Vacuum-assisted delivery is sometimes necessary when labor becomes difficult or prolonged. However, improper use of a vacuum device can cause serious injuries to a newborn, including scalp injuries, bleeding, and other complications. When preventable medical errors harm your baby, the physical and emotional consequences can be overwhelming for your family.
If your child suffered an injury during a vacuum extraction delivery in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Baby Safety can help. Our Atlanta vacuum extraction injury lawyers can investigate what happened, explain your legal options, and fight for the compensation your family deserves. Contact us today at (404) 995-6033 for a free consultation.
How Can Georgia Baby Safety Help After a Vacuum Extraction Injury in Atlanta, GA?
Our attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.
Our Atlanta birth injury lawyers can help you pursue answers through the following work:
- Obtain the labor and delivery records
- Review the documented reason for vacuum assistance
- Examine how the delivery progressed
- Consult qualified obstetric and pediatric specialists
- Document your child’s diagnosis and treatment needs
- Identify the providers responsible for the care
- Present your claim to the responsible parties
A careful review can establish when the injury occurred and whether a different medical decision could have prevented it. That understanding guides our liability investigation and the assessment of your child’s future needs.
Contact our Atlanta personal injury lawyers today for a free, no-obligation case review.
What Causes Vacuum Extraction Injuries?
Vacuum extraction is generally considered when a baby needs assistance during the pushing stage of labor. The procedure requires the doctor to assess whether the baby’s position and progress make vacuum assistance appropriate. If those conditions are not met, traction may expose the baby to unnecessary risk.
Potential medical errors include:
- Placing the suction cup incorrectly
- Applying excessive pulling force
- Continuing after repeated failed attempts
- Using vacuum assistance before the baby is positioned appropriately
- Delaying a different delivery method when needed
Repeated unsuccessful attempts can prolong a difficult delivery. The timing of the decision to stop may be especially important when the baby is already showing signs of fetal distress.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Vacuum Extraction Accidents?
The suction cup can leave temporary swelling or bruising on a newborn’s scalp. More serious complications can occur when blood vessels are damaged or the baby’s head is subjected to excessive force.
Possible injuries include:
- Scalp bruising and swelling
- Cephalohematoma
- Subgaleal hemorrhage
- Skull fractures
- Bleeding inside the skull
Some conditions require urgent monitoring because bleeding can worsen after delivery. If your baby needs continued treatment, the medical findings can help explain the injury’s severity and its likely effect on development.
How Do I Know if My Baby’s Vacuum Extraction Injury Was Caused by Medical Negligence?
Not every injury during a vacuum-assisted delivery is the result of medical negligence. However, healthcare providers have a responsibility to follow accepted medical standards and take reasonable steps to protect both mother and baby during childbirth.
Signs that medical negligence may have contributed to your child’s injury include:
- Using vacuum extraction when it was not medically appropriate
- Applying excessive force during delivery
- Failing to recognize signs of fetal distress
- Continuing the procedure despite repeated unsuccessful attempts
- Delaying an emergency C-section when necessary
- Failing to properly monitor the baby after delivery
Determining whether medical negligence occurred typically requires a careful review of medical records and expert opinions. An experienced Atlanta birth injury lawyer can investigate the circumstances of your child’s delivery and help determine whether you have grounds for a claim.
What Compensation Is Available?
When a preventable delivery injury causes lasting harm, your family may face treatment expenses that extend well beyond the newborn period. A claim can address both the immediate costs and the effects of the injury on your child’s future.
Depending on the harm, compensation may include:
- Hospital and specialist bills
- Future medical treatment
- Therapy and rehabilitation expenses
- Assistive care needs
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of future earning capacity
The appropriate amount depends on your child’s medical outlook and the care that may be required over time. We work to document those needs so a settlement reflects more than the expenses already incurred.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
In Georgia, medical malpractice lawsuits generally must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. However, exceptions may apply, particularly in birth injury cases involving young children.
The deadline can vary depending on the circumstances of your case and whose claim is being filed. Speaking with an experienced birth injury attorney as soon as possible can help you understand the applicable deadlines and protect your family’s right to pursue compensation.
Contact an Atlanta Vacuum Extraction Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If your baby was injured during a vacuum-assisted delivery, you deserve a clear explanation of what happened. We can investigate the medical decisions involved and help you pursue the support your child may need.
Contact Georgia Baby Safety to arrange a free consultation. Our Atlanta vacuum extraction injury attorneys will listen to your concerns, review the available information, and discuss the next steps with you.