Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics believes that most birth injuries could be preventable if the medical professionals involved with the pregnant woman’s care take time to identify the possible risks, take the necessary steps to prevent complications, and make sure they provide an appropriate standard of care? If you feel that your medical providers have not taken those steps, resulting in an injury to your newborn infant or to yourself, then a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville can help you file a lawsuit and pursue the compensation that you are entitled to.

Here are a few facts that you might not know about birth injuries.

  1. Several medical professionals can be held responsible for birth injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your individual case, a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville may be looking at a number of negligent parties, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, anesthesiologists, and even the hospital itself.
  2. There is a higher prevalence of racial disparity and obstetric violence among Black and Latina mothers, but hospitals often dismiss reports as an interpersonal conflict. However, obstetric abuse is now accepted as a violation of human rights. If you belong to these communities and your child has suffered a birth injury, it is important to come forward and work with a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville to seek justice.
  3. One of the most common types of birth injury is Cerebral Palsy, which affects around 4 in every 1000 babies born in the United States. Various contributing factors can contribute to this diagnosis, including abnormal development, infection, fetal or pediatric stroke, premature birth, and asphyxia.
  4. Making use of forceps or a vacuum to bring the baby down the birth canal has a high risk of birth injury. Forceps can cause facial nerve injuries, which will be noticeable when the newborn cries, as the face will appear lopsided. A number of minor injuries, including cephalohematoma, where blood accumulates under the scalp, can occur when the doctor uses a birth assisting tool improperly during the delivery.
  5. Transverse, or breech, delivery is one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries during labor. The traction on the infant’s trunk, or twisting the trunk to turn the baby, can put additional strain on the spinal cord, resulting in injury.
  6. Birth injury does not only happen during delivery. It can occur at any stage of the pregnancy, during labor, and even in post-partum.

Seeking Support in a Birth Injury Lawsuit

If your child has suffered a birth injury, the medical bills will soon begin to mount up, and your insurance may not cover some of the expenses. Then, there is potentially the cost of ongoing care for the rest of your child’s life. This is why you should seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Look for an experienced birth injury lawyer in Knoxville who can help you navigate the legal process and seek the financial compensation your infant deserves. When you have the right birth injury lawyer in Knoxville supporting you, it leaves you free to focus on your child’s wellbeing while they take care of the legal side of things.

Birth injury lawsuits can be very complex, so working with a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville is essential. They will understand the necessary steps that need to be taken to prove that medical negligence has occurred, resulting in the birth injury. They can lead you through the process and help you recover the appropriate damages. Some of the steps involved in filing a birth injury lawsuit will include the following:

  • Gather Medical Records - Your birth injury lawyer in Knoxville will want to gather all of your medical records relating to your pregnancy and birth, including prenatal records, delivery records, and details of the treatment given to you or the infant following the birth.
  • Identify Medical Negligence - Once your medical records have been obtained, your birth injury lawyer in Knoxville will want to review them carefully to find evidence of medical negligence. They will likely consult an expert medical witness to evaluate the facts and determine if negligence was involved. They may also want to do a physical examination.
  • Filing the Lawsuit - Your birth injury lawyer in Knoxville will prepare a document outlining your complaint and detailing the allegations of medical malpractice. This will be filed with the court in order to initiate a birth injury lawsuit. The defendants named in the document will be notified that legal action is being taken against them.
  • Discovery Process - Both parties will communicate through the discovery process by exchanging information. This will include depositions, document requests, and interrogatories that will be used to help strengthen the case.
  • Negotiation, Mediation, or Trial - In some cases, there may be a chance to negotiate with the defendants or enter into mediation to agree on a settlement without going to trial. You should discuss with your birth injury lawyer in Knoxville if this is the best option for you or if you should go to trial. Both sides will present their case during the trial, and the judge and/or jury will decide the outcome.

If you are currently experiencing the trauma of a birth injury, it can be overwhelming to take the next steps. However, it is important to talk to a birth injury lawyer in Knoxville as soon as possible to find out where you stand. At Butler, Vines, and Babb, we understand how difficult this time is for you and will handle your consultation with compassion and discretion.

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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.

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