Disability and loss of a normal life (i.e. diminished ability to enjoy life)
- Increased risk of future harm because of the injury
Birth injury verdicts can be calculated by adding the value of medical expenses, disfigurement, disability, loss of normal life, pain and suffering, time/earnings/profits/salaries/benefits lost, and risk of future harm. The sum is called the “total damages,” which is then multiplied by the percentage of likelihood that a future condition or harm will occur to arrive at the finalized total damages. When calculating damages in a birth injury claim, the value can be diminished by shortened life expectancy.
Call Our Chicago Birth Injury Attorneys Today!
Birth injury and birth trauma cases carry a lasting impact. Many mothers give birth to children who have permanent disabilities and are left without the financial resources to accommodate the level of care their children need. Many husbands lose their wives because of tragic medical missteps during labor. Whatever happened in your case, the Chicago birth injury attorneys at Power Rogers are available to assess your case and determine the necessary legal recourse.
Call Power Rogers at 312-210-8411 for a free case review. You can also reach out online.