Birth injuries to mother and child are always a risk during childbirth. When the doctor or OBGYN responsible for caring for the mother is negligent, however, this dramatically increases the odds of a serious injury.
If you suffered a maternal birth injury in Albuquerque that you believe could have been prevented, it is worthwhile to contact The Fine Law Firm for a free consultation about a potential legal claim. If your injury was caused by medical negligence, you are entitled to financial compensation.
What Makes The Fine Law Firm the Right Choice for This Case?
- Our medical malpractice attorneys in Albuquerque have over 50 years of experience handling complex birth injury and medical malpractice claims across New Mexico. We have connections to top medical experts.
- The Fine Law Firm has successfully recovered millions of dollars for clients, including $2.2 million for prenatal malpractice and $1 million for failure to diagnose.
- Our law firm is known for being willing to take complex malpractice cases to trial when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation. We have advanced litigators ready to fight for you.
- You can benefit from our legal advocacy completely risk-free. We don’t charge any attorney’s fees unless and until we win the birth injury case. This is known as working on a “contingency fee basis.”
What Does a Maternal Birth Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque Do?
A maternal birth injury lawyer is a personal injury attorney who practices medical malpractice law and can file a claim for damages against a maternity center, hospital or other health care provider for harm caused to a mother due to professional negligence.
The right attorney can thoroughly investigate your maternal birth injury case, look for signs and evidence of medical negligence, file a malpractice claim before New Mexico’s deadline, and seek a financial outcome that truly reflects the gravity of the losses you have suffered.
As part of your case, a maternal birth injury lawyer can hire medical experts to help prove that your provider failed to meet the correct standard of care when treating you. Medical experts are a key part of most Albuquerque medical malpractice claims.
Types of Maternal Birth Injuries
Maternal birth injuries refer to injuries suffered by a mother during or shortly after the labor and delivery process of childbirth. Giving birth is always somewhat of a health risk for the mother. Even with proper medical care and treatment, childbirth can have unforeseen complications and health consequences.
Examples of maternal birth injuries include:
- Uncontrolled bleeding or hemorrhaging
- Pelvic floor injuries
- Epidural injuries
- Nerve damage or paralysis
- Surgical injuries during C-section
- Perineal lacerations or severe tears
- Uterine rupture
- Injuries caused by forceps or vacuums
- Chronic pain
- Incontinence
- Psychological injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder
Maternal birth injuries may or may not be accompanied by injuries to the infant, as well. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury to the mother, she may experience long-lasting or permanent symptoms, effects and lifestyle changes. Sadly, some maternal birth injuries are fatal.
How Can Proper Medical Care Prevent Maternal Birth Injuries?
Even the best doctor cannot always prevent harmful birthing complications. No doctor is expected to prevent birth injuries 100 percent of the time. There is, however, an expectation of reasonable care placed on health care providers, as well as high standards of patient care that must be met.
If an obstetrician, gynecologist, doctor, surgeon, nurse or another medical provider responsible for a mother’s care does not meet the required standards, this dramatically increases the odds of a serious maternal injury. Substandard care makes it more likely that the signs of a potential problem will be missed or emergency medical intervention will come too late.
Medical malpractice or negligence substantially boosts the chances of a serious or fatal event. Proper medical attention before, during and after giving birth, on the other hand, can screen for foreseeable issues, prevent dangerous complications from arising and minimize injury risks in the event of an emergency.
Recovering Compensation for Maternal Birth Injuries in Albuquerque
In New Mexico, a medical malpractice claim gives patients the ability to hold health care providers accountable for injuries caused by professional negligence. A lawsuit can motivate safety changes at the institution to protect future mothers and babies from similar wrongdoing. It can also lead to financial compensation awarded to help make a victim whole again.
Available compensation for a maternal birth injury in Albuquerque may include:
- The mother’s related medical expenses
- Any future or ongoing care connected to the maternal injury
- Lost wages from the inability to return to work as planned
- Lost future capacity to earn a living (for permanent injuries)
- Long-term disabilities, including adverse effects on future pregnancies
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
In tragic cases involving the death of a mother due to preventable birth injuries, surviving family members may be eligible for wrongful death damages from a negligent health care provider. This can include reasonable funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship and support, and survivors’ pain and suffering.
New Mexico’s Medical Malpractice Laws
To have a valid and successful medical malpractice claim in Albuquerque, you must obey New Mexico’s related laws and statutes. An attorney from The Fine Law Firm can guide you through all the rules that apply to your unique case. One unique requirement is New Mexico’s Medical Review Commission.
Under state law, injury claims brought against most health care providers must first go through a Medical Review Commission screening panel before they are permitted to go to trial. The panel is a group of relevant medical and legal professionals who will evaluate the evidence to determine if there is enough to proceed with a malpractice claim. An attorney can help you get through this stage with strong evidence from medical experts.
Contact Us About a Potential Maternal Birth Injury Claim in Albuquerque
A maternal birth injury can make what should be a joyous time in your life one filled with pain, confusion and distress. At Fine Law Firm, we are passionate about helping injured mothers pursue justice in the face of preventable birth injuries. Our Albuquerque medical malpractice attorneys have the knowledge and skill you need to get through this difficult time.
Contact us to arrange a free case consultation. You will not pay us any attorney’s fees unless your maternal birth injury case leads to a settlement or judgment award. Call our Albuquerque office at (505) 889-3463 today to learn more.