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St. Petersburg Birth Injury Lawyers
Experienced attorneys helping families after birth injuries
Birth injuries can be extremely devastating for families. Not only is it frightening and complicated, but it’s also difficult to come to terms with the fact that the injuries are often preventable and took place because of the negligence of medical providers that your family trusted. On top of the emotional and physical toll, getting the best possible care for the injured child can be extremely costly. If your family is struggling with the aftermath of a birth injury, you need the help and support of a St. Petersburg birth injury attorney. At MattLaw, our compassionate attorneys have the necessary experience to handle these often complex claims. Contact us to learn more about how our team can help you and your family.
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Why choose MattLaw for your birth injury case?
When choosing a birth injury attorney, it’s important to find someone who is dedicated, experienced, and has a proven track record fighting for children and families. MattLaw has been advocating for injury victims for over 35 years. Founder Matt Powell is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is also certified by the Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Law specialist.
While there are countless awards that attorneys can boast about, board certification is a particularly rigorous process, making it a rare distinction in the legal field. To apply for Civil Trial Law certification, attorneys must meet specific criteria:
- Practice for a minimum of five years
- Dedicate at least 50% of their practice to civil trial law over the last three years
- Serve as lead counsel in 15 or more contested cases
- Complete 50 hours of continuing legal education in civil trial law within three years of applying
- Undergo peer reviews from other attorneys
- Pass a comprehensive written exam
Contact us to schedule a consultation for more information on working with Matt Powell and the rest of the MattLaw team.
Frequently asked questions about birth injuries in St. Petersburg
What is a birth injury?
Birth injuries take place during the labor and delivery process. A birth injury is often a preventable form of harm, which makes it different from birth defects. Birth defects are often congenital and not the result of a difficult birth or a doctor’s actions. Birth injuries can range from minor conditions that resolve soon after birth to life-altering disabilities like cerebral palsy or brachial plexus injuries that may impact the child throughout their life.
Can I file a lawsuit over my child’s birth injury?
It may be possible to file a lawsuit for a birth injury. The question is whether negligence by a doctor, hospital, or other medical provider caused harm to your child. Medical negligence can be challenging to prove because the analysis is highly technical. The fact that a baby suffered an injury is not enough to prove negligence. You must show that the medical provider failed to meet the appropriate standard of care for practitioners in their field. Your attorney will need to have experience handling these types of claims so that they know how to build a case using expert testimony from medical providers and experts who can show that the facility or providers who injured your child were negligent.
How do I receive compensation for a birth injury in St. Petersburg?
If you build a strong case against the providers who injured your child, you will be able to recover compensation. In the case of a birth injury, that compensation may include:
- Medical costs related to the injury
- Future medical costs your child will incur because of the injury, based on estimates from medical experts
- Pain and suffering of the child and family related to the injury
- Lost income related to the parents' need to care for the child following the injury
- Disability accommodations for families that will need to update homes and vehicles to make them accessible
- Loss of enjoyment of life for the child
- In cases of extreme gross negligence or misconduct, families may be able to pursue punitive damages
Your St. Petersburg birth injury attorney can help you understand the damages that you might be able to recover in your case.
Should I accept the hospital’s birth injury settlement?
If you receive an offer of a settlement, you should immediately contact an attorney to discuss the offer and your case. Insurers and hospitals may quickly offer you a settlement because they hope to avoid a more costly medical malpractice claim. If you sign the agreement, you will be forfeiting your right to file a lawsuit for the injuries your child suffered. You might be able to recover a much higher settlement or verdict. Considering the potentially life-long complications that could result from one of these injuries, you owe it to yourself and your child to do everything you can to recover compensation that will help provide for their care in the future.
How long do I have to file my St. Petersburg birth injury claim?
Generally, you have two years to file a birth injury claim in Florida. Some limited exceptions exist, such as when an injury doesn’t immediately appear. However, you should never wait to speak to an attorney about your case. If you do not file within the statute of limitations, the court can refuse to hear your claim.
Common birth injuries and their symptoms
Cerebral palsy is likely the most well-known serious birth injury, but other possible injuries occur during the birth process. Here are some common birth injuries, their symptoms, and their causes.
Cerebral palsy
According to some reports, anywhere from one to four out of every 1,000 live births result in cerebral palsy. Individuals with cerebral palsy may experience intellectual disabilities and sensory impairments. Others may have more physical disabilities.
Medical negligence can lead to this condition in several ways. For example, these errors may cause cerebral palsy:
- Doctors failed to properly detect or treat an infection in the mother or baby
- Providers neglected to notice signs of fetal distress, including a loss of oxygen or an abnormal heart rate.
- The provider misused forceps, vacuum extractors, or other tools during delivery.
- Providers delayed or failed to order a medically necessary cesarean section
- Doctors fail to recognize and manage an umbilical cord prolapse
Facial paralysis
When babies experience pressure on the seventh cranial nerve during birth, they can develop facial paralysis, resulting in the inability to use their facial muscles voluntarily. Although this condition fortunately does often resolve with time, it can also lead to serious complications.
Oxygen deprivation
When a newborn suffers oxygen deprivation, it can lead to several dangerous outcomes, including cerebral palsy, but also several other conditions, such as epilepsy, hearing loss, or vision damage.
Fractured collarbone
Infants may suffer a fractured collarbone in the birthing process. The injury can cause the baby to avoid moving their arm because of the pain. These injuries often heal as the baby’s bones grow and develop.
Brachial plexus
The brachial plexus is a group of nerves in an infant's upper shoulder and neck area. Pulls or pinches in this area can cause damage. In some cases, the nerve damage is minor, allowing the child to recover fully. Other times, the injury can be severe and lead to permanent disability. The symptoms can include limited shoulder, arm, and hand movement and possible impacts on facial muscles.
Intracranial hemorrhage (IVH)
IVH is more common in premature babies as the blood vessels in the brain are still very fragile in these infants. The condition involves a hemorrhage that bleeds into the fluid-filled parts of the brain.
Caput succedaneum
This condition involves severe swelling of an infant’s head after birth. It is often related to extreme pressure during the birth process. The risk of caput succedaneum increases when providers use vacuum extraction to help aid the delivery process.
Spinal cord injuries
These injuries happen most often because a baby is in a breech or transverse position. Doctors may attempt to reposition the baby manually and cause further harm. Doctors should be carefully evaluating a baby’s position before labor and delivery to prevent these injuries.
Do you have a St. Petersburg birth injury lawyer near me?
MattLaw’s offices are in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. If visiting us at these locations isn’t feasible, let us know so we can find an alternative place to meet.
Contact MattLaw to discuss your birth injury claim
St. Petersburg parents have the right to collect compensation when a doctor negligently causes harm to their infant. The compensation can help them cover costs related to medical care and other support they need to provide their child, such as adaptive equipment and therapy.
At MattLaw, we are dedicated to fighting for justice and securing the resources for families impacted by birth injuries. If you believe your child was harmed due to medical negligence, contact us today for a free consultation.