Boston Cephalohematoma Attorneys
The condition known as cephalohematoma refers to a collection of blood in a newborn infant’s head, and is a health condition that can be quite dangerous. Cephalohematoma often appears as a bulge or bump on a baby’s skull and is generally the result of a tear or damage done to the periosteum, which is located near the skull. In many cases, cephalohematoma is caused during birth because of a doctor or nurse’s negligence. Even a minor injury during birth can lead to cephalohematoma, which can be a painful condition for a newborn baby.
At Crowe & Harris, LLP , we specialize in medical malpractice and personal injury law. Our staff of accomplished legal and medical professionals have extensive knowledge of birth injury law here in Massachusetts and are ready to work on your behalf. We understand the difficulties you are facing and can help you seek justice and compensation.
To speak directly with a Boston cephalohematoma birth injury lawyer about the details of your case, call us today at (617) 404-3417 or get in touch with us online.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
Birth injuries can have devastating impacts that your family may continue to confront for decades. The emotional, financial, and physical demands of severe injuries require time and energy. When someone else is responsible for your child’s birth injury, you may be able to hold them accountable for their actions.
When we go to a hospital for medical care, we expect to be treated by qualified and competent staff. Attentive care is especially crucial during childbirth as doctors and nurses must be extremely careful when monitoring the health of both the mother and the child. When a delivery team or doctor has failed you, a lawyer will provide critical support to your family as you fight for justice. Your birth injury attorney will investigate your claim, pour through medical records, evaluate all injury-related expenses, and build a strong case.
When you hire an attorney, you can feel confident that your lawyer is protecting your interests. While your child’s birth may not be the day that you envisioned, you still deserve to focus your attention on caring for your child, not on building a case. Medical malpractice claims are an especially complicated area of law. When you are choosing a lawyer, be picky. You deserve the representation of an attorney who has fought for families just like yours.
Why Should I Choose Crowe & Harris, LLP ?
Choosing the right law firm to help guide you and your family is an intimate process. At Crowe & Harris, LLP , all of our clients receive the complete attention of an entire team of diverse professionals. Many firms rely on one individual lawyer to handle a case. At our firm, we assign a team of legal and medical professionals to your case to ensure you get the top-quality care and representation you deserve.
Our team has won a $39 million birth injury verdict, and are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is an exclusive group of trial lawyers who have recovered a multi-million dollar verdict or settlement on behalf of just one client. We have recovered over half a billion dollars in total for our clients and have a strong reputation for success.
Crowe & Harris, LLP has become a trusted name in New England law. If your child has suffered a cephalohematoma injury during birth, we are here to help. Working with us will bring you confidence knowing that we have the trial and mediation experience to deliver a favorable outcome. Our team will work together to plan every detail of your case carefully. We will handle the legal logistics while you focus on caring for your injured child. At Crowe & Harris, LLP , we understand how stressful dealing with a birth injury can be. We firmly believe that you shouldn’t bear the financial burden for someone else’s carelessness. Our lawyers will work tirelessly on your behalf to make sure that negligent medical professionals are held responsible for their actions.
Causes of Cephalohematoma
Cephalohematoma occurs when an infant’s fragile skill receives excessive force during childbirth. Cephalohematoma is relatively rare, occurring in 1-2% of all births according to the Birth Injury Guide. Cephalohematoma may be a natural consequence when the baby’s head is larger than the birth canal or during a long and challenging labor. Unfortunately, Cephalohematoma is most often this injury is caused by negligent or improper use of birthing tools. The two tools most commonly linked with a cephalohematoma are:
- Obstetric forceps: Forceps kind of resemble salad tongs, and look like two large spoons connected by a hinge. They are used to maneuver around the birth canal and cup the baby’s head. Using this tool requires a high level of skill and care to avoid causing any injury.
- Vacuum Extractors: This tool creates a vacuum seal around the baby’s head and allows the doctor to guide the baby through the birth canal during vaginal delivery. A vacuum aids the birthing process when there are a variety of health concerns for the mother or the child. Doctors commonly use a vacuum extractor as a last-ditch effort before performing an emergency C-section.
The use of these tools requires diligent attention and precision. These tools can be perfectly safe to aid in childbirth when used correctly. However, improper use of these tools can easily happen and can quickly cause injuries to your child. If a medical professional used one of these tools improperly or carelessly during your child’s delivery, you might be entitled to financial compensation.
Complications of Cephalohematoma
Cephalohematoma may have many different complications, not the least of which is discomfort for the newborn infant. Additionally, in trying to treat the cephalohematoma, a doctor or other medical professional may cause further damage or complications, including the following:
- Tearing of nearby blood vessels
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Hemorrhage / bleeding
- Cranial pressure
- Emergency surgery
These complications caused by a cephalohematoma can be extremely hard for both the infant and the parents to deal with. Fortunately, in this situation, the party responsible for the birth injury may be held legally accountable for the many repercussions associated with the cephalohematoma.
Types of Compensation
After suffering from a cephalohematoma injury, your child may face lifelong difficulties. As parents, you’ll encounter a range of challenges as you seek the medical care your child may require. Although you may be willing to pay any amount of money to help your child, if a medical professional caused your child’s injuries, they should pay for their mistakes. A lawyer can help you secure compensation so that you can afford the level of medical care that your child deserves. In Massachusetts, medical malpractice lawsuits can bring several forms of payment, including:
- Compensatory damages: This payment covers costs associated with the injury. These can include the cost of medical and hospital treatment, rehabilitation, physical therapy, ambulances, medical equipment, home medical care, and future costs associated with the injury.
- Non-economic damages: These damages cover areas such as pain and suffering. While the state of Massachusetts does place a $500,000 cap on these damages, they can be lifted in certain circumstances when severe impairment or disfigurement occurs.
- Punitive damages: Punitive damages are rarely awarded in our state but are available for medical malpractice. If a medical professional is found to have willfully caused an injury, punitive damages can be assigned to punish them for their misconduct.
Details surrounding lawsuits and compensation can be confusing. Working directly with an attorney is your best bet to understand your options and pursue the compensation your family deserves.
Contact Us
Facing a serious birth injury in your newborn infant is extremely difficult and the Boston cephalohematoma attorneys of Crowe & Harris, LLP understand this.
At (617) 404-3417, you can discuss your circumstances, the possible legal actions that you can take against the doctor, nurse, or other medical professional who contributed to your baby’s cephalohematoma, and the likelihood of obtaining financial compensation.
