Birth Injury Attorney | Filing a Claim for a Baby Injury

Filing a Claim for a Baby Injury

A baby injury during the birthing process can result in some truly devastating conditions. One of the most serious of all injuries is a brain injury. In the case of infants, the brain being starved of oxygen for too long can result in cerebral palsy, a condition that lasts a lifetime and that has very serious consequences for the quality of the life of the affected individual. Parents and children who have been affected by this injury may want to consider filing a claim if there was medical negligence involved in the injury.

Cerebral palsy in infants isn’t always obvious right away. Because this injury specifically affects control of the muscles, there aren’t always ready signs when the infant is born. It’s usually when some of the most common milestones of infant development come too slowly or not at all that CP may be suspected. In some cases, however, the infant may be obviously injured. They may have very uneven muscle tone. In some cases, their limbs may feel floppy and powerless or, conversely, they may be extremely rigid and immobile. This condition will persist throughout the child’s life, so there are serious considerations where treatment is concerned.

Cerebral palsy cannot be cured but, amidst all this bad news, there is a small bit of good news. CP does not worsen as the child ages. It never heals but the brain injury will not degrade further. Some symptoms may worsen and the majority of people affected by this disorder will need extensive care. Some of them will be able to live at home and receive care there and others will need to have a professional caregiver present at all times. This is obviously a huge expense and it is one of the reasons that parents sometimes sue for damages.

An attorney can work with you to determine if you have a case that’s worth pursuing. They may recommend that you sue or they may recommend that you don’t pursue the case at all. Attorneys who work on contingency have to win their cases to get paid, so they’re a safe bet where getting an honest answer regarding the viability of your claim is concerned. They also don’t charge upfront fees and usually offer a free consultation, so you can visit with many of them and discuss your case without taking on legal expenses.