Each year, around 32% of all live births in the United States are Cesarean (or C-section) deliveries. However, even though C-sections are essential for many women, they are intense surgical procedures, which means they are not without risks. And those risks are especially evident if the medical professionals involved in the delivery make errors.
Suffering an injury during a C-section in Jacksonville, FL, can be devastating to both you and your baby. But by turning to a medical malpractice lawyer, you’ll have the chance to get compensation for what you’ve endured.
Contact Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation at (904) 396-1100 . Our experienced Jacksonville C-section injury lawyers are here to help.
How Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a C-Section Injury in Jacksonville, FL
At Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers, we have over 80 years of collective experience and have been offering our services in Jacksonville, Florida, since 2012. Our Jacksonville medical malpractice attorneys have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients to date. When you turn to us, you’ll be provided with several services, including the following:
- Case assessment
- Assistance gathering evidence
- Negotiating with insurers and other parties
- Representation in court and at trial, if necessary
You shouldn’t have to struggle through the aftermath of a C-section injury alone. Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers is proud to offer fierce representation that can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Reach out to our experienced medical malpractice lawyers today.
Understanding C-Sections and When They’re Necessary
A C-section is a surgical alternative to vaginal birth. It is performed by making an incision into the abdomen and uterus and removing the baby through the resulting opening. Women may need to have a C-section delivery for a variety of reasons, including complications that arise during labor.
Some signs that can warn a medical professional that a C-section is necessary are as follows:
- Fetal distress
- Irregular fetal blood pressure or heartbeat
- The fetus is tangled in the umbilical cord
In the hours leading up to a natural delivery, some issues involving the mother can also lead medical professionals to turn to a C-section delivery:
- Placenta Previa: A condition where the placenta attaches too low on the uterus.
- Placental Abruption: The placenta separates from the uterine wall before the baby is born
- Prolonged Labor: Labor does not progress for hours
- Breech Position: The fetus is situated bottom-first in the uterus
Other issues can be present as well.
What Types of C-Section Injuries Can Occur?
One of the most common issues that can arise is a delayed C-section. Any delay could have a variety of consequences for both the mother and the baby. Oxygen deprivation is one of the most dangerous circumstances that can arise because of a delayed C-section, as it can lead the baby to develop conditions like cerebral palsy or suffer organ damage.
Alternatively, during a C-section, the doctor may inappropriately use forceps or vacuums, which can cause the baby to suffer cranial injuries, including hemorrhaging, during the delivery. Brachial plexus injuries are another concern if the doctor pulls on the baby incorrectly or with too much force.
C-section errors impact the mother, as well. Failing to administer the correct amount of anesthesia or damaging the bladder with the abdominal incision are serious problems that could affect the mother’s life forever. Doctors who fail to monitor the mother after the birth can also put them at risk of bleeding out or suffering infections.
Is a C-Section Injury a Form of Medical Malpractice?
It can be. Medical malpractice refers to a professional not following a reasonable standard of care, leading to their patient suffering an injury. To prove that such an injury is medical malpractice, you must demonstrate that you were a patient of the medical professional and that they owed you a duty of care.
You must then be able to show that the medical professional breached that duty by not following a reasonable standard of care. In the case of a C-section injury, a breach of that duty can include everything from delaying the C-section to failing to administer the right amount of anesthesia.
You’ll need to show that you or your baby suffered an injury because the professional breached the duty of care to be compensated for those injuries. Because doing so is such a complex process, your best move is to turn to personal injury lawyers ready to represent you.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Jacksonville C-Section Injury Attorneys
The birth of your child should be a joyful occurrence, but for many, medical errors and negligence can transform the experience into a nightmare. If you or your child are struggling with injuries that a medical professional could have prevented, turn to a medical malpractice or birth injury attorney for help.
Reach out to our trusted Jacksonville C-section injury lawyers today to schedule your free case review.
