Tragically, anyone can be the victim of medical malpractice, even newborns. If your child has been the victim of a serious birth injury, our personal injury lawyers may be able to hold the responsible parties liable for medical bills and the costs associated with raising a disabled child.
At the Law Office of McElyea, Santos & Barnard, medical malpractice attorneys understand that the birth of a child is often the most important event in a parent's life; naturally, any injuries to a newborn can be devastating for the entire family. Our lawyers aim to protect the rights of victims of birth injury and to send a message to healthcare providers that professional negligence will not be tolerated. Contact an Orlando, Central Florida birth injury attorney to schedule a free consultation.
Babies are particularly susceptible to injury during and directly after birth, when their bodies must be handled with exceptional care. When medical professionals are negligent in providing this care, serious permanent injuries such as cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, shoulder dystocia, brain damage, and skeletal deformities can result. In many cases, these birth injuries could have been prevented if healthcare providers had exercised due care.
Cerebral palsy is a particularly severe birth injury. It actually constitutes a group of chronic disorders that generally affect motor skills, muscle tone, and muscle movement. The effects of cerebral palsy vary from mild to severe. Victims may be affected on only one side of the body, or in the lower extremities more than the upper portion of the body. In the most serious cases, the entire body is affected, making full-time care a necessity.
Studies suggest that about one in every five children diagnosed with cerebral palsy sustained a preventable brain injury that led to the disorder. If this is the case, it is grounds for a birth injury lawsuit handled by one of our lawyers. If your child suffers from cerebral palsy because of a medical practitioner's professional negligence, contact our firm to speak with an Orlando, Central Florida birth injury attorney.
Erb's Palsy is a condition characterized by nerve damage to the brachial nerves in the vertebrae, which can lead to partial or total paralysis of the arms, hands, and occasionally the face. Most Erb's Palsy cases are caused by forcible traction during delivery – in other words, a preventable birth injury caused by the application of too much force in extracting the child from the birth canal. A variety of techniques that help eliminate the conditions that lead to Erb's Palsy are available, and almost every case can be prevented.
If your child suffers from these symptoms or has been diagnosed with Erb's Palsy, you should immediately speak to an experienced birth injury attorney. At the Law Office of McElyea, Santos & Barnard, we have obtained verdicts and settlements totaling millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
Shoulder dystocia results when the anterior shoulder of a child is jammed against the pelvic bone of the mother, usually after the head has emerged from the birth canal. During deliveries in which pushing and uterine contractions on the part of the mother are insufficient, external pulling is required and shoulder dystocia may occur. Shoulder dystocia can cause permanent nerve damage or, in extremely rare cases, death.
When shoulder dystocia is not treated properly or in a timely manner, the consequences can be life-changing. If your child has suffered a permanent disability because a healthcare provider was negligent in carrying out his or her medical duties, an Orlando, central Florida birth injury attorney at our firm can help.
At the Law Office of McElyea, Santos & Barnard, our birth injury lawyers will fight to obtain compensation from all parties responsible for your child's birth injury, including physicians, nurses, and other medical staff. Our birth injury attorneys have the experience to build strong cases addressing a range of medical errors, including the failure to anticipate or respond to problems during birth and the application of excessive force when delivering the child.
While no financial award could ever make up for the harm inflicted on your child, it is important to understand and consider all your legal options. At our law firm, we have the sensitivity and compassion to guide you through this difficult time. We invite you to contact our firm serving Orlando and Central Florida to meet with a birth injury attorney who can explain your rights and provide a thorough evaluation of your case.
If your child was injured while being born, contact an Orlando, central Florida birth injury attorney from the Law Office of McElyea, Santos & Barnard.
McElyea, Santos & Barnard P. A.