Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyer
When a birth injury affects your newborn, the emotional and financial impact on your family can be overwhelming. At Iamele & Iamele, LLP, our experienced Baltimore birth injury lawyer team understands the complex medical and legal challenges these cases present. With over 50 years of combined experience serving Maryland families, Domenic and Anton Iamele have dedicated their careers to fighting for victims of medical negligence and ensuring families receive the compensation they need for their child’s future care.
Birth injuries can result from various forms of medical malpractice during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Our firm’s meticulous preparation and superior courtroom skills have produced outstanding results for families throughout Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s counties. We provide the aggressive representation and one-on-one personal attention that sets us apart from larger firms, treating each family with the close, hands-on approach we would expect for our own loved ones.
Understanding Birth Injuries and Medical Malpractice
Birth injuries occur when medical professionals fail to meet the accepted standard of care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. These injuries can range from minor conditions that resolve over time to severe, life-altering disabilities requiring lifelong care. According to the most recent available data, birth injuries affect approximately 6 to 8 out of every 1,000 live births in the United States, with many cases being preventable through proper medical care.
Common types of birth injuries include cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brain damage from oxygen deprivation, fractures, nerve damage, and developmental delays. These conditions often result from factors such as improper use of delivery instruments like forceps or vacuum extractors, failure to monitor fetal distress, delayed cesarean sections, medication errors, or inadequate prenatal care. When healthcare providers at Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, or other Baltimore area facilities fail to recognize warning signs or respond appropriately to complications, devastating consequences can follow.
The long-term implications of birth injuries often do not become apparent until months or years after the initial occurrence. Children may require extensive physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education services, assistive devices, and ongoing medical care throughout their lives. The financial burden on families can reach millions of dollars, making it crucial to pursue full compensation for both current and future expenses.
Proving Medical Negligence in Birth Injury Cases
Successfully pursuing a birth injury claim requires demonstrating that medical professionals deviated from the accepted standard of care and that this deviation directly caused your child’s injuries. Our attorneys work with leading medical experts who can review medical records, analyze the care provided, and testify about how proper treatment could have prevented the injury.
The legal process begins with a comprehensive investigation of the circumstances surrounding your child’s birth. We obtain and carefully review all medical records from prenatal appointments, labor and delivery, and post-birth care. Our team examines fetal monitoring strips, nursing notes, physician orders, and hospital policies to identify any lapses in care that may have contributed to the injury.
Expert medical testimony plays a crucial role in these cases. We collaborate with obstetricians, neonatalogists, neurologists, and other specialists who can explain complex medical concepts to judges and juries. These experts help establish what should have happened during your child’s birth and how different actions by medical providers could have prevented the injury.
Documentation is essential in birth injury cases. We work diligently to preserve evidence, including medical equipment readings, staffing records, and hospital protocols in effect at the time of the incident. This thorough approach to case preparation reflects our firm’s commitment to meticulous preparation that has contributed to our success over more than four decades of practice.
Compensation for Birth Injury Victims
Birth injury settlements and verdicts can provide essential financial resources for families facing the enormous costs associated with caring for an injured child. Compensation may include medical expenses, both past and future, rehabilitation costs, special education expenses, assistive equipment, modifications to your home, and lost income for parents who must leave work to provide care.
The calculation of damages in birth injury cases requires careful consideration of your child’s specific needs and life expectancy. Children with severe birth injuries may require round-the-clock care, multiple surgeries, specialized equipment, and modified living arrangements. Our attorneys work with life care planners, economists, and medical experts to develop comprehensive damage calculations that account for inflation and changing needs over time.
Non-economic damages may also be available to compensate for the pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life your child and family have experienced. While no amount of money can undo a birth injury, proper compensation can provide the resources necessary to give your child the best possible quality of life and access to cutting-edge treatments and therapies.
Our firm’s trial experience has proven key to obtaining positive results for families. Insurance companies and healthcare institutions often take cases more seriously when they know opposing counsel has the skills and willingness to present a case effectively to a jury. This reputation for courtroom excellence often leads to more favorable settlement negotiations.
Baltimore Birth Injury FAQs
How long do I have to file a birth injury lawsuit in Maryland?
Maryland law generally provides three years from the date of discovery of the injury to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, for birth injury cases involving minors, the statute of limitations may be extended. It’s crucial to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected and all deadlines are met.
What makes a birth injury case different from other medical malpractice claims?
Birth injury cases involve unique medical complexities and require specialized knowledge of obstetrics, neonatology, and pediatric care. These cases also involve higher potential damages due to the child’s long life expectancy and ongoing care needs, making them particularly complex to evaluate and litigate.
How much does it cost to hire a birth injury attorney?
Our firm handles birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your family. This arrangement allows families to pursue justice without worrying about upfront legal costs during an already difficult time.
Can I still pursue a case if the doctor says the birth injury was unavoidable?
Healthcare providers may claim that complications were unavoidable, but this doesn’t necessarily mean medical malpractice didn’t occur. Our attorneys work with independent medical experts to thoroughly evaluate whether the standard of care was met and whether different actions could have prevented the injury.
What types of evidence are important in birth injury cases?
Critical evidence includes medical records, fetal monitoring strips, nursing notes, hospital policies, expert medical testimony, and documentation of the child’s current condition and future needs. Our team works diligently to preserve and analyze all relevant evidence.
How long do birth injury lawsuits typically take?
The timeline varies depending on the complexity of the case and the willingness of defendants to negotiate. Some cases settle within months, while others may take several years to resolve, especially if the case goes to trial. We keep families informed throughout the process.
What should I do if I suspect my child’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence?
Contact an experienced birth injury attorney immediately for a free consultation. Early investigation is crucial for preserving evidence and protecting your rights. Continue following your child’s medical treatment plan while seeking legal guidance about your options.
Serving Throughout Baltimore
- Federal Hill
- Fells Point
- Canton
- Inner Harbor
- Mount Vernon
- Charles Village
- Hampden
- Roland Park
- Towson
- Catonsville
Contact a Baltimore Birth Injury Attorney Today
If your child has suffered a birth injury that you believe resulted from medical negligence, time is of the essence. The experienced legal team at Iamele & Iamele, LLP is ready to provide the aggressive representation and personal attention your family deserves. Our Baltimore birth injury attorney team offers free confidential consultations, and we handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. Don’t let insurance companies or healthcare institutions minimize your child’s needs. Contact our firm today to learn how we can help secure the compensation necessary for your child’s future care and your family’s financial security.
