Bellevue Birth Injury Lawyer

What to Do After Your Child Is Hurt During Delivery

Did your newborn suffer an injury during labor and delivery? Was your child diagnosed with a birth injury soon after being born? If so, you may be wondering what went wrong and how you can help your child recover. Our Bellevue birth injury attorneys can help you find answers.

At Cullan & Cullan, our Bellevue birth injury lawyers are also doctors. We are committed to helping families in Nebraska and Iowa obtain the compensation they need to move forward with their lives. We know how to hold doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals accountable for their negligence, and we know what it takes to win.

Call (402) 882-7080 or online to request a free consultation with one of our Bellevue birth injury attorneys.

What is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury is an injury that occurs to an infant during the labor and delivery process. Birth injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, including complications during childbirth, the improper use of delivery tools, and/or medical negligence. Some birth injuries are minor and resolve on their own within a matter of days, weeks, or months. Others are more serious and can cause permanent damage, such as brain damage, nerve damage, and more.

Some of the most common birth injuries include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb's palsy
• Klumpke's palsy
• Brain damage
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Brachial plexus injuries
• Facial paralysis
• Fractures
• Caput succedaneum
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage
• Hematomas
• Perinatal asphyxia

Not all birth injuries are the result of medical malpractice. In some cases, birth injuries are unavoidable and are simply the result of the natural birthing process. In others, however, birth injuries are caused by medical negligence and could have been prevented.

There are many different factors that can cause or contribute to a birth injury, including:

• Complications during labor and delivery
• Improper use of delivery tools, such as forceps or vacuum extractors
• Medical negligence
• Failure to diagnose a medical condition
• Failure to treat a medical condition
• Failure to order or properly interpret prenatal tests
• Failure to perform a necessary C-section
• Failure to monitor the baby's heart rate or other vital signs
• Failure to respond to signs of fetal distress
• Failure to diagnose or treat maternal infections
• Failure to diagnose or treat maternal medical conditions

What is a Birth Defect?

Unlike a birth injury, a birth defect is an injury that occurs to an infant before he or she is born. Birth defects are typically caused by genetic abnormalities, but they can also be the result of exposure to certain medications, toxins, or infections during pregnancy. Some birth defects are minor and do not require medical treatment. Others, however, can be very serious and require ongoing medical care and treatment.

Some of the most common birth defects include:

• Heart defects
• Cleft lip and/or cleft palate
• Spina bifida
• Down syndrome
• Clubfoot
• Missing limbs
• Facial dysmorphism
• Hydrocephalus
• Microcephaly
• Anencephaly
• Genetic abnormalities

Birth defects and birth injuries are not the same thing. Birth injuries occur during the birthing process and are often the result of medical negligence. Birth defects, on the other hand, occur before birth and are typically caused by genetic abnormalities. However, birth defects can also be the result of exposure to certain medications, toxins, or infections during pregnancy.

How to Tell If Your Child Has a Birth Injury

Some birth injuries are obvious and can be diagnosed shortly after birth. Others, however, are not as easy to spot and may not be diagnosed until months or even years later. In some cases, birth injuries may not be diagnosed until a child fails to meet certain developmental milestones.

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a birth injury include:

• Weakness in the arm or hand
• Lack of movement in the arm or hand
• Arm that is bent at the elbow and held against the body
• Arm that is bent at the wrist and held against the body
• Arm that is straight and rotated inward
• Arm that is straight and rotated outward
• Facial paralysis
• Seizures
• Stiff or rigid limbs
• Excessive drooling
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeding problems
• Difficulty sitting up
• Difficulty standing up
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty with fine motor skills
• Difficulty with gross motor skills
• Difficulty with cognitive skills
• Developmental delays
• Behavioral problems
• Difficulty with bladder or bowel control

How Our Bellevue Birth Injury Attorneys Can Help

At Cullan & Cullan, our Bellevue birth injury lawyers are also doctors. We know what it takes to prove a birth injury case, and we know how to get results.

When you choose us to handle your birth injury case, we will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of your child's injury to determine if it was the result of medical malpractice. We will review your medical records, consult with medical experts, and do everything we can to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation costs
• Medications
• Home modifications
• Special education
• Loss of earning capacity
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• And other damages

Contact us today at (402) 882-7080 to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced Bellevue birth injury attorneys.