Shoulder Dystocia Lawyer
The Midwest's Most Effective Injury Law Firm
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- November 14, 2024
If your baby suffers a shoulder dystocia injury at birth, your primary focus will be to find the best medical care available. Unfortunately, medical costs and other support for shoulder dystocia birth injuries can put significant financial and emotional strain on your family. While not every shoulder dystocia case stems from medical malpractice, your doctor’s negligence may have led to your child’s injury. When this happens, you may qualify to claim compensation for damages, including medical bills and the cost of your child’s future medical care.
At Brown & Crouppen, we have decades of experience helping injury victims seek justice and accountability. Our experienced shoulder dystocia lawyers in St. Louis, Kansas City, and throughout Missouri can provide compassionate representation to you, your baby, and your family. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia is a birth complication that arises when a baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone during a vaginal delivery. Although the baby’s head passes through the birth canal, the rest of the baby’s body is unable to move past the pubic bone. Shoulder dystocia is considered an obstetric emergency and requires immediate medical intervention. Doctors have a number of techniques to handle shoulder dystocia complications, including:
- Targeted pressure and rotational maneuvers
- Repositioning the mother to widen the pelvis
- Surgical incisions like episiotomies
- Intentional clavicular fracture
- Pushing the baby’s head back into the uterus for an emergency C-section delivery (Zavanelli maneuver)
If you believe your doctor was negligent during your delivery and your child suffered shoulder dystocia injuries as a result, Brown & Crouppen can help. Our trusted shoulder dystocia attorneys have experience handling shoulder dystocia cases and know what steps to take to maximize your recovery.
What Are Signs and Symptoms of Shoulder Dystocia?
Obstetric doctors, nurses, and midwives are trained to identify when shoulder dystocia is affecting a birth. If any of these signs are present, medical providers must take action immediately to prevent injuries and safely deliver the baby:
- The baby’s head emerges and is pulled back against the perineum
- The baby’s head emerges, but the body cannot pass the pubic bone
- It takes longer than one minute to deliver the baby’s body after the head
Who Is More Likely to Experience Shoulder Dystocia?
Although shoulder dystocia can happen to anyone giving birth, there are many factors that raise the risk of shoulder dystocia complications, including:
- Fetuses weighing more than 8 pounds and 13 ounces
- Gestational diabetes
- Previous births involving shoulder dystocia
- Significant weight gain during pregnancy
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
Shoulder Dystocia Complications
Failure to address shoulder dystocia immediately can lead to severe complications and injuries for the mother and child.
Shoulder Dystocia Birth Injuries to Babies
Doctors can make mistakes or delay essential treatment during a birth involving shoulder dystocia. Examples of fetal birth injuries caused by shoulder dystocia include:
- Bone fractures to the collarbone or arms
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Erb’s palsy
- Kumpke’s palsy
- Horner’s syndrome
- Nerve or brain damage
Shoulder Dystocia Birth Injuries to Mothers
Mothers can also suffer severe trauma and painful injuries when medical professionals fail to provide proper care during a shoulder dystocia delivery. Mothers may experience:
- Postpartum hemorrhaging
- Extreme tearing of the perineum
- Ruptured uterus
- Rectovaginal fistula
Our skilled shoulder dystocia lawyers in St. Louis will evaluate the severity of your case and calculate the full and fair value of the damages you and your baby are legally entitled to. Reach out to learn more about our legal services and how we can help your family.
When Should I Hire a Birth Injury Lawyer?
A birth injury caused by shoulder dystocia can have serious effects that require long-term treatment and care. Seeking immediate legal assistance from an experienced birth injury lawyer in Missouri can help you secure the financial support you need.
Keep in mind that you have limited time to take legal action. The Missouri statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is two years from the date of the injury. If you wait too long to file your claim, you may lose the chance to recover damages. That said, exceptions to the two-year deadline may apply to your case.
Consult our knowledgeable birth injury attorneys in Missouri right away to determine the timeframe for filing your medical malpractice lawsuit. The sooner we start working on your claim, the better the chances are of preserving crucial evidence and collecting full and fair compensation.
Brown & Crouppen Injury Settlements
Our award-winning law firm has recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts. This success reflects our dedication to our clients and commitment to justice. At Brown & Crouppen, client service and satisfaction are our primary focus. We believe that if we do our best every day for each client who entrusts us with their case, we advance the cause of justice and can achieve life-changing results for injury victims who need our help the most.
Client Testimonials
At Brown & Crouppen, we believe in the high quality of our legal services. That said, nothing speaks more loudly than testimonials from our many satisfied clients:
Our world-class legal team is here to provide the excellent legal representation you deserve. We advocate for clients like they are our own family, ensuring they have access to the resources and support they need throughout the claims process.
We also understand that, at its best, our work as attorneys advances a cause greater than ourselves and our firm. Accordingly, we also believe in giving back to the community we serve.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation on Your Shoulder Dystocia Claim
Our experienced personal injury attorneys in St. Louis, Kansas City, and throughout Missouri have the knowledge and resources to take on health care corporations and insurance companies eager to minimize the value of your shoulder dystocia claim. We are here to level the playing field and aggressively defend your right to justice, accountability, and compensation.
At Brown & Crouppen, we believe everyone deserves access to the best legal counsel and representation possible, no matter their financial situation. That’s why there is no upfront cost to work with our world-class legal team—you pay nothing unless we win your case. Schedule your free consultation with an experienced shoulder dystocia attorney today.
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- Last Modified:
- November 14, 2024
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