Did you or your child suffer an injury before, during, or after childbirth? Did your newborn get hurt because a medical professional was negligent or careless in some way?
Contact the experienced Austin birth injury lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC for immediate legal assistance. You may have the right to seek compensation, and we can help you fight for the money you deserve.
We offer a free consultation, so do not hesitate to reach out to our Austin law offices today.
How a Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC Birth Injury Attorney Can Help You Fight for Compensation
Every year, millions of Americans welcome a new child into their lives. The birthing process is, of course, never easy. However, for most people, the joy of holding a happy, healthy baby at the end makes it all worthwhile.
Unfortunately, not everybody gets to experience this feeling. For some new parents, childbirth ends with an injury to their new baby.
If this nightmare scenario has happened to your family, you may be entitled to compensation. When you hire one of our Austin medical malpractice lawyers, we will fight tooth and nail to get you any compensation you may be eligible for. To increase your chances of successfully recovering a financial settlement, we will:
Gather Evidence
Receiving compensation after your child suffers a birth injury is, unfortunately, not as simple as simply making a claim. If you wish to succeed in your battle for damages, you will need to provide evidence that proves your case.
The lawyers at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC have worked on hundreds of birth injury cases over the years. As such, we know exactly where to look to find you the proof you need. From securing medical records to interviewing witnesses, we will leave no stone unturned in your fight for compensation.
Assess Your Damages
Every birth injury is different than the last. Some result in relatively minor issues that will clear up over time, while others lead to lifelong health concerns. These variables can make it quite difficult to know exactly how much money you should be seeking from the responsible party.
Fortunately, the experience of our personal injury attorneys in Austin can help you assess your damages. We will review your child’s injuries and compile an accurate estimate of the financial settlement that will be required to pay for their ongoing medical care and other needs.
Handle the Paperwork Burden
As you might expect, filing a lawsuit against a hospital or medical clinic can be quite a paperwork-heavy process. From requesting medical records to submitting documents to the court, it can sometimes feel like the administrative burden is endless.
Fortunately, our Austin law office is staffed by a collection of skilled lawyers, paralegals, and administrative assistants. We have the experience and manpower to handle every aspect of your case’s paperwork load accurately and efficiently.
Negotiate with the Other Party’s Insurance Company
When you file suit against the party who was responsible for your child’s injuries, you will most likely be approached by their insurance company before too long. They will be contacting you with an offer to settle the case quickly, without needing to go to court. Their offer can often be increased through negotiation.
Our lawyers have been dealing with medical insurance companies for years. As such, we know how to negotiate with them and increase the odds of getting you a substantial settlement offer. If there is a deal to be made, we will work tirelessly to make it happen.
If you would like to enjoy the many benefits of working with our Austin birth injury attorneys, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We would be happy to arrange a free consultation to discuss your case in greater detail and walk you through how we may be able to help.
Common Types of Birth Injuries
There are, unfortunately, many different injuries that can occur during childbirth. Some of the most common include:
Brachial Plexus
Brachial plexus is a birth injury that involves significant damage to the baby’s nerves. In some instances, the nerve damage is relatively minor, potentially allowing for a full recovery. However, in many other instances, brachial plexus can lead to permanent health issues that can severely impact the child’s quality of life.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a serious health problem that currently has no cure. Children who develop cerebral palsy tend to have weak muscles and may be prone to spasms. This illness can also impact the development of a child’s motor skills.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious brain injury that can happen when a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen during the birthing process.
Symptoms of this injury include a low heart rate, difficulty breathing, and skin discoloration. To prevent this issue, any signs of fetal distress should be addressed as quickly as possible.
Bacterial Infection
During a vaginal delivery, it is somewhat common for a baby to pick up a bacterial infection when passing through their mother’s birth canal. These infections can often be treated quickly and easily, without any risk of long-term health issues for the baby. However, in rare cases, a bacterial infection during birth can be much more serious – potentially leading to death.
Bone Fractures
If the delivery process is more complicated than usual, it is not uncommon for the baby to endure some fractured bones. The clavicle (or collar bone) tends to be the most susceptible to injury. However, it is also possible to injure the child’s skull, rib cage, arms, and legs.
When you need an Austin birth injury lawyer to help you fight for compensation, Lorenz & Lorenz, PLLC will be there for you. Just give us a call or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Causes of Birth Injuries in Texas
The labor and delivery process can be quite complex. As such, there are a lot of opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to make mistakes. Many of these errors will, unfortunately, lead to serious injury.
Some of the most common causes of birth injuries in Austin include:
Overly Aggressive Delivery
When the delivery process is proving difficult, it sometimes becomes necessary for medical professionals to use some force to help the baby through the birth canal. However, when the amount of force used is excessive, it can lead to serious injuries. Fractured bones and spinal cord injuries are both potential outcomes to an overly aggressive delivery.
Failure to Diagnose Potential Issues Prior to the Delivery
In the months and weeks leading up to the delivery, doctors should be carefully monitoring the baby’s progress. Doing so allows them to spot any potential issues ahead of time, and take steps to address them.
Unfortunately, this process is now always followed correctly, and problems are missed or ignored. As a result, the delivery becomes unnecessarily challenging – often resulting in serious injury to the baby.
Improper Post-Birth Medical Care
The hospital’s duty of care to a baby does not stop once the child has been successfully delivered. For as long as the newborn remains in their facility, they must provide it with a clean environment and medical treatment as needed.
When hospital employees fail to provide babies with an adequate level of care after they are born, injuries and illnesses are almost inevitable. Bacterial infections are one of the most common forms of post-birth injury.
No matter how your child was injured, the personal injury attorneys at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC in Austin, TX are always available to help you fight for compensation. To start the legal process, all you need to do is give us a quick call or contact us online. We can then schedule a free consultation to have an in-depth discussion about your case.
Understanding the Difference Between Birth Injuries and Birth Defects
It is not uncommon to hear the terms “birth injury” and “birth defect” used almost interchangeably. From a legal standpoint, however, there are some key differences between the two:
Defining Birth Injuries
Birth injuries usually occur when something goes wrong with the delivery of the baby. In most instances, birth injuries are preventable through proactive medical treatment and care. Nerve damage, broken bones, and brain damage are all examples of birth injuries.
Defining Birth Defects
Birth defects almost always happen weeks or even months before the baby is ever delivered. Defects usually impact the child’s nervous system and may hamper their development in the womb.
The cause of birth defects can vary on a case by case basis. In some instances, they may be caused by genetic mutations or other unpreventable issues. However, they can also occur when a medical professional prescribes a dangerous medication that interacts with the child while they are still developing in the womb.
If you have any further questions about the main differences between birth injuries and birth defects, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We will be more than happy to provide you with all of the information you need.
Call Our Austin Birth Injury Lawyers For Help
The lawyers here at Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers PLLC have been fighting on behalf of the citizens of Austin since 2001. If your child has suffered an injury during the birthing process, we will be there for you too. We can help you demand compensation for present and future medical expenses, your child’s reduced earning capacity, and more. To set up a free consultation with a member of our legal team, just give us a call or contact us online.