Fetal Distress (Hypoxia) Lawyer in Detroit

Trust in a Firm with 150+ Years of Combined Experience

Fetal distress, or hypoxia or anoxia, is a complication that can occur before, during, or immediately after birth involving a lack of adequate oxygen to a baby’s brain. While unavoidable circumstances may cause fetal distress, medical professionals are responsible for monitoring mothers for this complication. Also, they must immediately address it to avoid permanent injury to the infant.

Contact Goodman Acker P.C. today if your child suffered injuries due to improperly treated fetal distress. Having recovered millions in verdicts and settlements for injured clients throughout Michigan since 1993, our powerful attorneys can provide the advocacy you need to pursue maximum compensation for your child’s suffering.

Call us today at 248-286-8100 to discuss your case with one of our attorneys.

Why Choose Our Fetal Distress (Hypoxia) Lawyers in Detroit

Our legal team at Goodman Acker P.C. has years of experience helping aggrieved parents get compensation for the harm their children suffered. We have a near-perfect 99% success rate and a 10.0 “Superb” Avvo Rating for client satisfaction. Also, we have unanimous praise from past clients, and their testimonials show how far we go to win for them.

Our Detroit fetus distress attorneys understand Michigan’s legal system and birth injury laws and have excellent negotiation skills. Also, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t have to worry about paying upfront legal fees. Our primary interest is helping you get justice for the harm your child suffered, and we dedicate our time and resources to it.

Contact us at  248-286-8100 to schedule a free case review.

What Are the Common Signs of Fetal Distress?

There are numerous reasons a baby may not get enough oxygen before, during, or after birth, such as a mother’s medical condition, which lowers her oxygen levels. Others are issues with oxygen transfer from the placenta to the fetus or even compression of the umbilical cord.

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals must carefully monitor a mother and baby to ensure the baby is not distressed. Medical professionals who fail to continuously assess high-risk pregnancies or ignore common signs of fetal distress may be held liable for medical malpractice.

Fetal distress is identified through any of the following:

• Erratic fetal heart rate
• Decreased fetal heart rate
• Lack of fetal movement
• Vaginal bleeding
• Intense cramping
• High maternal blood pressure
• Excessive maternal weight gain.

At birth, common signs of fetal asphyxia and hypoxia include a blue or pale skin color, weak muscle tone, soft or no cry, poor reflexes, or difficulty breathing. If deprived of oxygen for an extended period, a baby can suffer permanent and irreversible brain damage, organ failure, or even death.

Can I Sue If My Baby Suffered Fetal Distress During Pregnancy or Childbirth?

Yes, you can. However, you must establish that your doctor was negligent. Negligence in birth injury cases is an act or omission by a health care provider outside the acceptable standard of care. To prove medical malpractice, you must establish the four elements of negligence.

They are:

Standard of Care

According to the National Cancer Institute, the standard of care is a treatment that is acceptable by medical experts as the proper treatment for an illness and is widely used by health care professionals. Every medical professional is duty-bound to uphold the standard of care.

Breach

A breach of the standard of care occurs when a doctor does not follow the acceptable treatment. The focus is usually on whether another similarly trained doctor would have taken the same action given the same circumstances.

Causation

Next, you must show that the breach of the standard of care led to fetal distress, which harmed your baby. Note that the injury suffered by your child must be linked to violating the standard of care. If the breach was not the proximate cause of the hypoxia, you might be unable to get compensation.

Damages

The last element is to prove that you suffered damages from the injury. These damages could be monetary or emotional — for instance, the medical bills spent treating the complications caused and the emotional distress and mental anguish endured by the baby’s parents.

Aside from the above, you also need to show that there was a doctor-patient relationship. The doctor in question must handle your care, such as antenatal, labor, and birth. Our fetal distress (hypoxia) lawyer in Detroit can help you prove the elements of negligence.

What Evidence Do You Need for a Fetal Distress (Hypoxia) Case?

Any case emanating from medical malpractice requires evidence. Some of the evidence we will put together for you include:

• Medical records of your treatment history
• Test results from your pregnancy
• Doctor’s (SBAR) notes
• Statements of those who were there when the fetal distress occurred
• Any available photograph or video footage
• Medical record of the injury suffered
• The doctor’s employment records and evidence of any previous complaints
• Expert opinion from medical professionals in the same field.

The above evidence makes it easier to prove negligence, especially if you work with our legal team at Goodman Acker P.C.

What Compensation Will Our Detroit Fetal Distress Lawyer Get You?

Our lawyers will get you the compensation that covers the treatment of the medical condition resulting from fetal distress. As a result, your settlement will include the following:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Therapy
• Travel expenses for appointments and treatments
• Educational and behavioral interventions
• Lost earnings if you stopped working to take care of the baby because of the injury
• Home care
• Assistive devices.

Aside from these, we can get you compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, etc.

Fetal Distress (Hypoxia) Lawyer in Detroit FAQs

If your baby suffered fetal distress (hypoxia) during your pregnancy or childbirth, the experience can be traumatic. If you decide to take legal action, you might have many questions about the process and whether you can get compensation. Below are some of the questions we encounter from our clients.

Am I Eligible to File a Claim for My Child’s Injury?

You may be eligible to file a claim if your child suffers from hypoxia. A lawyer can help you determine your eligibility, so contact one immediately.

What Is My Fetal Distress/Birth Injury Claim Worth? 

There is no fixed figure on the worth of a birth injury claim. However, you can get from tens of thousands of dollars to millions. It depends on the severity of the harm suffered.

How Can I Make a Birth Injury Claim? 

You need the help of an attorney to file a claim for medical negligence resulting in hypoxia. The lawyer will handle the filing of the claim, the gathering of evidence, and other aspects of the case.

When Should I File a Birth Injury Claim?

As soon as you discover that the doctor was negligent. Also, Michigan has a 2-year limit for cases like this, and your claim must be filed within this time frame.

How Can Our Fetal Distress (Hypoxia) Lawyer in Detroit Help You?

Our legal team at Goodman Acker P.C. will help you identify whether you have a claim and commence the process if you do. We will investigate the case to get the evidence needed and negotiate your settlement on your behalf. Also, we will represent you at a trial if the case goes to court.

We will show that the medical doctor you trusted with your care was negligent and will not give up until we get a favorable outcome. So, waste no time . . .  reach out to our law firm.

Get Compensation With Goodman Acker P.C.

If your child suffered injuries due to a doctor’s failure to identify fetal distress, our lawyers will stand by your side and file a lawsuit against those responsible. Our high success rate speaks to our competence and desire to win. Contact our fetal distress (hypoxia) lawyer in Detroit at 248-286-8100 for a free consultation.

LEGALLY REVIEWED BY BARRY J. GOODMAN

Barry J. Goodman has devoted his professional life to keeping courthouse doors open for victims seeking justice. Always a tireless advocate for his own clients, Goodman sees his responsibility as a Detroit personal injury attorney in a broader sense as well. [ Attorney Bio ]