During pregnancy, the placenta is the organ that feeds and supports the health of your baby. No one anticipates complications while carrying their child, but if they do arise, you expect your doctor to protect you and your baby. What if they fail to catch something as serious as a placental abruption? If you suffered a placental abruption and you and your baby suffered injuries, you may have a case for medical malpractice. Read on to learn more about this dangerous condition and how NJ placental abruption lawyers can help you. 

What Is Placental Abruption? 

Placental abruption describes a condition when the placenta detaches too early from a mother’s uterus. The condition does not commonly occur; however, when it does, it is severe. Placental abruption most commonly occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. When the placenta ruptures and detaches from the uterus, the connection with the fetus is disrupted, and the fetus cannot get essential nutrients and oxygen. 

Symptoms and Treatment for Placental Abruption

Placental abruption can only be diagnosed by a medical professional. However, the most common symptoms of this condition include: 

  • Bleeding, 
  • Abdominal pain, 
  • Back pain, 
  • Continuous contractions, 
  • Hard abdomen, and
  • The baby’s fetal movement or heart rate has decreased. 

Large placental abruptions not diagnosed and treated right away can significantly affect the baby. A baby affected by placental abruption may suffer from premature birth, brain damage, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, and in some situations, death. 

Risk Factors for Placental Abruption 

There is no exact cause for placental abruption. However, there are risk factors that may increase a mother’s chances of developing this condition: 

  • Smoking cigarettes while pregnant, 
  • Pregnancy over the age of 35, 
  • Multiple pregnancy, 
  • Trauma to the abdomen, 
  • Abnormalities of the uterus, 
  • Eclampsia, 
  • Short umbilical cord, 
  • High blood pressure or pregnancy-induced hypertension, and 
  • Blood clotting disorders.

A woman with one or more of these risk factors during her pregnancy should be evaluated or monitored closely for the duration of her pregnancy. A doctor is trained to recognize the risk factors for placental abruption. Failing to identify these risk factors and protect the pregnant mother and child assists your NJ placental abruption attorney in a finding for medical malpractice. 

How Do I Know If Medical Negligence Caused My Placental Abruption? 

A NJ placental abruption lawyer carefully evaluates the facts of your case to determine whether medical malpractice caused your injury. Certain situations strengthen your claim for malpractice against your treating physician. Examples include the following:

  • A doctor failed to monitor you or your baby properly, 
  • Your doctor delayed your cesarean section or never performed one at all, 
  • The doctor did not induce your labor when they should have.

NJ placental abruption lawyers review the evidence available to support your claim. Evidence includes medical records, proof of your baby’s injuries, photographs, and witness statements.  

What Can I Recover From a Medical Malpractice Claim?

NJ placental abruption attorneys help their clients recover compensation damages through economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages award victims for their financial losses resulting from their injuries. The most common types of economic damages include:

  • Medical expenses, 
  • Lost wages, 
  • Loss of future earnings, and 
  • Property damage.

Medical expenses would include those for you and your baby. Long-term medical expenses for any complications caused by the placental abruption are recoverable in a medical malpractice claim. 

Noneconomic damages represent intangible losses. Though challenging to calculate, these losses are particularly significant due to how they impact a victim’s well-being. Common examples of non-economic damages include:

  • Pain and suffering, 
  • Emotional distress,
  • Loss of companionship, and 
  • Loss of consortium.

Non-economic damages are challenging to recover because they are more difficult to prove than economic damages. Your attorney uses your testimony, the testimony of your friends and family, and medical expert opinion to solidify the impact that your injury has had on your life and the life of your baby. 

Is There a Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims? 

The statute of limitations for any case is the period that a person has to file their claim. Attempting to file outside of this period, or once the limitations have expired, bars you from filing the claim. Those who do not act quickly often miss out on their opportunity to seek justice for the harm they have suffered. New Jersey provides a two-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims. This time begins running on the date your placental abruption occurred. Two years come and go quickly, especially when dealing with a traumatic birth and potential congenital disabilities in your child as a result. 

Your body may also require extensive time to heal after such an injury. It’s vital to speak to a NJ placental abruption lawyer as soon as possible to begin working on your case. It’s so crucial that you recover the damages you deserve after the medical team you trusted failed to protect you and your baby from harm. 

Contact Us 

At O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, we understand that if you’ve been hurt, choosing an attorney is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life. Our team of attorneys prides themselves on the settlements and verdicts that we have achieved for our clients and want to do the same for you. We are real people who get the job done and do it right. With no weak link on our legal team, our attorneys and staff are ready to fight to protect your rights and achieve justice today. Contact us today by phone or email to schedule your free consultation and learn how O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble can help you.