Best Birth Injury Lawyer in Alpharetta

Welcoming a new child into the world can be a wonderful thing. Sometimes, however, the birthing process can be jarring and injurious.
 
Birth injuries have more than just emotional and physical consequences. In many cases, they can put unique financial strains on the child's family.
 
When a birth injury is the result of a physician’s or health care provider’s negligence, the family has the right to seek financial compensation. Patients in medical settings have the right to expect reasonable and thorough care from trained professionals.
 
When a doctor fails to provide this standard of care, victims deserve justice. If you or your family have grounds for a birth injury case, do not wait.
 
At Morgan & Morgan, we boast the most reliable birth injury lawyers in Alpharetta, GA. Our skilled legal professionals have plenty of experience in handling birth injury cases.
 
We understand the emotional, physical, and economic strains that birth injuries cause. You should not have to bear the burdens of a medical care provider’s negligence on your own.
 
To consult with the premier birth injury lawyers in Alpharetta, GA, contact Morgan & Morgan today. Complete our user-friendly contact form online to arrange a free case evaluation.

The Prevalence of Birth Injuries

Unfortunately, birth injuries are more common than they should be. Following this type of injury, families may need to find ways to cover special schooling, physical therapy, or other necessary medical care for their children.
 
According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, birth injuries and defects cost the United States more than $2.6 billion a year. If your family has sustained financial losses due to a birth injury, contact a legal professional.
 
Since 1988, Morgan & Morgan has overseen countless negligence cases. We have the skills and specialized knowledge to recover financial compensation for your family during this difficult time.
 
Our birth injury lawyers in Alpharetta, GA will carefully examine the facts of your case to determine whether your physician is liable for the damages. Negligent medical care providers should be held accountable for the damage that they cause to infants and their mothers.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

When an infant suffers from an avoidable injury at the time of birth, the parents have the legal right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. This is one way to hold the overseeing doctors and care providers accountable.
 
Like most types of personal injury claims, the plaintiffs will need to prove that the doctor behaved negligently. They will also need to show that negligence was the direct cause of the birth injury.
 
If a medical care provider does not live up to a reasonable standard of care, their behavior qualifies as negligence. 

The accomplished attorneys at Morgan & Morgan have plenty of experience handling medical malpractice cases involving birth injuries.
 
When you schedule a consultation with our firm, our birth injury lawyers in Alpharetta, GA will assess your claim to determine the amount that you can hope to recover. 
 
Some common examples of medical negligence that lead to birth injuries include:

Improper Use of Forceps

Attending physicians have the option to use forceps if a mother is unable to deliver her child because it is unsuitably positioned in the womb. When used properly, forceps reduce infants’ risk of fetal distress and oxygen deprivation.
 
Both distress and lack of oxygen have been shown to increase the risk of cerebral palsy for infants. However, using forceps improperly can have severe negative consequences.
 
For example, improper forceps use can result in nerve damage in the infant. It may also cause neck, chest, and head injuries.
 
If your doctor used this tool inappropriately and caused damage to your child, you can hold them accountable for medical negligence.

Delay in Cesarean Section

When an infant is suffering from fetal distress during the birth process, the physician may order an emergency Cesarean section. In some cases, emergency C-sections are necessary in response to the following issues:

• A rapid decrease in the mother’s blood pressure
• Excessive bleeding from a placental abruption
• Urine ruptures
• Slowed labor
• Umbilical cord prolapses
• Placenta covering the cervix (placenta previa)

If the attending physician fails to notice the signs of an emergency and does not request a C-section, birth injuries may result. When this happens, the infant’s family may have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Improper Use of Vacuum

A vacuum can be used to help the mother expel the fetus from the birthing canal. In most cases, a vacuum is attached to the head or shoulder of the fetus to help guide it in an appropriate direction. 
 
The overseeing birthing team is responsible for using this delicate tool appropriately. This includes placing the vacuum in the right spot on the infant’s body and guiding it gently.
 
When a vacuum is used improperly, both the fetus and the mother are at high risk of sustaining injuries. If you or your infant has been harmed because of improper vacuum use, do not hesitate to speak with birth injury lawyers in Alpharetta, GA.

Hypoxia

This condition occurs when the brain of the fetus does not receive an adequate level of oxygen. Fetuses are at an increased risk of hypoxia during childbirth. 
 
Hypoxia can result from a tangled umbilical cord or placental damage. Doctors and other medical professionals undergo training to detect the signs of hypoxia during childbirth.
 
When a physician overlooks clear signs of hypoxia and fails to act, they may be responsible for negative outcomes. A lack of oxygen to the brain of a fetus can result in life-long physical and mental disabilities and conditions.
 
These are only a few examples of the negative consequences that can result from medical negligence. The following are other examples of negligence that can result in birthing injuries:

• Misuse of labor-inducing drugs­, such as Pitocin
• Failing to administer specialized tests and assessments
• Failing to diagnose serious infections, cord entrapment, or placental abruption
• Failure to communicate important health factors of the mother
• Insufficient prenatal testing
• Failing to record changes in the condition of the fetus

Sadly, these types of medical malpractice cases are not as rare as they should be. It can be difficult to know if your child has been injured as the result of medical negligence.
 
In some cases, birth injuries are unavoidable tragedies. Not every instance of a birth injury is caused by medical malpractice or carelessness. 
 
That is why it is crucial to consult with an accomplished birth injury attorney. The capable team at Morgan & Morgan has plenty of experience determining legal liability in birth injury cases.
 
We will examine the following medical records to establish liability in your case:

• Use of medical birthing tools
• Medical notes regarding the delivery
• Results of diagnostic testing
• Electronic fetal monitor strips
• And more

As America’s largest personal injury firm, we have access to a robust network of medical specialists. If necessary, we will have a medical expert review the facts of your case to determine whether your care provider behaved negligently.
 
If one of our specialists believes that your physician failed to meet the required standard of care, you may be able to pursue a birth injury lawsuit.

Tips for Finding the Best Birth Injury Lawyers in Alpharetta, GA

Even if you know that you have a valid medical malpractice claim, you may be unsure of how to find the right legal representative for you. 
 
Rather than hiring the first law firm that comes up from an online search engine, it is important to do your due diligence. There are many online law review sites that provide testimonials from real clients.
 
After you find a law firm that you are interested in hiring, make sure to read a wide range of reviews. Reading assessments from former clients helps you to understand an attorney’s strengths and weaknesses. 
 
Most trustworthy personal injury lawyers will provide you with a free initial consultation to discuss your case. This is a good opportunity to gain clarification about any questions that you have. 
 
It is also a chance to get to know the attorney or firm better. During your initial case evaluation, ask questions like the following: 

• How long have you been practicing law?
• Have you handled birth injury cases before?
• Do you have extensive trial experience?
• Do you believe that this case is winnable?
• Does your firm have the resources to fight for me? 
• Do you believe that this case will go to court?
• What is your negotiation strategy?

Remember, the initial consultation is not only a chance for the attorney to decide whether to take your case. It is also a job interview in which you are the hiring party.
 
If you do not feel confident with the lawyer’s answers or responses, do not hire them.