Was your baby diagnosed with brain damage at birth in Atlanta, Georgia? Georgia Baby Safety is here to help. Contact us today at 404-995-6033 to schedule your free consultation with an Atlanta neonatal brain damage lawyer. We’ll explain your legal rights and how we can help your family seek justice and compensation.
These cases are medically and legally complex—but you don’t have to face them alone. Our experienced team is ready to fight for the financial support your child will need for medical care, therapy, and more. Contact our office today to get started.
Why Trust Georgia Baby Safety To Handle My Family’s Neonatal Brain Damage Claim in Atlanta?
Families in Atlanta, GA, turn to Georgia Baby Safety when facing the life-altering effects of a neonatal brain injury. Our team is dedicated to helping parents seek accountability and support when medical negligence leads to devastating harm.
Here are just a few reasons why families trust us:
- Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience advocating for clients in complex medical injury cases.
- We have successfully recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for families affected by serious birth injuries.
- Our legal team is deeply committed to supporting families during some of their most difficult moments, offering both legal strength and compassionate guidance.
- We hold a perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo, reflecting the trust and satisfaction of past clients.
- The firm has earned an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a respected mark of professional excellence.
- Our founding attorney has been recognized among Georgia’s “Top 100” lawyers by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Proving your case can be difficult. Our Atlanta birth injury attorneys are well-prepared for the challenge. Contact us today to learn how we can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
How Common Is Neonatal Brain Damage?
It’s estimated that as many as three babies per 1,000 births suffer some type of brain damage. Many of those babies experienced serious long-term disabilities. One study found that 65.2% of babies with severe brain damage were later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Neonatal Brain Damage: An Overview
Newborns are especially delicate during and after delivery. Because a baby’s skull is not yet fully formed, it remains soft and flexible to accommodate brain growth after birth. This natural flexibility, however, also leaves infants highly vulnerable to brain injuries—particularly when medical professionals fail to provide proper care during labor or delivery.
These soft areas of a newborn’s skull are known as fontanelles. There are two main fontanelles: one located on the top of the head and another at the back. The rear fontanelle typically closes by the time a baby is two to three months old, while the top fontanelle may remain open for seven to 18 months.
Although these openings are vital for healthy development, they also underscore how important it is for healthcare providers to handle every stage of birth with the utmost precision and care.
What Are Some Signs and Symptoms That My Child Has Suffered Neonatal Brain Damage?
Brain injuries are notoriously difficult to recognize immediately. Some signs that your baby suffered brain damage at birth include:
- Seizures
- Difficulties with feeding
- Unusual sleeping patterns
- Any type of bruising on the head
- Abnormal muscle tone, or arms or legs that seem unusually stiff or floppy
- Excessive crying or irritability
- Poor reflexes, or limited responses to loud noises or being touched and held
- Developmental delays
- Vision or hearing trouble
Regular medical treatment can be critical to your child’s future. If you even suspect that your child has suffered a brain injury, seek medical attention right away. Your doctor can diagnose the injury and help you understand your options.
What Causes Most Cases of Neonatal Brain Damage in Atlanta?
Neonatal brain damage most often occurs because of:
- Insufficient oxygen during labor and delivery
- Improper use of forceps, vacuum extractors, and other labor-assistance devices during delivery
- Failure to properly monitor and treat jaundice in the infant
- Failure to regularly check bilirubin levels
- Perinatal/neonatal stroke
- A gestational age above 41 weeks
- Failure to perform a C-section when necessary to prevent harm
- Failure to recognize risk factors during pregnancy or labor and delivery
- Failure to properly monitor the mother and fetus during pregnancy, labor, and delivery
- Failure to properly respond to a breech or unusual position of the fetus during labor and delivery
- Charting and communication errors
- Inexperienced medical providers who are not properly supervised
- Infections
- Complications related to the umbilical cord
Neonatal brain damage is often entirely preventable. As the parent, you may not be entirely sure what happened and why your family is suffering. If you suspect that medical negligence played a role, contact our lawyers in Atlanta today.
How Much Is My Atlanta Neonatal Brain Damage Case Worth?
The value of your case will depend on your family’s unique experiences. While the insurance company may be pushing you to take a “standard” settlement, it’s important to understand that there’s no such thing. Every baby is different.
Some factors that will impact the value of your medical malpractice claim include:
- The severity and permanence of the brain damage
- How the brain damage is expected to impact your child’s future, in terms of cognitive or physical disabilities
- Your current medical treatment costs
- Your baby’s expected need for ongoing care
- The nature of the care your child will require, and the cost
- How your family’s earnings have suffered
- Your family’s out-of-pocket expenses
- The extent of your family’s distress and trauma
- Whether your doctor expects your child to ever be able to earn a living and live independently
Treating a brain injury can be incredibly expensive. Many victims go on to suffer long-term consequences–and require ongoing treatment and rehabilitative care. It’s possible that every aspect of your family’s life could change.
All of this means that your case could be worth a significant amount. The doctors and insurance companies are absolutely aware of this fact. Even if they seem sympathetic, they’ll be working hard to minimize the amount you take home.
Our Atlanta neonatal brain damage attorneys are experienced in handling these types of cases. We have the resources to ensure your case is accurately valued. Contact us today to get started.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Neonatal Brain Damage in Atlanta?
Damages in Georgia medical malpractice cases are classified as economic damages or non-economic damages. Both can be significant in brain injury cases.
Economic damages represent tangible financial costs, such as:
- Current medical expenses
- Ongoing medical treatment costs
- Specialized care for rehabilitation
- Medications and medical devices
- Special education needs
- Increased childcare costs
- Lost wages
- Your child’s expected lost future earning potential
- In-home assistance
- Long-term care
Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are less tangible and much more personal, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of a normal childhood
- Damage to relationships
Identifying all losses that your family has suffered can be critical to convincing the insurance company to provide a full settlement.
What Does It Cost To Hire a Lawyer To Handle a Neonatal Brain Damage Claim in Georgia?
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. Instead of paying upfront retainer fees or worrying about hourly rates, you’ll sign a contingency fee agreement. You’ll agree to pay us a percentage of any settlement or verdict.
With this system, you’ll only pay if your lawyer recovers compensation in your case–and you’ll never have to worry about initial costs to obtain top-quality legal representation.
How Do I Prove My Family Deserves To Be Compensated for Neonatal Brain Damage in Georgia?
Neonatal brain damage cases are often based on medical malpractice theories. Medical professionals are held to certain standards. Those standards are developed within the medical community.
When a medical provider fails to adhere to the relevant standards, they can be held financially accountable when they cause harm.
The basic elements of a medical malpractice claim are:
- You were the defendant’s patient and thereby were owed a duty of care
- The doctor failed to adhere to accepted medical standards
- Your baby suffered harm because of that failure
- Your family’s damages
Our lawyers will carefully evaluate your medical records as we’re building your case. We’ll interview witnesses and work with leading experts who can testify about the medical error that caused your family’s suffering.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit if My Child Suffered Neonatal Brain Damage in Georgia?
Medical malpractice cases in Georgia are governed by a two-year statute of limitations. If you fail to file a lawsuit within two years of the injury, you’ll be barred from seeking compensation. Exceptions exist in cases where the damage isn’t immediately obvious.
In that case, the two-year clock will start to run on the date you discovered the brain injury, or reasonably should have. In most cases, you’ll generally be prohibited from seeking compensation after five years have passed.
Call an Experienced Atlanta Neonatal Brain Damage Lawyer for a Free Case Review Today
If your child has suffered a brain injury at birth in Atlanta, GA, it’s important to understand your legal rights and options. Contact Georgia Baby Safety today to schedule a free consultation. An experienced Atlanta neonatal brain damage attorney is ready to advocate for your family and help you pursue the justice you deserve.