The birth of a child is a joyous experience for many in St. Petersburg, but that joy can turn to heartbreak when a parent learns that a child has suffered a birth injury that can result in long-term effects. If the negligence of a medical professional during pregnancy, labor, or delivery causes a birth injury, the injured child and family may be entitled to recover compensation.
Birth injuries can create a need for life-long additional care, and any settlement recovered by a dedicated personal injury attorney on your behalf could provide much-needed assistance with medical expenses, lifestyle modifications, and other consequences. So, if your child has suffered an injury or suffers from a condition that may have been caused by a preventable birth injury, contact a St. Petersburg birth injury lawyer for a free case evaluation to discuss your options for recovery.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries
Whether it is obvious immediately or whether it takes time to realize that a child has suffered a birth injury, the damage may be caused by a number of different factors. In many cases, injury is suffered due to lack of oxygen, and there are many situations that can lead to this problem.
Some common causes of birth injuries in St. Petersburg include:
- Failing to properly monitor fetal heart rate before, during or after labor
- Not using forceps or other tools properly
- Administering incorrect drug dosage or medication to the mother
- Failing to correctly follow delivery room procedures and techniques
- Delaying Caesarean sections or other necessary procedures
All these mistakes could have been prevented if the medical staff on duty had lived up to their obligations to their patients. As such, a St. Petersburg birth injury attorney could help a plaintiff argue that a health care provider who committed such a mistake should be held civilly liable.
Detecting Birth Injuries
Many birth injuries can lead to permanent disabilities. However, these may not be obvious until some time after a child has left the hospital. In some cases, they may even take years to detect.
Certain symptoms, such as seizures, may make it apparent that a child’s health needs careful investigation, but other symptoms may be subtler. Partial hearing or vision loss may be difficult to ascertain in a young child, and poor muscle control and speech delays often do not become apparent until a child is two years old or more. In the same vein, difficulties with solving problems, memory issues, or tantrums may not become manifest until a child has started school.
The Statute of Limitations May Bar a Claim
While some birth injuries are hard to detect, the Florida statute of limitations generally requires parents to file a lawsuit for a birth injury within two years of the time the injury reasonably should have been discovered and no more than four years after the date of birth.
However, there are exceptions to this limitation in certain cases where it is not obvious that the injury was caused by medical malpractice. An experienced birth injury lawyer in St. Petersburg could work to ascertain whether a particular situation fits within the statutory time guidelines.
Let a St. Petersburg Birth Injury Attorney Help
Birth injury cases are unique and often very complicated. While no amount of money can make up for the physical, emotional, and mental anguish caused by a birth injury, compensation can help protect a child’s future.
So, if you believe your child may have suffered birth injuries caused by the negligence of another, it is recommended that you consult a knowledgeable St. Petersburg birth injury lawyer to learn about your family’s options for recovering damages. Call today to schedule a consultation and get started on your case.
