When we go to the doctor, we expect nothing but the best medical care possible. We trust that every physician working in a hospital is experienced and trained to ensure our safety. However, the reality is often very different than what we otherwise would expect. Every year, thousands of patients are injured or lose their lives due to the negligence of careless, reckless healthcare providers.

If a negligent doctor injured you or someone you love, our Boca Raton birth injury lawyers can help. At our firm, we can assist you with your medical malpractice claim. To schedule a free, confidential consultation on your birth injury case, contact us today.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries in Boca Raton, Florida

Birth injuries frequently happen in the United States. According to the Birth Injury Guide, 1 in every 9,174 people born in the U.S. suffers from a birth injury. These injuries can be severe and may last for a lifetime. Depending on the situation, injured babies can suffer from other serious conditions as they develop. Most of the time, these injuries are caused by medical negligence.

Medical negligence is a legal concept that includes a wide range of irresponsible practices. Common causes of birth injuries due to negligence include:

Improper Use of Forceps

Forceps are medical devices commonly used during delivery. These rounded, tong-shaped, metallic instruments are used to hold onto the baby’s head during birth. This way, the doctor can pull the baby slowly through the birth canal. In other words, forceps are used to facilitate delivery. However, babies are tender and fragile at the moment of birth. Therefore, doctors in Boca Raton and elsewhere must exercise the utmost caution when using forceps. If a physician exerts too much pressure on the baby’s head, he or she can cause damage to the skull and brain. Head injuries in babies can be devastating, especially as they develop. Some of the harms associated with the improper use of forceps include facial palsy, cerebral palsy, brain damage, seizures, and other debilitating conditions.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Treatment

Monitoring the mother during pregnancy and delivery is crucial for ensuring her safety. Many times, prospective mothers can develop infections that may put their life or the life of their baby at risk. Certain diseases and viruses have been linked to different conditions in babies, such as Bell’s palsy. Doctors have a duty to monitor the mother, diagnose any potential illness, and resolve it quickly. Failure to accurately diagnose and treat any condition during pregnancy can lead to dire consequences for the unborn child.

Failure to Monitor the Fetus

A doctor’s duty to adequately monitor the fetus is critical throughout the birth process. Prenatal monitoring is crucial to determine any issues that may affect the life of the mother and her child. Like prenatal monitoring, fetal monitoring is paramount in ensuring the baby’s well-being before, during, and after birth. If your child suffered a birth injury due to the inattentiveness or negligence of your doctor, you may obtain compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit against those who injured your child.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit in Boca Raton

Medical malpractice claims require time, skill, knowledge, and experience to pursue. Most of these cases are based on negligence and require you to prove specific elements with the court.

For instance, you will need to prove to the court that your doctor was, in fact, negligent. This can be achieved by showing your doctor breached their duty of care by providing improper medical attention. You will also need to prove that your doctor’s negligence caused harm to you or your baby. Once you have met these elements, you may obtain compensation for your losses. Medical malpractice claims are incredibly technical and complex. For this reason, most of these cases require a long time to gather information, contact medical experts for testimony, and other key legal procedures.

Acting promptly to address medical malpractice is essential. There are legal time limits that dictate when a person has to file their claim; these are known as statutes of limitations. In Florida, a claimant has two years to file a medical malpractice claim. However, there is an exception when the injured person is a minor. In such cases, a person has up to the minor’s eighth birthday to file their claim. While this may sound like a long time to file your claim, you need to act as quickly as possible. Your medical malpractice lawyer may need time to gather all of the information required to proceed with your case.

Boca Raton, FL Birth Injury Attorney Handling Medical Malpractice Claims

If you or a loved one was injured due to the negligence and carelessness of an unprofessional healthcare provider, we can help. At our firm, our medical malpractice attorneys can help you hold the liable parties accountable for your losses. Thanks to our years of experience handling birth injury and other medical malpractice claims, we are able to provide you with strategic, aggressive legal representation. Turn to our skilled Boca Raton birth injury lawyers for compassionate, effective guidance. To learn more about your case in a free, confidential consultation, contact us today.