Newborn Cephalohematoma Attorney in Honolulu, HI
A cephalohematoma on a tiny newborn baby may appear frightening, but it is usually harmless. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a precursor to or a sign of an underlying catastrophic injury that necessitates immediate medical attention.
Doctors must act quickly to save the baby’s life or prevent permanent, irreversible brain damage. If they miss the diagnosis or do not act quickly enough to help, the baby may have a severe disability due to medical malpractice. The physical, emotional, and financial strain on the child and family can be enormous.
If you believe your child was the victim of poor medical decision-making that resulted in a birth injury, you have the legal right to sue the responsible parties in Hawaii. SRB Hawaii Law, a newborn cephalohematoma law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii, can assist!
Dial our number today and schedule a free consultation!
Why do I need a Newborn Cephalohematoma Lawyer in Hawaii?
If your child was born with a cephalohematoma, it is understandable for you to be concerned about their health and future. You could be wondering if your childbirth was handled appropriately or if the medical staff that attended to you was negligent in any way. You may also worry about the expenses your family needs to cover if cephalohematoma will not heal itself.
SRB Hawaii Law has been providing assistance to victims of birth injuries and their families. Our law firm offers birth injury legal services in Honolulu and the whole state of Hawaii. We have a strong track record of successfully recovering fair compensation for our clients in our almost 30 years in service.
You can put your faith in us to:
- Collect evidence, witness statements, and relevant medical documents of your child’s cephalohematoma birth injury case
- Assist in the process of making medical inquiries and conciliation panel
- Settle or negotiate fair compensation damage claim on your behalf
- Represent you in medical malpractice litigation if no settlement happens
If your child was recently diagnosed with cephalohematoma, our SRB Hawaii Law team is ready to hear from you and your family. Reach out to us now!
What is Newborn Cephalohematoma?
Cephalo means “head” or “skull.” Hematoma is a type of internal bleeding, usually clotted, that occurs outside of a blood vessel. A cephalohematoma is a clot caused by ruptured blood vessels in the area between the skull and the periosteum (the membrane that covers the skull).
A difficult or prolonged birth can result in infant cephalohematomas and is frequently associated with other types of birth trauma. Cephalohematomas are also linked to birth-assist tools like forceps or vacuum extractors. Newborn cephalohematomas usually heal on their own without significant medical intervention. But if not treated properly, the consequences can be severe.
If you suspect your child suffered from newborn cephalohematoma, reach out to a credible newborn cephalohematoma attorney in Honolulu, HI, and get help immediately with your birth injury case.
Types of Newborn Cephalohematomas
Medical specialists classify cephalohematomas in newborns according to the age at which the first symptoms manifest. The following are the two categories of hematomas that can occur in infants:
- Acute infant hematoma – symptoms will appear shortly after birth or within hours.
- Chronic infant hematoma – symptoms may not appear for several days or weeks following birth.
If an acute infant hematoma is not treated correctly, it can progress to chronic infant hematoma.
Can Cephalohematoma Happen Due to Medical Negligence?
If your doctor fails to adhere to protocol and your child does not receive prompt medical care, this may constitute medical negligence. Misusing delivery aids or failing to respond promptly to fetal distress may constitute medical negligence or malpractice.
Other numerous medical mistakes can result in cephalohematoma. The following are examples of common medical malpractice that can result in this type of birth injury cases:
- Use of forceps incorrectly during childbirth – Doctors may decide to use forceps or a vacuum to assist in deliveries that are longer or more difficult than usual. However, due to the pressure, they apply to the baby’s head, assistive devices can rupture the fragile blood vessels beneath the scalp, resulting in a cephalohematoma.
- Prolonged and difficult labor – Several variables, including cephalopelvic disproportion (the baby’s head is larger than the mother’s pelvic opening) and fetal macrosomia, may contribute to more prolonged labor (the baby is larger than is expected for gestational age).
- Improper estimation of fetal weight before childbirth – Cephalohematomas in newborns are more prevalent in larger newborns, particularly boys. Babies weighing more than 8 pounds and 13 ounces may have difficulty navigating the birth canal and require additional time to be born.
It is critical to closely monitor babies who have cephalohematoma. If the baby’s skull is fractured, they may experience various health problems as well as delays in developing motor skills, social interactions, and cognitive abilities. These babies are also at a higher risk of jaundice, anemia, and infections.
If there is no fracture, the cephalohematoma will resolve within a few months. Doctors should not, however, attempt to drain the injury. Draining the cephalohematoma may aggravate the condition and lead to an infection. It is medical malpractice for doctors to act in this manner.
If a catastrophic injury occurs due to a physician attempting or draining the cephalohematoma, your child may be entitled to compensation. Speak to a skillful newborn cephalohematoma attorney in Honolulu, HI, right away!
How to Prove Cephalohematoma Medical Malpractice Claim?
There are some cases of cephalohematoma where the causes are unknown. Therefore, it is essential to demonstrate that medical malpractice caused your child’s injury. To establish lawsuits for cephalohematoma, it is necessary to prove evidence of medical negligence. The following requirements must be met to file a birth injury case:
- The doctor or medical professional must have an existing or prior medical relationship with you.
- It must be demonstrated that your doctor did not adhere to the necessary medical standards for birthing, resulting in cephalohematoma.
- It must be shown that the breach of accepted medical standards resulted in injury.
- Lastly, the injury resulted in damages that can be compensable, like medical expenses.
Cephalohematoma litigation can be challenging because of the difficulty in identifying the cause of the injury. In addition, healthcare facilities and professionals frequently disclaim liability in cases of medical malpractice claims. If your child has suffered an injury due to cephalohematoma malpractice, our newborn cephalohematoma law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii, will ensure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve.
Compensation for Cephalohematoma Medical Malpractice Claim
If you have evidence that your child’s birth injury case was caused by medical malpractice, you may receive financial compensation for the following areas:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical and hospitalization bills
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of companionship and enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Seeking legal advice from a competent newborn cephalohematoma attorney in Honolulu, Hawaii, may help you calculate the economic and non-economic damages you are entitled to pursue. The greater your expenses, the greater your potential settlement.
Settlement Offers in Cephalohematoma Cases
Medical malpractice litigation is time-consuming and costly. It can also damage the reputation of medical professionals and hospitals involved. As a result, they often attempt to resolve birth injury cases via settlement and negotiations.
After reaching out to an experienced newborn cephalohematoma attorney in Hawaii, they will request that you send over any evidence you have, such as medical records, witness statements, and photographs of your baby’s injuries. If they require additional proof, they will assist you in gathering it. Once they have all the evidence, they will contact the defendant to try to reach an agreement. The defendant can settle, negotiate, or refuse to settle.
The defendant will usually settle a medical malpractice case before it reaches the courtroom. If it goes to court, it would not only harm their reputation, but they will also be forced to pay you a much larger settlement. They’ll weigh the risks; if you have enough evidence, they’ll probably be reasonable and settle. If you are not satisfied with the settlement amount, your newborn cephalohematoma lawyer can constantly renegotiate for a higher amount.
When to File for Cephalohematoma Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations regulates the time period during which a person may pursue a lawsuit for a birth injury medical malpractice claim.
If parents or legal guardians file a birth damage lawsuit, the statute of limitations for a medical malpractice claim is two years after the date of discovering the injury, with a cap of 6 years after the act. If the injury resulted in wrongful death lawsuits, the medical malpractice claim period is two years.
This might be simple, but sometimes gathering evidence take time, and you may forget about the statute of limitations. Your trusted Hawaii newborn cephalohematoma attorney can assure evidence is collected quickly and that your case will be filed on time.
Call our Qualified Newborn Cephalohematoma Attorney in Honolulu, Hawaii, Now!
A birth injury can drastically alter a child’s life. A negligent moment during labor and delivery can result in irreversible harm to children and their families. When there is negligence in the delivery room, it is critical to determine what went wrong. The initial medical bills are only the tip of the iceberg. You and your newborn cephalohematoma lawyer can discuss your child’s long-term care needs and expected costs.
SRB Hawaii Law understands you already have a lot on your plate after the birth of your new child. Allow us to be your strong advocate. Our birth injury attorney can fight for your rights and assist you in obtaining the compensation and justice you deserve.
If your loved ones or anyone you know needs assistance pursuing other birth injuries like cerebral palsy, HIE, birth asphyxia, shoulder dystocia, spinal cord injuries, and more.
Your baby’s birth injury needs immediate action. Do not delay reaching out to us to begin achieving justice and fair compensation! Call us today!
