Did your infant suffer a spinal cord injury at the hands of a negligent Chicago medical professional during delivery? If so, you deserve compensation for your ongoing grief and the continuing care that your child is going to require. The long-term impact of infant spinal cord injuries is significant and life-changing. Even though such injuries are rare, you relied on your medical team to be highly trained professionals and to take extra precautions during a difficult delivery.
If your infant suffered a spinal cord injury during birth, the attorneys of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC are here to help. We know that any injury to your newborn is an unthinkable tragedy, and we understand the pain and anger that you are likely feeling. We also know that birth injuries of this nature may also have a lasting and potentially permanent effect on your baby’s life and your life as a parent, and may require additional medical care for the short and long term. That’s why we are committed to helping parents of children who are injured during birth seek and secure the compensation they are owed if the injury was caused by the careless or negligent actions of a medical professional.
Of all the kinds of trauma that can happen to a baby at birth, spinal cord injuries are usually among the most serious. This type of trauma is, fortunately, very rare, but even just one instance of malpractice leading to a spinal injury is too much. For nearly 50 years, the experienced Chicago birth injury attorneys of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC have stood up for the parents of injured children and have demanded that justice is served. If a doctor, nurse, or other staff member caused injury to your baby, you have the right to hold them accountable for their actions, and you should not have to pay for the damage that they have done. We are on your side, and we’re here to help. Contact us at 312-346-8620 to discuss your rights and how you can take legal action today.
Why Choose Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC
Once you discover the nature of your baby’s injury, it may seem overwhelming. You likely won’t be able to think about much else but their care, whether you will be able to return to work, and how much your lives have now changed. This is normal and to be expected.
That is why you need the experienced and compassionate Chicago spinal cord injury legal team at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC to handle the details of your medical malpractice case for you. In Illinois, you have two years from the date of discovering the spinal cord injury to take legal action, with some exceptions. However, getting the compensation you deserve can ease your financial burden, like paying for your medical costs, or offsetting any lost wages you might have from career changes or unpaid work leave to care for your infant.
It’s also important that we review the facts of your case while they are still fresh in your mind. We have the experience to conduct the type of investigation necessary to file a compelling claim for you. We will need to review hospital and medical records and receipts and interview the medical team. We also know what medical experts to rely on to bolster your case.
When you’re facing medical negligence at this level, you need a law firm to stand up for you. You placed your trust in your doctor and the hospital staff, and if your child suffered a spinal cord injury in their care, they should be held responsible for their actions. Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC was established in 1970 and for nearly five decades, we’ve fought to protect the rights of those who have been hurt in Chicago. We have the resources and experience you need to win. Call us at 312-346-8620 to get started on your case.
Risk Factors Leading to Spinal Cord Injuries
It’s important to remember that spinal cord injuries don’t just happen. There will always be an underlying reason for these traumatic injuries, and your doctor should’ve been well versed in potentially hazardous conditions and been prepared to overcome them. Here are a few of the common problems that may contribute to these kinds of complications:
- Larger infants: over 9.9 pounds
- Instrument deliveries: the use of forceps or a vacuum
- Abnormal traction during delivery: meaning the baby stops naturally coming down the birth canal from the womb
- Breech births
Unfortunately, once the damage has been done, there is little that a doctor could do to fix it, especially since many spinal cord injuries will lead to stillbirths or death soon after birth. Even in the best of situations, your child may grow up without the use of many parts of their body. Sometimes, the total amount of damage won’t be clear until well into your child’s life. When facing these kinds of injuries, therefore, it’s incredibly important you involve an attorney early on and get compensation to help raise your child and pay for their future medical expenses.
In Illinois, doctors must exercise a medical standard of care. Your claim must prove that they breached that standard of care and were professionally negligent.
At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, we stand tall and fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. We have extensive experience and a track record of success in fighting for newborns and their parents against medical negligence and malpractice.
What You Should Do if Your Infant Suffered a Spinal Cord Injury at Birth in Chicago
If your baby suffered a spinal cord injury due to a Chicago medical team’s actions during delivery, you need to save all of your medical and insurance records and receipts. If you are contacted by the hospital’s or doctor’s insurance company, do not give any statement.
The timing of the diagnosis is also important, as the earlier the injury is detected, the better the outcome for your baby. That is why we need to access as many witnesses and records as possible.
Contact experienced Chicago spinal cord injury lawyers to set up a free consultation to review your case. At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, we do not charge any upfront fees and don’t get paid until we get you the compensation you deserve. We will get the necessary medical reviews and affidavits to file a proper cause of action for you to best prove the medical team was professionally negligent. Call us today at 312-346-8620 or contact us through our website to set up your consultation.
Determining Compensation in Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Unfortunately, due to the nature of spinal cord injuries caused during the birthing process—they’re very rare and each situation is bound to be completely unique—there is no formula for determining this number quickly. You’ll need to discuss your specific situation with an attorney who will be able to help you discover a close approximation of the amount your case is worth. A few different amounts will be considered: how much did the original procedure cost; whether your child had to go emergency surgery immediately, and an estimate of the number of additional costs you’ll incur for future medical expenses, treatment, and care.
In many cases, costs of continued and future care for spinal injury patients can reach into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, we will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve to care for your child.
Call Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC Today
The experienced trial lawyers of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC have spent nearly five decades fighting for parents of children who have been injured by the negligent or careless actions of a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional. We have recovered over 400 million dollars on behalf of our clients, a number that speaks to our dedication to our clients and commitment to delivering results. A serious injury to your newborn child is a terrible tragedy, and it is absolutely unacceptable if the injury could have been avoided if proper care had been exercised. We will not allow this to stand, nor will we allow you to suffer additional strain due to this injury accident. We will work hard to help you secure the compensation you are owed, so contact us at 312-346-8620 to schedule a consultation with a member of our team today.