Jump To:
Some cognitive developmental disabilities that are not caused by a congenital birth defect may be the result of a preventable birth injury, infection, or illness.
If you have concerns about your baby’s birth or about your medical care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, please call a cognitive-developmental disabilities due to birth injuries lawyer. Your family might be entitled to compensation for medical care, emotional trauma, lost income, and other damages.
Newsome | Melton focuses our practice on the most severe injury and wrongful death cases that are caused by medical malpractice. For a free, no-obligation case review, call (855) 633-2757. We serve clients nationwide.
Why You Should Consult a Birth Injuries Lawyer
You have the right to expect that your doctor, nurse, midwife, and other healthcare professionals will deliver care according to acceptable medical standards. When a healthcare professional fails to deliver this standard of care and causes injury and damages, you have the right to consult a lawyer about potential compensation.
Proving medical malpractice is a complex process. A cognitive-developmental disabilities due to birth injuries lawyer with Newsome | Melton will examine the details of your case to determine if negligence exists. Our firm can pursue compensation on your behalf, and you do not owe attorney fees unless and until we recover damages.
There is no cost or obligation to discuss your case in a first consultation. There are statutes of limitations on taking legal action so call Newsome | Melton today: (855) 633-2757.
How Medical Malpractice May Cause Cognitive Developmental Disabilities
The cognitive-developmental disabilities due to birth injuries lawyers with Newsome | Melton has helped many critically injured clients recover compensation for a health condition that was caused or worsened by medical negligence.
In our experience, these are the most common types of medical negligence:
- Missed or incorrect diagnosis
- Misreading, mislabeling, or ignoring lab results and tests
- Improper medication or improper dosage
- Failure to recognize risk factors
- Failure to recognize symptoms
- Substandard level of care
- Unnecessary procedures or failure to perform necessary procedures
If a healthcare provider’s error or negligence caused your newborn to suffer lifelong cognitive impairment, it may be time to call a birth injuries lawyer. We will take the time and effort to determine if you have grounds to seek compensation.
Risk Factors for Cognitive Developmental Disabilities
One in six children in America has a developmental disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Preventable birth injuries that may cause cognitive developmental disabilities include:
- Untreated jaundice that leads to a type of brain damage called kernicterus, which increases the risk of cerebral palsy and other disorders.
- Hypoxia or, as defined by the Cleveland Clinic, a lack of oxygen before, during, or after birth is a factor in both brain damage and organ failure.
- Infections and some kinds of viruses are linked to cognitive disabilities, such as German measles (rubella) or congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).
- Low birth weight is a significant factor in cognitive developmental disabilities.
- Premature births and multiple births carry a higher risk for cognitive disabilities.
Specific birth injuries associated with cognitive developmental disabilities include:
- Umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s nose, mouth, or neck
- Failure to diagnose maternal or fetal infection
- Improper use of forceps or vacuums during delivery
- Inadequate prenatal care and patient monitoring
- Failure to respond to fetal distress
- Failure to use oxygen for infant and/or mother as needed
- Miscalculation of fetus size resulting in low birth weight
- Failure to treat premature labor
If you suspect that a healthcare provider or facility caused or contributed to your child’s cognitive developmental disability, you should know your legal rights. Call Newsome | Melton for a free consultation: (855) 633-2757.
How a Birth Injuries Lawyer Proves Liability
Our legal team will investigate the circumstances, events, and timeline of your case to prove liability.
The following factors indicate if a healthcare provider is liable:
- The provider owed you a duty of care to you and your baby for acceptable medical practices.
- The provider breached this duty of care either by omission or neglect.
- This negligence caused your child to suffer a cognitive developmental disability.
- Your family has damages because of this disability.
There may be more than one liable party. Newsome | Melton will pursue compensation from all those who acted or enabled negligent acts.
Who May Be Held Liable
A birth injuries lawyer with Newsome | Melton will identify all liable parties which may include:
- OB/GYN doctor
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Anesthesiologists
- Hospitals
- Birthing Centers
- Private medical practices
Compensation You May Be Entitled to Recover
The first step in seeking potential compensation is to talk to a member of our firm. Newsome | Melton has the resources and staff that can help identify medical malpractice. We obtain evidence of this malpractice to seek compensation that helps your family supply the necessary medical, educational, and lifecare aid for your child.
Each family is different but here are common types of damages in a cognitive-developmental disabilities case:
- Past and future medical treatment that might include home health care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special medical equipment.
- Lifecare expenses
- Lost income and/or diminished earning ability due to caregiver responsibilities
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Emotional trauma
Newsome | Melton can also help your family recover compensation if cognitive developmental disabilities resulted in a loved one’s passing. We can seek damages through a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. For a free consultation, please call (855) 633-2757.
How to Recognize Cognitive Developmental Disabilities
Cognitive impairments may not be clear immediately after birth. Your child may have a cognitive developmental disability if you notice that he:
- Takes longer to reach developmental benchmarks, like sitting up, crawling, or walking
- Takes longer to learn how to talk, and has trouble speaking or forming sounds
- Has a challenging time learning and solving problems
There are developmental screenings and tests that can help you understand your child’s condition. Early identification and intervention may improve your child’s quality of life, health, and educational progress.
Our Lawyers May Be Able to Recover Compensation for Your Family
Medical professionals who cause cognitive developmental disabilities because of substandard care should be held accountable. Please call Newsome | Melton for a free case evaluation today at (855) 633-2757.