Has a Negligent Act Led to Your Baby’s Birth Asphyxia? Trust in Our Experienced Indianapolis Birth Injury Lawyers

In cases of birth asphyxia resulting from negligence, a birth injury lawyer plays a crucial role in seeking justice for affected families. We can aid in securing fair compensation by meticulously investigating the circumstances surrounding the birth, gathering medical records, and consulting with medical experts to establish the standard of care that was breached, among other tasks.

At Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, we conduct thorough investigations into the birth process to accurately calculate the full extent of your damages and losses and then fight for compensation that covers all of the costs, both emotional and financial. We aspire to become a pillar of support for you during these trying times: we work by handling every aspect of your case so you can focus on recovery. From negotiating with at-fault parties and defending your case in court to filing all the paperwork within the deadlines and requirements stipulated by law, you can rest assured in the fact that an expert team is taking care of everything.

Our Experience Handling Medical Malpractice and Birth Injury Cases

With decades of experience in Indiana, our firm has secured millions in settlements for birth injury victims. For example, we recently secured a $2,000,000 settlement in a birth injury case that involved medical malpractice, as showcased in our case results.

Calculating your damages and then building a strong case with evidence, as well as negotiating and fighting fiercely for what we think you’re entitled to is what allows us to secure those kinds of settlements. Although money can’t restitute you from the challenging experience of dealing with birth asphyxia, we know it can certainly help in providing financial stability and alleviate some of the injury’s burden on the family.

What is Birth Asphyxia and Its Impact on Newborns

Birth asphyxia occurs when a baby’s brain and other organs don’t get enough oxygen before, during, or right after birth.

According to a study found in the National Library of Medicine, birth asphyxia is a critical global health issue, leading to thousands of deaths annually and being a primary cause of early neonatal mortality. Additionally, its impact can be severe and long-lasting, impacting both the child’s health and their developmental trajectory. 

For example, a common condition after birth asphyxia is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, which causes 20-30% of affected infants to die in the neonatal period. Survivors, on the other hand, face lifelong neurodevelopmental challenges, showing us the need for urgent legal intervention in cases of negligence.

Other key consequences of birth asphyxia may include:

  • Neurological damage
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Learning disabilities
  • Epilepsy
  • Developmental delays
  • Vision and hearing impairments

To mitigate these consequences, it’s crucial to get prompt and appropriate care during and after delivery. However, when healthcare professionals act with negligence and cause you and your baby to get injured, you have the necessary grounds to pursue legal action and seek justice. 

Negligence Causes of Birth Asphyxia: Who is Liable?

After assisting many families going through similar situations, we have testified how several healthcare providers and professionals can fail to provide the standard of care required by the industry, potentially harming patients. In our experience, common negligent parties in birth asphyxia cases may include:

  • Obstetricians and gynecologists
  • Pediatricians
  • Nurses and midwives
  • Hospitals and medical facilities

Identifying the liable parties in a case requires a thorough investigation and a deep knowledge of the medical malpractice laws in Indiana. At Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, our experience ensures you partner with a team with the necessary knowledge and resources to successfully navigate your case, no matter its complexity.

Damages You Can Claim for Birth Asphyxia

After a birth asphyxia incident that results in wrongful death, Indiana Code 34-23-2 states that families have the right to seek compensation for various damages, including:

  • Loss of the child’s services
  • Loss of the child’s love and companionshipExpenses for health care and hospitalization
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Psychiatric and psychological counseling
  • Uninsured debts of the child
  • Administration of the child’s estate, including attorney’s fees

Taking legal action to pursue these damages will provide the necessary financial support, as well as a sense of justice to families navigating the painful consequences of birth asphyxia.

You May Be Entitled to Compensation if the Birth Asphyxia Was Caused by Medical Negligence

Proving negligence involves establishing four key elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. In short, you must show a healthcare provider failed to meet their duty of care, directly causing your injury, and resulting in damages such as physical harm, emotional distress, or financial loss.

To prove negligence, our Indianapolis birth injury lawyers start by investigating the case and gathering comprehensive evidence. This includes medical records, and sometimes expert testimonies that allow us to establish the standard of care and how it was breached. This way, when we file the complaint of your medical malpractice lawsuit (which details the allegations of negligence and the damages sought), we’ll have a strong case and the necessary evidence to fight for the maximum compensation possible for your case.

Our Experienced Birth Asphyxia Attorneys in Indianapolis Can Help: It’s About Justice

At Christie Farrell Lee & Bell, our mission extends beyond mere compensation; it’s about securing justice for the wronged and ensuring that similar tragedies are prevented in the future. If your family has been affected by birth asphyxia, please contact us today for a free consultation.

During this initial meeting, we’ll discuss your case and take the first step by outlining a legal strategy. Plus, there are no upfront costs to you, as we don’t charge any fees unless we win your case.