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An infant child’s skull is quite fragile, and parents and doctors must take care not to damage the skull before it finishes forming. During many deliveries, doctors might opt to use forceps or other tools and techniques that require them to put physical pressure on the child’s skull. There are certain risks involved with these procedures, but serious injuries from crushing the child’s skull are usually completely unacceptable.
If your child’s skull was crushed during their delivery because of a doctor’s negligent care or decisions, contact The Queenan Law Firm today. Our Dallas and Arlington crushed skull at birth injury attorneys represent the families of babies that were injured or killed by crushed skull injuries during delivery. For a free legal consultation on your case, contact our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.
Suing a Doctor for Birth Injuries in Texas
During your child’s delivery, there are some risks inherent to the procedure. This means that no matter what your doctor does, the limitations of humans delivering babies and the practices and techniques we have available to us might be unable to prevent some injuries or issues. However, many of these injuries and complications are somewhat simple to identify as accidents. The complications you can sue for are distinct from avoidable injuries and often entitle the parents and family to file a lawsuit against the doctor for medical malpractice.
Forceps deliveries are one of the most common causes of crushed skull injuries and other injuries to the face, skull, and brain. Forceps are large, curved metal tongs used to delicately maneuver and pull the child from the birth canal. Because forceps put pressure on the child’s head, they are only supposed to be used when needed, and overuse of forceps in unnecessary circumstances is an unfortunately common cause of forceps injuries. Moreover, once the doctor decides to use forceps, they must make sure to use them carefully and with the proper skill expected of them. Doctors may also cause crushed skull injuries by mishandling or dropping the baby in the delivery room.
If the doctor makes an unreasonable decision to turn to forceps or otherwise fails to prevent avoidable injury while using forceps, the baby could face serious injuries. Among these potential injuries are crushed or fractured skull injuries. Serious failures like this can usually lead to a lawsuit.
When you sue your doctor for medical malpractice, you must prove that the injuries your child faced were the doctor’s fault and not just unavoidable complications. Your attorney can hire a medical expert to testify to what your doctor should have done differently and how their mistakes contributed to your child’s death or injury. In a lawsuit for crushed skull injuries, you are often entitled to substantial compensation for your child’s birth injuries.
Damages for Crushed Skull Injuries in Newborns
If your newborn suffered a crushed skull injury during birth, your family may be entitled to substantial compensation. A crushed skull can require intensive medical care to set the bones and heal the injury. Brain damage from the crushed skull can be fatal or may require intensive medical care and ongoing care to deal with potential permanent brain damage or developmental disorders. All of this might entitle you and your family to substantial compensation.
Medical Care
The care costs for this kind of injury can be expensive. Your newborn may require emergency surgery, a stay in the intensive care unit, additional procedures, and ongoing care to manage their injuries. Other damages may come from ongoing physical therapy and occupational therapy to help them with the effects of a serious brain injury, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disorders stemming from the crushed skull.
Lost Wages
If your child’s injuries are permanent, they may face problems later in life. One of these issues may be an inability to work to support themselves, potentially resulting in lost wages and lost earning capacity. These damages can be compensated in a lawsuit as well, even though they are probably the last thing on your mind at this time.
Pain and Suffering
The damages for pain and suffering may also be substantial. Injury victims often face severe physical pain as well as mental anguish and emotional distress related to the injury. As your child grows and develops, this distress, pain, and discomfort may become more and more severe, leading to high projected future damages.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your child was killed by negligent care and crushed skull injuries, you may be entitled to substantial damages as well. It is impossible to put a monetary value on the loss of human life, but our attorneys can work to prove the costs and damages your family faced because of the loss of your newborn, and we can fight to prove these damages in court.
Settlements
In many cases, the doctor’s medical malpractice insurance company will cover these costs. In an attempt to save their profits, they may make low settlement offers that will not pay for your needs in full. Your attorney can help you determine whether the damages you were offered in a settlement are sufficient and negotiate settlements with the insurance company. For help determining what your case is worth, call our attorneys.
Call Our Dallas Crushed and Fractured Skull Birth Injury Attorneys
If your newborn suffered severe skull injuries at birth, you may be entitled to sue the doctor for mishandling your child and causing these injuries. Our Dallas and Arlington crushed skull injury lawyers may be able to take your case and fight to get you compensation from the at-fault doctor and hospital for their medical malpractice. For a free legal consultation on your case, call The Queenan Law Firm today at (817) 476-1797.