Infant Wrongful Death Lawyers in Arlington Heights

Rolling Meadows Attorneys for Stillbirths Caused by Medical Malpractice

For those who are left behind, losing a loved one is almost always a difficult and painful experience. The death of a child can be even more devastating. However, the pain of not even getting to take your baby home from the hospital is unimaginable.

At Newland & Newland, LLP, we understand that the death of an infant during childbirth is not always preventable. Sometimes, injuries occur or conditions are present that made the child's death unavoidable. In other cases, however, a mistake or negligence on the part of a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional could cause fatal injuries to the infant. If your newborn died as the result of doctor's carelessness or malpractice, our compassionate attorneys are ready to help you take the appropriate action.

Causes of Wrongful Infant Death

In some cases, a fetus fails to develop properly in utero due to certain genetic conditions. As a result, such a baby might not survive the birth process despite the best efforts of a fully qualified labor and delivery team. Other times, the circumstances of the labor and delivery can cause injuries that could prove to be fatal, including:

• Oxygen deprivation (hypoxia): During childbirth, there are a number of ways that a baby could be deprived of oxygen to his or her brain, including a wrapped or compressed umbilical cord, meconium aspiration, and getting stuck in the birth canal;
• Reduced blood flow: If the baby's blood flow to the brain is restricted, he or she is at risk for permanent injury or death. Blood flow can be restricted by the umbilical cord being compressed or maternal hemorrhaging;
• Difficult or traumatic labor: An especially difficult delivery can place a great deal of stress on the baby, and it is up to the medical staff to react quickly. Unfortunately, inexperience or working too fast can cause a doctor to make mistakes when using tools like vacuums or forceps or in making decisions about a cesarean section. Misplaced tools can cause traumatic, fatal injuries, and failing to order a C-section could cause the baby to experience hypoxia or restricted blood flow.

Pursuing Compensation for Wrongful Death in Illinois

Under Illinois law, wrongful death is a death that is caused by some type of negligent, careless, or intentional act-called a "wrongful act." The surviving family of a wrongful death victim may recover damages from the person or entity whose wrongful act caused the death. Professional negligence by a doctor or hospital is commonly referred to as medical malpractice, which means that the wrongful death of an infant during childbirth generally falls under the area of medical malpractice law.

Attorney Gary A. Newland and his team of medical malpractice attorneys have more than 60 years of combined legal experience. We are equipped to help your family cope with the wrongful death of your child and to seek full compensation under the law. Our lawyers recognize that proving negligence in an infant death case can be challenging, but we have the tools and resources to handle even the most complex situations. With our help, you may be able to recover damages for the pain and suffering you have experienced in addition to the loss of the relationship you would have enjoyed with your child.

Call 847-797-8000 for Help

If your newborn suffered fatal injuries due to medical negligence during childbirth, contact our office to speak an experienced, compassionate member of our team. Call 847-797-8000 for a free phone consultation and case review today. Our firm serves families in Arlington Heights, Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect, Long Grove, Des Plaines, Palatine, Wheeling, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Buffalo Grove, DuPage County, Lake County, Cook County, and the surrounding areas.