Because the skull has not yet completely formed in a newborn baby, an infant’s head is much softer than an adult’s. Therefore, babies are more susceptible to brain injuries, especially during birth. Although not all infant brain injuries are preventable, many are caused by medical malpractice.
If your child has an unexplainable brain injury, it may be due to a health care professional’s negligence before, during, or after childbirth. Continue reading to learn more about infant brain injuries and when you should contact a birth injury lawyer.
What Can Cause Serious Brain Injury to an Infant?
Due to the sensitivity of an infant’s head, they are more likely to suffer catastrophic head trauma resulting from accidents. That can include car crashes, falls, trips, and more. In addition to accidental head trauma, infants can also sustain brain injuries as a result of medical negligence.
For reference, medical malpractice is defined as any act or failure to act by a healthcare provider while treating a patient that is inconsistent with universally accepted healthcare practices, and which causes an actual injury to a patient (theoretical injuries such as an injury that could have happened do not constitute medical malpractice).
Some of the most common ways infant brain injuries result from medical malpractice include:
- Inadequate oxygen while in the womb or during the birthing process.
- Injuries caused by medical tools (i.e., forceps, vaginal speculum, scissors, etc.).
- Delayed cesarean section or mistakes during the birthing process.
- Errors during delivery.
- Lack of adequate monitoring before or after birth.
What Are The Signs of Brain Damage in Babies?
A medical professional can diagnose brain injuries while a child is in the womb, immediately after birth, or shortly after that. However, in many cases, it can take weeks, months, or even years to diagnose infant brain damage.
Generally, you should immediately consult a physician if your baby exhibits the following brain injury symptoms:
- Uncharacteristic lack of balance or incoordination
- Convulsing or twitching
- Irregular breathing patterns
- Noticeable differences in their pupils
- Fluid leakage from the ears
- Failure to thrive
- Global developmental delay
- Differences between the baby’s movement or appearance on the right and left sides
After consulting a pediatrician, you should consider contacting a brain injury lawyer. That’s especially true if you believe the injury resulted from the negligence of another person or entity.
Who’s Responsible For My Child’s Brain Injury?
Sometimes, no one is to blame for accidental injuries. However, in other cases, brain injuries occur due to another person’s negligence, including negligent drivers, product manufacturers, health care professionals, doctors, etc.
With that in mind, proving a child’s brain injury resulted from another party’s negligence isn’t easy. That’s especially true if you believe a healthcare provider caused the injuries. In most cases, you’ll need a seasoned birth injury lawyer to help you navigate this very complex and tricky area of the law. Learn how the attorneys at The Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq. can help below.
Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer in LA Today
Suppose you suspect your child has suffered brain injuries resulting from medical malpractice. In that case, it’s in your best interest to seek counsel from a proven birth injury lawyer as soon as possible.
At The Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq., our birth injury lawyers have one goal: recover maximum compensation for people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. Contact us at 323-794-0197 for your free initial consultation with an experienced birth injury lawyer.