Birth Injury Attorney Fighting For The Child and Mother

Call 407.612.6464 • 863.324.3500 today to schedule a confidential consultation with Birth Injury Attorney, Sanga Turnbull.

Birth Injuries and Medical Negligence Claims

At Turnbull Law Firm, we understand the challenges that families face when their newborns experience birth injuries due to medical negligence. Our experienced Florida birth injury attorneys are dedicated to helping mothers and children who have suffered from birth injuries such as oxygen asphyxia, brachial plexus injuries, and facial paralysis. We are committed to holding healthcare providers accountable for their actions and seeking justice for families affected by these traumatic events. If you suspect you or a loved one experienced a birth injury case contact us now for your free consultation.

What Are Birth Injuries and What Challenges Do They Pose?

Birth injuries cast a shadow of uncertainty on what should be a moment of celebration and joy for families. Ranging from mild to severe, these injuries encompass a spectrum of conditions that cast their impact on both newborns and mothers. Their repercussions can span a lifetime, demanding extensive medical care and attention.

When Do Birth Injuries Occur and When Should Accountability Prevail?

The occurrence of birth injuries hinges on the delicate balance of medical care and expertise. When these injuries arise due to medical negligence, accountability should prevail. Shoulder dystocia, oxygen asphyxia, Erb’s palsy, and more—each instance bears a timeline where medical actions and decisions hold immense significance.

Where Do Birth Injuries Originate and Where Do We Stand?

Birth injuries manifest within the realm of medical settings, placing a heavy burden on healthcare providers. Turnbull Law Firm firmly believes in standing by families affected by these traumatic events, ensuring that accountability is upheld where necessary. Whether it’s the delivery room or the corridors of legal justice, our commitment knows no bounds.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Birth Injuries
• Shoulder Dystocia: Prevention and Risks
• Risk to the Baby
• Risks to the Mother
• Oxygen Asphyxia: Impact on Newborns
• Erb’s Palsy: Causes and Disabilities
• Brachial Plexus Injuries: Nerve Damage
• Facial Paralysis: Effects and Causes
• Cerebral Palsy: Lifelong Challenges
• Injuries to Mothers: Understanding the Risks
• Wrongful Birth Claims: Seeking Justice
• Legal Recourse and Compensation

Understanding Birth Injuries

The birth of a child is a moment of joy and anticipation for families, but unfortunately, birth injuries can occur due to medical negligence. Birth injuries encompass a range of conditions, from mild to severe, that can impact both the newborn and the mother. These injuries may lead to lifelong challenges and necessitate substantial medical care.

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Shoulder Dystocia: Prevention and Risks

Shoulder dystocia is a birth complication in which a baby’s shoulders become lodged in the birth canal during delivery. This situation poses serious risks to both the baby and the mother. While shoulder dystocia can result in injuries such as brachial plexus injuries and facial paralysis, it is preventable with adequate monitoring and safe delivery techniques.

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Risks to the Baby

Shoulder dystocia can lead to injuries such as Klumpke’s paralysis and Erb’s palsy. Klumpke’s paralysis involves damage to the brachial plexus nerves in the shoulder, resulting in paralysis of the affected arm. Erb’s palsy also stems from brachial plexus nerve damage and can cause paralysis, weakness, shaking, and pain in the affected arm. Additionally, lack of oxygen during labor can result in brain damage, cerebral palsy, or even death.

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Risks to the Mother

In addition to the risks to the baby, shoulder dystocia can also cause injuries to the mother. Complications like postpartum hemorrhage, vaginal lacerations, and uterine rupture may occur, leading to severe pain, shock, and even death if not promptly treated.

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Oxygen Asphyxia: Impact on Newborns

Oxygen asphyxia occurs when a newborn’s oxygen supply is interrupted, potentially leading to brain damage. Factors such as low maternal oxygen levels, umbilical cord issues, and meconium aspiration syndrome can contribute to oxygen deprivation. Even a brief period of oxygen asphyxia can result in lasting brain damage, leading to lifelong disabilities.

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Erb’s Palsy: Causes and Disabilities

Erb’s palsy is a condition that affects arm movement, strength, and sensation in newborns. It often arises from birth-related injuries, such as stretching or tugging on the baby’s shoulder during delivery. Babies with Erb’s palsy may experience paralysis, weakness, and loss of sensation in the affected arm. Physical therapy and surgery may help manage the condition, but many children continue to face challenges throughout their lives.

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Brachial Plexus Injuries: Nerve Damage

The brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves that control movement and feeling in the arms, hands, and fingers. Injuries to this network can occur during delivery and result in conditions like Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s paralysis. Neurapraxia, neuroma, rupture, and avulsion are different types of brachial plexus injuries, each with varying degrees of severity and potential for recovery.

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Facial Paralysis: Effects and Causes

Facial paralysis in newborns can stem from undue pressure on the seventh cranial nerve during birth. This can be caused by improper instrument use, large babies, or long and difficult deliveries. Facial nerve palsy can lead to uneven facial muscle movement, eyelid drooping, and other visual and functional challenges.

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Cerebral Palsy: Lifelong Challenges

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects movement, coordination, and muscle tone. It can manifest in various forms, including spastic, athetoid, and ataxic cerebral palsy. While there is no cure, management through therapies, surgeries, and medications can help improve a child’s quality of life. Cerebral palsy often results from brain damage during pregnancy or delivery.

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Injuries to Mothers: Understanding the Risks

Pregnancy and childbirth can be traumatic for a woman’s body, and negligence during delivery can lead to severe injuries. Femoral nerve dysfunction, lumbosacral plexus injury, pelvic floor damage, and perineal tears are examples of injuries that mothers may sustain. These injuries can cause mobility issues, nerve damage, and even long-term incontinence and pain.

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Wrongful Birth Claims: Seeking Justice

In cases where parents learn that their child has severe disabilities, they may consider whether the situation could have been prevented with proper medical care. Wrongful birth claims seek to hold healthcare providers accountable for failing to provide accurate information about birth defect risks and appropriate tests. These claims aim to provide compensation for the financial, emotional, and physical challenges that families face when caring for a disabled child.

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Legal Recourse and Compensation

If your baby has suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced birth injury attorneys at Turnbull Law Firm are here to guide you through the legal process and help you seek justice. Compensation may cover medical expenses, ongoing care, adaptive equipment, and the emotional toll that birth injuries take on families.

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Contact us at Turnbull Law Firm to schedule a free consultation and discuss your legal options. Our compassionate team is dedicated to fighting for the rights of families affected by birth injuries and ensuring that your child receives the best possible care and quality of life. Remember, you’re not alone—our firm is here to support you every step of the way.

Call 407.612.6464 • 863.324.3500 today to speak with an experienced Birth Injury Lawyer who proudly serves Lakeland, Orlando, and throughout the State of Florida.

Florida Birth Injury Jury Verdicts

these verdicts are results from trials across the state of Florida and do not indicate what your case may be worth or that all cases are successful. These verdicts are also not meant to indicate a guarantee of future results. Each case has to be evaluated on its own merits by a qualified attorney before we can offer any professional advice on case evaluation

Total Award $4,095,000

Plaintiff presented herself for delivery at the Birth Center, but after unsuccessful attempts, she was transferred to a Hospital and Clinics where her stillborn baby was delivered via vacuum extraction. The plaintiffs claimed that risky medications were administered to induce labor, leading to complications such as hyperextension of the uterus and fecal infection. The plaintiffs’ expert opined that these medications contributed to the baby’s death, and that proper medical care was delayed, which resulted in the child’s demise.

Total Award $700,000.00

During delivery, shoulder dystocia was encountered and allegedly mishandled by delivery room physicians. As an alleged result, the child now suffers from Erb’s palsy.

Total Award $4,821,000.00

On Sept. 26, 2001, plaintiff went into labor at Broward General Medical Center in Broward County. The baby girl, sustained shoulder dystocia due to obstructed labor and also sustained an injury to her brachial plexus nerves during delivery.

Maternal Death

On July 22, 2015, decedent died following complications from a Caesarean delivery. During her pregnancy, plaintiff suffered placenta previa: abnormal development and positioning of the placenta. She and her family were told about the condition. Placenta previa is a known risk factor for placenta accreta: a condition in which the placenta attaches too deeply to the uterine wall. It was later determined that she had the most severe form of placenta accreta, placenta percreta. However, her family claimed that she was not notified about placenta percreta, that the doctors failed to prepare for a delivery involving this condition, and that resultant complications led to death. Defendants later admitted liability.

Total Award $4,000,000.00

Identical twins, were delivered by Caesarean section Due to high risk nature of the pregnancy she had been admitted in July to the high risk level 3 maternal fetal ward. After the decision was made to deliver the twins via C-section, the mother had to wait several hours for an operating room to be available. One twin was born with cerebral palsy and the other died eight days earlier in utero from an umbilical cord accident.

Total Award $6,584,674.00

Plaintiff went into labor on Aug. 27, 2014. She was checked into the hospital at 7:30 p.m. that evening and was hooked up to a fetal heart monitor. Initially, the heart rate was normal. However, soon thereafter, the heart rate was interpreted as category 2 indicating an abnormality. The tracings subsequently deteriorated to category 3 status which indicated an emergency. Given the high risk nature of the pregnancy the doctor was negligent by failing to induce labor earlier or perform a scheduled C-section.

Call 407.612.6464 • 863.324.3500 today to speak with an experienced Birth Injury Lawyer who proudly serves Lakeland, Orlando, and throughout the State of Florida.