Sandy Springs Birth Injury Lawyer

Sandy Springs Birth Injury Attorney

Birth injuries can turn what should be a joyous occasion into a painful one. A Sandy Springs birth injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation for injuries to you or your baby that occurred during labor or delivery, getting you the money you need to pay for medical care and make up for lost wages while you recover.

Trust The Tolson Firm, LLC

If you need a Sandy Springs medical malpractice lawyer to take on your case, you can turn to The Tolson Firm, LLC. Our team is made up of skilled and dedicated lawyers, including lead attorney Audrey Tolson, a proud Black attorney whose accomplishments have recently been celebrated in Women Looking Ahead magazine. Even if your case is complex, we have what it takes to help you hold the doctor and hospital accountable and obtain the compensation you need.

Why Hire a Birth Injury Lawyer?

Georgia does not fare well on objective measures of maternal and neonatal health. Both the state in general and Fulton County in particular received Fs on the March of Dimes prenatal birth report card, with Fulton County’s preterm birth rate sitting at 11.7%. Infant mortality rates are higher than the US average at 7.0 deaths per 1,000 births, as are maternal mortality rates, at 30.4 deaths per 100,000 births.

If you are one of the Georgia mothers who has suffered at the hands of our state’s healthcare system, you should hire a birth injury lawyer to help you file a claim against the responsible party. Hiring a lawyer improves your chances of success and can increase the compensation you receive. Seasoned birth injury attorneys are experienced and skilled at negotiating with insurance companies, and can ensure your settlement covers all of your damages.

Birth Injuries at Sandy Springs Hospitals

Sandy Springs is home to 40% of the beds available in the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Facilities include:

• Northside Hospital
• Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite

While these facilities have positive reputations, birth injuries can happen anywhere. Some of the most common birth injuries in Georgia include:

• Scalp damage
• Bone fractures
• Eye injuries
• Intracranial bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Brain injuries

Birth injuries range significantly in severity from minor issues to life-threatening medical emergencies. Scalp injuries account for the majority of all birth injuries. Of the 29 injuries per 1,000 live births that occur nationwide, 23 are scalp injuries.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

Obstetrical malpractice comes in many forms. It includes errors that occur during a pregnancy or during labor and delivery that negatively affect the mother’s or child’s health. Common examples of obstetrical malpractice include many scenarios found in medical negligence examples in Georgia, such as:

• Failure to diagnose preeclampsia, eclampsia, or gestational diabetes in pregnancy
• Failure to diagnose placental abruption, leading to fetal growth problems
• Delayed C-sections leading to maternal health complications
• Extreme blood loss during C-sections
• Perinatal asphyxia leading to brain damage or death
• Injuries due to the improper use of delivery instruments

When Birth Injuries Merit a Malpractice Claim

You only have cause to file a medical malpractice claim if the injury occurred as a result of a healthcare provider’s negligence. To show this is the case, you’ll need to prove:

• Standard of care. The standard of care is what a reasonable provider with similar education and training would have done under the same circumstances.
• Breach of the standard. Medical malpractice cases hinge on proving that healthcare providers breached the standard of care through their negligence.
• An injury. You or your baby must have been injured during the labor or delivery processes, and those injuries must have been substantial.
• Causation. The healthcare provider’s negligence must have led directly to your injury. It cannot be caused by an underlying health problem or an unavoidable issue with the birth.

It is crucial to act within the legally defined time limits, known as the Georgia birth injury statute of limitations, when pursuing a claim. Your birth injury lawyer will be able to help you obtain evidence and use it to construct a case that proves these points and supports your claim.

FAQs

What Is the Average Birth Injury Payout?

There is no average birth injury payout because each case is different. If you or your baby has suffered minor injuries that require limited medical intervention to heal, your compensation will be much less than someone whose child will face a lifetime of disability as a result of their birth trauma. You can speak to a Sandy Springs birth injury attorney about what to expect in terms of payout.

What Is the #1 Type of Birth Injury?

The #1 type of birth injuries is head and scalp damage like cephalohematomas and caput succedaneum, with brachial plexus injuries, including Erb’s palsy, coming in a close second. These forms of birth trauma are usually relatively benign. They may require medical intervention, but most babies make full recoveries. The #1 birth injury for mothers is perineal tears.

Does Birth Trauma Ever Go Away?

Whether birth trauma ever goes away depends on the nature of the injuries. Some birth injuries heal quickly with limited medical intervention. Others require a lifetime of ongoing care. Many mothers are also left with psychological damage in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can have lifelong consequences. A comprehensive settlement should include compensation for this damage.

What Is the Difference Between Birth Injury and Birth Trauma?

The difference between birth injury and birth trauma is that the first term refers only to physical injuries to mothers or children that occur during labor or delivery, while the second is more all-encompassing. Birth trauma includes both the physical injury and any psychological distress experienced as a result of it.

Your Sandy Springs Birth Injury Lawyer

If you’re looking for a skilled Sandy Springs birth injury lawyer to take on your case, look no further than The Tolson Firm, LLC. Our team has years of experience with birth injury cases. We know how to fight for our clients’ rights to compensation for their injuries and have represented many mothers and infants in court as well as in insurance negotiations. We can help with your birth injury claim. Contact us to schedule a consultation.