Decatur Maternity Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Decatur Maternity Medical Malpractice Attorney

When families need a Decatur maternity medical malpractice lawyer, they can turn to The Tolson Firm, LLC for guidance and support. When medical negligence causes preventable, serious injuries, these happy moments turn into tragedies. Failing to provide safe, competent medical care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can cause injuries that last a lifetime for both mother and child.

In Decatur, Georgia, patients trust hospitals such as Emory Decatur Hospital to provide this standard of care. When avoidable medical mistakes like delay in C-sections, failure to monitor fetal distress, or inadequate treatment of maternal complications occur, families have the right to seek accountability. Learn more about your legal rights after a maternity malpractice incident.

Hire a Maternity Medical Malpractice Lawyer

At The Tolson Firm, LLC, the founding and lead attorney, Audrey Tolson, is deeply committed to serving families affected by medical malpractice and wrongful death across Georgia. As a proud Black attorney, she brings not only legal experience but also a nuanced, compassionate perspective to challenging maternity medical malpractice cases in communities like Decatur.

Supported by a capable team, Audrey Tolson’s leadership ensures every client receives focused, strategic advocacy.

Common Types of Maternity Medical Malpractice in Decatur

Recognizing the types of mistakes that can happen during pregnancy, labor, and delivery is the first step for families to identify when the standard of care has not been met. Birth injuries can cause lifelong complications to both the mother and child, including neurological damage, physical disability, and wrongful death. Birth injuries can cause lifelong complications to both the mother and child, including neurological damage, physical disability, and wrongful death; this also includes tragic outcomes like stillbirths or miscarriages.

If your family has suffered because of negligence at a Decatur hospital, such as Emory Decatur Hospital, you have legal rights to hold those at fault accountable. Key examples in Decatur maternity malpractice include:

• Neglecting to monitor for fetal distress or maternal vitals
• Delayed or improperly performed Cesarean sections
• Misusing forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery
• Administering medication improperly, such as the wrong dosage or timing
• Neglecting to respond to preeclampsia, hemorrhage, or other high-risk conditions
• Misinterpretation of imaging results, leading to missed diagnoses or improper care

Local Hospitals and Standards of Care in Decatur

Parents in Decatur, Georgia expect the community’s hospitals (particularly Emory Decatur Hospital and other DeKalb County facilities) to provide maternity care that meets recognized standards. These hospitals are legally obligated to meet the standard of care by following clinical protocols for prenatal monitoring, labor interventions, and postpartum care. When they fall below the standard, by missing a preeclampsia diagnosis or mishandling delivery complications, the results can be devastating.

Between 2020 and 2022, Georgia recorded 141 pregnancy-related deaths, a rate of 37.9 deaths per 100,000 live births statewide. Identifying when local hospitals deviate from normal procedures is an essential step in making providers accountable and enhancing safety for families.

Protecting the Rights of Families After Malpractice

The legal system provides families with financial assistance options following a harmful prenatal or delivery injury. In Georgia, if your family has been affected by substandard prenatal care or the delivery process, you may be able to recover money to pay for medical bills, rehabilitation, and long-term care. In some cases, you may also be able to file a claim for wrongful death.

Pursuing justice for your family does more than just provide you with the resources you need for a better future. Patient safety standards at Decatur hospitals improve when providers face increased accountability demands. Legal claims push medical staff to enhance their watchfulness during childbirth by monitoring patients closely and optimizing labor management for healthier newborns.

FAQs

What Is Maternity Medical Malpractice?

Maternity medical malpractice in Decatur, Georgia, happens when a healthcare professional deviates from the standard of care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, resulting in harm to the mother or child. This can include delayed C-sections, failure to monitor fetal distress, or improper treatment of pregnancy-related complications. Families can suffer from long-term medical needs, emotional trauma, and financial challenges.

Educating yourself on what constitutes malpractice is the first step towards seeking justice and holding negligent parties accountable in local hospitals.

What Compensation Can Families Recover in a Malpractice Claim?

Although negative medical results do not always indicate malpractice, you might have grounds for a claim if errors or negligence contributed to your injuries or harm to your baby. Warning signs may include unexplained injuries to the baby, failure to treat conditions in the mother, or inconsistent explanations from providers.

A knowledgeable Decatur maternity medical malpractice lawyer can evaluate your medical records and speak with experts about whether malpractice may have occurred.

What Compensation Can Families Recover in a Malpractice Claim?

Compensation in maternity malpractice cases depends on the severity of injuries and long-term needs. Families may be able to recover for hospital bills, rehabilitation, in-home nursing, or ongoing therapy. Pain and suffering, along with emotional distress and diminished quality of life, may qualify for non-economic damages. There may be additional compensation available in the tragic event of a wrongful death case.

An attorney can calculate your family’s damages and fight for maximum recovery under Georgia law.

How Long Do I Have to File a Maternity Malpractice Claim in Georgia?

The Georgia statute of limitations mandates that medical malpractice lawsuits must begin within two years from when the injury or fatality occurs. State law features a statute of repose that bars lawsuits brought more than five years after the negligent event, despite any later discovery of injury or death. There are a few exceptions to this rule, including actions on behalf of minors.

Contact a Decatur maternity medical malpractice attorney without delay to avoid missing Georgia’s strict statute of limitations.

Decatur Maternity Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Maternity malpractice can leave families facing overwhelming medical, emotional, and financial challenges. Taking legal action is not only about compensation. It’s all about protecting your family’s future and ensuring accountability in Georgia hospitals.

If you believe negligence contributed to harm during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, hiring a skilled Decatur maternity medical malpractice lawyer is an important step. At The Tolson Firm, LLC, Attorney Audrey Tolson and her team are ready to fight for the justice and support your family deserves. Book a consultation today.