If your newborn baby has bruises or other injuries that you suspect were caused by poor medical care, you should talk to an experienced infant bruising attorney about your family’s legal options. If doctor negligence caused your infant son or daughter’s injuries, you may have a medical malpractice lawsuit against your physician, the hospital where you gave birth, or other parties under Texas law.
At The Queenan Law Firm, P.C., we have decades of experience representing the families of injured newborns, making us skilled and aggressive advocates for the rights of parents. We can fight to recover compensation for your family’s medical expenses, relentlessly pursuing the answers and the justice you deserve. To speak confidentially with a birth injury lawyer for infant bruising claims in Dallas and Arlington, TX, call The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 for a free legal consultation, or contact us online.
Is Infant Bruising Normal After Birth?
Some minor bruising is considered to be a normal and natural consequence of childbirth, particularly if labor is difficult or prolonged. However, there are some cases where bruising results from improper medical care, and not the regular physical stresses of childbirth. Some potential warning signs of excessive or abnormal infant bruising include:
- Extreme or disproportionate tenderness and pain in the bruised area, which could indicate a more serious internal injury
- The bruises seem unusually large or dark
- The bruises persist for more than a few weeks without fading or shrinking
- The bruises are located in unusual or unexpected areas, such as the ears, throat, face, or hands
Since infants can’t communicate with us verbally, it can be challenging to tell the difference between normal and excessive bruising. The best and safest course of action is to promptly consult a pediatrician, who can diagnose an injury and create a treatment plan.
Suing for Medical Malpractice for Infant Bruising During Childbirth
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, or other type of medical professional causes a patient’s death, injury, or illness by failing to exercise a proper, reasonable level of care, considering the circumstances. For example, a doctor might cause avoidable bruising in an infant by exerting too much physical force or pressure while delivering the baby, which is particularly common in births assisted by forceps or vacuum. Special precautions must be exercised in cases where there are additional genetic or medical risks, such as a family history of certain disorders.
Proving that a doctor’s careless mistakes caused the patient’s injury, rather than natural causes, is a painstaking process that involves making a detailed investigation into patient, doctor, and hospital records, along with complex insurance policies. Insurance companies and their attorneys are aggressive in defending malpractice lawsuits, raising the stakes even higher.
Do not face these challenges on your own. Protect your family and your legal rights by getting help from a trusted, experienced attorney, like a Dallas and Arlington infant bruising injury lawyer from The Queenan Law Firm. We utilize cutting-edge techniques to investigate the causes of birth injuries – and when we discover negligence, we do not stop fighting until the truth is exposed.
Damages Available in a Birth Injury Lawsuit in Dallas + Arlington, TX
The word “damages” refers to the financial compensation that is awarded when a personal injury lawsuit, such as an infant bruising injury lawsuit, is successful. The party who is filing the lawsuit will “seek damages” for various losses or harms they have suffered, such as medical bills or pain and suffering. Many cases are settled outside of court, with both sides agreeing to a certain amount.
This amount varies from case to case, depending on the nature and severity of the injuries, and the sorts of physical or financial effects they are expected to have on the victim in the future. For instance, if an injury is expected to require surgical correction, the cost of surgery should be taken into consideration.
In all types of injury claims, it is a common tactic for insurers to make “low-ball” settlement offers. Unfortunately, these types of settlement offers do not have your family’s best financial interests at heart: they are an effort to protect the company’s bottom line by resolving your claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. Before accepting any sort of offer for compensation, make sure you discuss your newborn’s injuries with an experienced attorney, who can help you determine the true value of your claim.
Dallas + Arlington Lawyer for Infant Bruising During Childbirth
The birth of a child should be a joyful moment for your family. But sadly, for thousands of mothers and fathers, negligence turns this wonderful occasion into a medical nightmare. If an OB-GYN, nurse, or midwife provides improper care during childbirth or pregnancy, your baby can suffer serious injuries, including bruising to the face, neck, hands, back, or other parts of the body. Depending on the severity of the bruises, there can be long-term or permanent effects, including damage to muscles (called “intramuscular” bruising) and bones (called “periosteal” bruising).
If your baby was severely bruised or suffered other injuries during childbirth, you may have cause to file a birth injury lawsuit in Texas. To discuss your potential malpractice claim in a free legal consultation, contact The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. online, or call (817) 476-1797 for 24-hour assistance.