No one wants to think of their infant suffering from a brain bleed during the first few days of their entrance into the world. While it’s uncommon to think of medical staff as being negligent and causing harm to infants, sadly, it’s possible.

Infant brain bleeding is a rare condition that can happen before or after birth due to several reasons and one of those being medical malpractice. If you or a loved one has an infant that has recently suffered from brain bleeding as a result of negligent care, you can seek extra compensation. 

The team at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers are ready to step in and act as your Pompano Beach birth injury lawyer and help in this unfortunate fight (by appointment). 

What Is Infant Brain Bleeding?

An infant brain bleed, also known as intraventricular hemorrhage, is when an infant is bleeding into the fluid-filled areas around the brain. It is a condition that is often seen in premature babies, but it can also be a result of a birth injury.

There are several types of infant brain bleeding, and if it’s not treated in time, can lead to life-altering scenarios such as cerebral palsy. The four different grades of IVH are all determined by their severity and the amount of brain tissue that is affected by the bleeding. 

Here are the four grades of intraventricular hemorrhage:

Grade 1

This grade mostly takes place in the germinal matrix and is the least severe. Most infants with grade 1 IVH do not suffer from long-term damages.

Grade 2

Grade 2 is milder compared to grade 1 but still does not pose a threat to long-term damages. However, this grade uses between 10 to 50% of ventricles that are affected by the bleeding. 

Grade 3 & 4

These grades can be linked together based upon their severity and higher risk of long-term effects. Grades 3 & 4 have more bleeding in the brain and can cause the condition of hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of fluid in the brain. These grades can also lead to higher blood pressure and could cause a rupture in blood vessels.

Causes Of Infant Brain Bleeding

Other than IVH being a result of premature birth, there are other causes of infant brain bleedings that come from birth injury and trauma. Most cases of IVH, when not stemming from premature birth, come from a lack of oxygen or a condition known as asphyxia. 

Head injuries sustained during or after birth, such as the forceful use of forceps or putting too much pressure on the brain, can also be a cause of infant brain bleeding. Forceps are a medical tool used to help guide the baby’s head out of the birth canal when labor is not progressing as it should. If the forceps are used with too much force, it can cause brain bleeding, among other injuries.

Signs Of Infant Brain Bleeding

Infant brain bleeding is only seen in newborns, and the chances of it developing decreases as the baby grows older. It may be hard to notice symptoms in your baby, but other times can be very noticeable.

Noticeable symptoms include:

• Excessive sleeping (this may be hard to notice at first since newborns sleep a lot, but monitor them closely)
• Abnormal body movement
• Decreased reflexes
• Apnea
• Feeding difficulties (including a weak suck)

The long-term effects of infant brain bleeding can cause cognitive effects. If you start to notice one or several of these symptoms in your baby, it’s important that you have them checked out by medical professionals immediately. 

Infant Brain Bleeding Lawsuits

If the brain bleeding is a result of the hospital acting negligently and not the baby being born prematurely, you have the right to file a lawsuit. Treating an infant brain bleed is not only a preventable issue, but it can also become costly in terms of medical bills. If your infant develops cognitive problems later on in life that require medical attention, this also puts a burden on your finances. 

Seeking the professional help of a Pompano Beach birth injury lawyer can advise you on how to proceed in filing your lawsuit. Birth-related medical malpractice is what you will file against the hospital. 

When you find a lawyer to work with, you will have to give them your medical records to look over how long you have been seeing the doctor who acted negligently. Negligent care means that the doctor failed to use reasonable care during birth. When you are filing a birth injury medical malpractice claim, there will be a lot of investigation on your lawyer’s side since proving a medical malpractice claim involves speaking to a lot of people. 

The doctor’s medical performance will have to be compared to other doctors who will be asked how they would treat a patient in the same moment that your infant sustained the brain bleeding. 

Looking for the right lawyer to work with should be a drawn-out process since you need to look for a lawyer that has a lot of experience in birth-injury medical malpractice claims. In Florida, a person has two years to report a medical injury from the day it was discovered, so it is important to start as soon as you can.

Once you select a Pompano Beach birth injury lawyer, you might be able to discover a ballpark figure of your settlement from the insurance and hospital. The great benefit of hiring a lawyer is that they possess excellent negotiation skills that are needed so you can seek the settlement figure that you legally deserve or an amount close to it. 

Deciding to file a lawsuit for your baby who has suffered from a preventable brain bleed is your right and a great way to seek justice against the professionals we put our trust in.

Seek Help with Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers

Are you ready to seek justice for your infant against the responsible medical staff? You can consult with Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers today to set up a free initial meeting.

We understand that fighting this battle is going to be tough, so that’s why we’re proud to say that our 40 years in practice have given us expert knowledge in handling these cases. Fighting against medical personnel is a challenge one can successfully face with the right team of injury lawyers in Pompano Beach, Florida. 

Our law firm uses legal tactics in medical malpractice cases since we know what to expect from the other side. When you work with us, you can trust that your case is in good hands and the people assigned to your case are working around the clock to help you seek the justice you deserve.

You can begin building your case by calling us at (561) 800-8000 or visiting us online to fill out our free case evaluation. We will then reach out to you and set up a time where you can visit us to meet one of our attorneys and discuss your case in detail. If you feel that we are a great fit after hearing how we can best serve you, we will get the ball rolling on your case.

Get started with your case today by calling us. Don’t let any more time in the two-year window pass you by before starting your medical malpractice claim.