shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL

Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice Lawyers Orlando, Fl

Your shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers may tell you that the list of things a pregnant woman has to worry about from the moment she finds out she’s pregnant until the moment she finally gives birth is never ending. The potential of birth injuries, unfortunately, tends to fall somewhere on that list. If you and your baby suffer any birth injury including shoulder dystocia, it may be in your best interest to call shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL trusts.

Shoulder dystocia is the name of a rare but troubling birth injury. This particular birth injury results when one or both of the newborn’s shoulders become stuck in his/her mother’s pelvis during the birth process. Fortunately, most injuries caused by shoulder dystocia tend to heal between the first 6 months to a year of life. Furthermore, they don’t usually cause long-term complications.

Unfortunately, there is always a risk for permanent disability. In rare cases, shoulder dystocia can even cause the infant to die. If your baby’s shoulders became stuck during birth and resulted in long-term injuries, permanent damage, or death – a shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyer in Orlando, FL may be able help.

Shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL may warn you that caring for a disabled child for the rest of your life can be expensive. Even just having a child who needs more than a newborn who wasn’t injured at birth for 6 to 12 months can be expensive. You shouldn’t have to carry this financial burden alone.

Any of the fine Orlando shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers, such as one at the Law Offices of Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. may be able to take a look at your case and see if you were entitled to some form of financial assistance to help lighten the load. After all, you shouldn’t be stressed out about how you are going to afford your new baby. You should be enjoying that new bundle of joy! Fortunately, a medical malpractice lawyer may be able to help make that possible.

How Shoulder Dystocia Happens

One of the biggest questions people have is how exactly did this happen to them? Did they do something wrong? Did the doctor do something wrong? Is this just something that happens sometimes? Ideally, this is when you may want a team of shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL relies on to look at the circumstances surrounding your birth injury to see what went wrong.

Unfortunately, this is not a birth injury that can be predicted or prevented. It is not until labor starts that this birth injury is discovered. Often it is too late and the damage is already done. Fortunately, there are certain risk factors which may put a mother and her unborn child at a high risk. Mothers who line up with a lot of these risk factors can often meet with their doctor to discuss whether a natural birth is really the best and safest option.

Risk factors for shoulder dystocia include:

  • Obesity
  • Diabetes and/or gestational diabetes
  • Carrying multiple babies
  • Previously shoulder dystocia
  • Extremely large babies
  • Abnormal or small pelvis structure
  • Overdue baby

Just because shoulder dystocia can’t be predicted or prevented, it doesn’t mean a mother and her family is just out of luck when it comes to financial assistance. If you and your baby have suffered from this birth injury, you may be able to receive financial compensation. Call the shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers at the Law Offices of Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. about your case today at 877-810-2864.

What to Do if Your Child Experiences Shoulder Dystocia as a Result of Malpractice

When you believe your child is victim of medical malpractice, you are frustrated and angry. And that’s understandable. However,  you need to keep thinking clearly so you can take the next steps. Medical malpractice, including shoulder dystocia, is not something to dismiss. You should seek the advice of trusted  shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL families know they can trust.

What You Should Do While You Wait for Your Appointment with The Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice Lawyers in Orlando, FL

Keep Detailed Notes

Even before you know you have a shoulder dystocia malpractice claim, you should keep meticulous notes. When you have that gut feeling that something isn’t right, make note of it.

Your notes should include your child’s pain, your remedies, and anyone you consult with about your injury. Keeping notes will help you remember everything you’ve gone through and will help to protect your rights during your pursuit of compensation. A shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL offers will also appreciate your note-taking.

Keep Your Receipts

One of the damages that you’ll try to get compensation for is medical bills. In order to prove your medical bills, it is recommended that you keep your receipts.

Medical bills may include doctor visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine, and more. Even if your child is only take over the counter medicine for pain, make sure you keep those receipts. You have the right to be reimbursed for those expenses.

Get a Prompt Medical Evaluation

This may sound counterintuitive since the injury may have been caused by a medical professional. But in order to give yourself the best chance possible of recovery, you need to see a doctor.

The doctor will evaluate your child and his or her injuries. They will provide an analysis of the symptoms, their causes, and prospective treatment. In the case of shoulder dystocia, treatment may take several months or years. This is an important step to make sure you have your documentation in order.

Don’t delay in taking this step. The sooner you see a doctor, the better the evaluation and diagnosis will be.

Keep Copies of Your Medical Records

Whenever your child sees the doctor, make sure you get copies of those records. The doctor will keep them but you also want access to them. In addition, Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. will want to review them as quickly as possible when our shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, FL respects assesses your case.

You should also have on hand your regular doctor’s records. These are important because your regular doctor evaluates you on a routine basis. These records will show that, prior to the negligence of a medical professional, you didn’t have the injuries that they caused.

5 Ways A Lawyer Can Help You with Shoulder Dystocia

New parents deserve to have the best care possible, but unfortunately, sometimes the medical system fails them when they need it most, which is why many parents reach out to shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers Orlando, Fl residents trust. If you’re having trouble with your pregnancy or labor and delivery, and your baby was born with birth injuries as a result, you may be eligible to collect compensation from the hospital or from an individual health care provider if they didn’t meet accepted standards of care and you suffered injuries as a result. But how can you prove that you’re eligible to get compensation? Here are five ways that an experienced lawyer can help you get the money you deserve and why you should contact the Law Offices of Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. for help with your case.

  • Labor Complications Due to a Birth Injury

If you’ve experienced complications in labor due to a birth injury, such as shoulder dystocia, you’re likely entitled to compensation. Often referred to as a birth injury, the injury occurs when your baby’s shoulders get stuck on their way out of the birth canal, which can often result in arm and nerve damage for both the baby and the mother. It’s common for families who experience this type of trauma to receive assistance from an attorney.

  • Multiple Cesareans

The primary risk factor for shoulder dystocia is a woman’s previous c-sections. With multiple c-sections, the scar tissue can lead to more difficulty delivering the next baby. In some cases, this will lead to shoulder dystocia – where the shoulders get stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone.

The baby may be delivered manually by pulling on their arms and/or legs or in extreme cases they may need an emergency Caesarean or assisted birth delivery procedure like vacuum extraction or forceps delivery.

  • If it Was too Late for an Epidural

There are two types of shoulder dystocia. The first occurs in the first hour after the baby is born. If an epidural has been administered it can be corrected by quickly turning the baby through another set of maneuvers or separating the shoulder with fingers, instruments or forceps. The second type occurs later than an hour and that is when rapid action needs to be taken as there is a significant risk of brain damage from lack of oxygen flow. It’s not easy being pregnant and you need all the help you can get. That’s why if you have experienced complications during birth, you should contact Orlando shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers for help.

  • Babies Injured at Birth

As mentioned in point number three, shoulder dystocia can also happen after birth — it does not always happen immediately during birth. If you notice that your child is no longer acting normal, it is important to address the issue immediately and contact an attorney for help.

  • If You Need an Attorney

One way you may need an attorney for shoulder dystocia is if the doctor, who caused your shoulder dystocia, was not acting in a reasonable and prudent manner. This means that he or she acted in a negligent way that caused you to suffer from shoulder dystocia. Some of the ways the doctor may be negligent are if they lacked proper training or skillset, failed to conduct themselves within standard practices and generally, used bad judgment when performing the labor and delivery.

Orlando Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice Infographic

5 Ways A Lawyer Can Help You With Shoulder Dystocia

Orlando Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice Statistics

According to data provided by Science Direct, the most common injury associated with shoulder dystocia is brachial plexus palsy. This occurs in approximately 20 percent of all deliveries where shoulder dystocia was an issue. The approximate incidence of fatal shoulder dystocia is 0.025 per 1000 deliveries

If your child suffered an injury during delivery, call our office to speak with a shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyer.

Orlando Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice FAQs

It is always important to determine what the best way to move forward after any kind of medical malpractice is. If you experienced issues with malpractice, you need to reach out to experienced Orlando, FL shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers from Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. right away. You do not want to miss the statute of limitations for filing a claim, and you absolutely deserve compensation if there was malpractice.

How Can Shoulder Dystocia Affect My Child’s Life?

The impact of shoulder dystocia on a child’s life can vary from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the injury and the timeliness and effectiveness of the response. Potential outcomes include, but are not limited to, nerve damage in the shoulder, arm, or hand, leading to weakness or paralysis (brachial plexus injuries), fractures, and in severe cases, oxygen deprivation, which can result in brain damage. These conditions can lead to long-term physical therapy, surgery, and ongoing medical treatment.

Who Can Be Held Responsible For Shoulder Dystocia Injuries?

Responsibility for injuries resulting from shoulder dystocia can lie with the healthcare professionals involved in the delivery if it is determined that the standard of care was not met. This can include failure to anticipate shoulder dystocia in patients with known risk factors, not responding appropriately to the complication, or not performing necessary interventions correctly. Hospitals and medical staff can be held accountable if their actions or inactions contributed to the injury.

What Are The Signs That Malpractice Occurred During Childbirth?

Indicators of malpractice during childbirth involving shoulder dystocia may include a lack of proper monitoring of the baby’s and mother’s health during labor, failure to plan a cesarean section when risk factors for shoulder dystocia were present, improper use of delivery tools, or inadequate response to the complication. Documentation of the medical process and expert testimonies are crucial in determining whether malpractice occurred.

How Can A Lawyer Help In Cases Of Shoulder Dystocia?

A lawyer specializing in birth-related injuries can provide invaluable support by reviewing medical records, consulting with medical experts, and determining if negligence played a role in the injuries sustained. They can navigate the complex legal system on your behalf, aiming to secure compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care, pain and suffering, and other damages. This legal support is crucial in ensuring that families receive the resources needed for their child’s recovery and future care.

Is There A Time Limit For Filing A Claim?

Yes, there is a statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice claim, which varies by jurisdiction. It’s essential to consult with Orlando, FL shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers as soon as possible to ensure that your right to pursue compensation is not lost due to the expiration of the legal time frame allowed for bringing forth a claim.

How Do I Choose The Right Lawyer For My Case?

Choosing the right legal representation is a crucial step. Look for attorneys with specific experience in birth injury and medical malpractice cases, as they will have the specialized knowledge and resources needed. Consider their track record, client testimonials, and willingness to provide personalized attention to your case.

Needle & Ellenberg, P.A., Orlando Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice Lawyers

618 E South St, Orlando, FL 32801

Contact Our Orlando Shoulder Dystocia Malpractice Lawyers Today

For families navigating the aftermath of a birth-related injury, understanding your legal rights and options is a vital step toward securing the support and compensation necessary for your child’s well-being. If you suspect that medical negligence contributed to shoulder dystocia or any related injuries during childbirth, reaching out for a consultation with a specialized Orlando shoulder dystocia malpractice lawyers from Needle & Ellenberg can provide clarity and a path forward. Ensuring that your child has access to the care and resources needed for their recovery and future development is paramount, and legal expertise can play a significant role in achieving this goal.