Abilene Birth Injury Attorneys

Birth Injury Lawsuits in Texas

The birth of your child should be one of the best days of your life. When something goes wrong, however, it can quickly turn into a nightmare.

Tragically, thousands of infants suffer serious and entirely preventable birth injuries each year in the United States. While many will go on to lead happy and meaningful lives, these children may be left with permanent injuries and severe, life-altering disabilities, impairments, and limitations. At Hanna Allen, PLLC, we believe that negligent medical providers should be held accountable.

If your child suffered birth trauma or was diagnosed with a medical condition related to a birth injury following a difficult pregnancy, labor, or delivery, reach out to our team today to learn how we can help. Our Abilene birth injury lawyers have successfully represented injured children and mothers, as well as parents and family members, in highly complex cases involving medical negligence and malpractice throughout Texas. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients, and we are ready to fight for you, your child, and your family.

Contact us online or call (325) 440-9996 to schedule a complimentary consultation with a member of our team today. Hablamos español.

What Is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury refers to an injury sustained by an unborn child, infant, or mother during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Sometimes, birth injuries can also occur immediately after a child is born.

Some examples of birth injuries include:

• Oxygen Deprivation: Oxygen deprivation, including anoxia and hypoxia, is one of the most common types of birth injuries. Depending on the severity and duration of oxygen deprivation, infants may suffer significant injuries, which may lead to permanent disabilities, life-altering health conditions, or death.
• Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders affecting muscle tone, posture, movement, coordination, motor skills, and balance. Along with abnormal brain development, one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy is oxygen deprivation, including anoxia and hypoxia occurring during or immediately after birth.
• Brachial Plexus Injuries: The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves responsible for movement and sensation in the arms, shoulder, and hands. Sometimes, improper delivery can lead to stretching or tearing of these nerves. This, in turn, can result in a variety of injuries and complications, such as shoulder dystocia, Erb’s palsy, muscle weakness, pain, and numbness.
• Bone Fractures: Broken bones, or fractures, are common birth injuries. They most often result from improper and/or forceful delivery, or when during breech delivery. The most common types of birth injury bone fractures include broken clavicles (collarbones), broken arms, and broken legs.
• Facial Injuries: Misuse of forceps, vacuum extractors, and other assistive birthing devices may result in minor to severe cuts, scrapes, and lacerations on the infant’s face. In some cases, the infant may sustain serious eye injuries, head injuries, or nerve damage. Nerve damage can lead to facial paralysis and other problems.
• Head and Brain Injuries: During a difficult delivery, an infant may sustain significant head and/or brain injuries. Examples include caput succedaneum, or swelling of the scalp tissue; cephalohematoma, or bleeding between the scalp and skull; and brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation, blunt trauma, and other injuries.

These and other birth injuries—including injuries to the mother—can be catastrophic, leading to significant pain and lifelong complications. Treatment is often extremely expensive, and families may struggle to cope with the immense, unexpected emotional and financial costs.

Are All Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence?

Birth injuries are often confused with birth defects, but there are several differences between the two. Namely, while birth defects can result from various biological, genetic, and environmental factors, birth injuries are nearly always preventable. The vast majority of birth injuries are caused by medical negligence and/or malpractice.

This is the case if a birth injury results from a medical provider’s:

• Misdiagnosis of or failure to diagnose maternal infections, conditions, or complications
• Improper treatment of or failure to treat maternal infections, conditions, or complications
• Administration or prescribing of unsafe medications to a pregnant mother
• Failure to identify and/or respond to signs of fetal distress
• Misuse of forceps, vacuum extractors, and other assistive birthing devices
• Improper administration of medication, including spinal epidurals
• Failure to order a timely/emergency cesarean section (C-section) when necessary
• Use of excessive or improper force during delivery
• Failure to provide adequate and/or proper aftercare or follow-up care

If you, your child, or your loved one suffered a serious injury due to a medical provider’s error or negligence, reach out to Hanna Allen, PLLC right away. Our Abilene birth injury attorneys believe in standing up for children, parents, and families when they have been irrevocably harmed by the careless and wrongful conduct of others. Our firm is ready to fight for you and the maximum compensation you are owed.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Birth Injury Attorneys

When you are facing one of the most difficult times in your life, turn to Hanna Allen, PLLC. Our highly experienced and compassionate team is here to guide you through the legal process, stand up for your rights, and fight for the full, fair recovery you deserve. We employ a collaborative approach and work hard to find personalized, innovative solutions based on the unique details of each client’s case. Our attorneys are empathetic and caring, and we take the time to truly get to know you, understand your concerns, and develop a strategy aimed at achieving the best possible results.

We encourage you to take immediate action by contacting our law office for a free consultation. In Texas, you only have two years from the date of injury (or the date of alleged malpractice) to file a birth injury lawsuit. While there are some exceptions, it is important that you do not wait until it is too late, or you could lose your right to sue the doctor, hospital, or liable party for damages.

Contact us online or call (325) 440-9996 today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.