Infant Hematoma Brain Bleed Birth Injury Lawsuits

Our lawyer handle brain bleed birth injury lawsuits in not only in Maryland where we are based but throughout the country.

During childbirth, if getting the infant out of the mother’s womb is challenging, the doctors sometimes use a vacuum to extract the child. Misused, a vacuum can cause lifelong injuries to the child.

In infants, brain bleeds, or intracranial hemorrhages, are serious medical conditions that can arise from birth trauma, prematurity, or underlying medical issues. The most common types of brain bleeds include subgaleal hematomas, subdural hemorrhages, epidural hemorrhages, and intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH), each differing in location, causes, and severity.

If you want an attorney to fight for your child and family, call our legal team at 800-553-8082 today or get a free, no-obligation online consultation.

Infant Hematoma During Delivery

A subgaleal hematoma is blood that accumulates between the skull and the scalp. The brain needs blood, of course, but this blood sits outside of the blood vessels. Every newborn faces a risk of a brain bleed. The risk is higher in premature babies and children delivered with a mechanical instrument.

A hematoma like this can happen from a lot of different things, but most subgaleal hematomas that occur within the first 72 hours of a child’s life are caused by a birth trauma that can often be the result of medical malpractice.

What often happens in these cases is that the delivering doctor will misuse the vacuum extractors or forceps. Most of the time, the doctor gets it right. Hematomas result in only 1% of babies born where the doctor needs to use vacuum extraction or forceps but to a much smaller degree and for different reasons. What often happens is that it becomes apparent that a c-section is required because the vacuum is not working and the fetus is in real distress. But the doctor, particularly during what is called a high canal birth, just wants to give it one or two more tries with the vacuum than good medical care warrants.

There are also situations where the doctor uses a vacuum in cases where it is not warranted. For example, if the child is less than 34 weeks, the doctor knows there is a concern the child has bleeding or bone disease, or when multiple attempts have been made for fetal scalp electrode placement, vacuum use is not recommended. In all but the rarest of circumstances, using a vacuum under these conditions violates the standard of care and constitutes medical malpractice if the child suffers a brain bleed.

In other situations, it is not the choice of the vacuum that is the problem but how it is used. For example, good medical practices require that the use of the vacuum should be stopped when there are three disengagements of the vacuum (called “pop-offs”). The vacuum should also be discontinued when more than 20 minutes have elapsed or when three consecutive pulls do not get any result. Less frequently, some doctors, often inexperienced OB/GYNs, do not use the device correctly or with the appropriate level of suction, which can put the scalp at risk for an injury that can cause a hematoma.

For parents, if you hear that your child had a subdural hematoma, cephalohematoma, or a subgaleal hemorrhage, your child has suffered a brain bleed. If you were not told your child has a brain bleed but received blood products, that order could have resulted from a brain bleed. Is the brain bleed a result of medical malpractice? It really depends on the specific facts of the case. There is no magic test. But the child’s brain MRI will tell you a great deal.

More about intracranial hemorrhages and settlement and verdicts in these cases

Understanding Birth Injury Lawsuits Due to Intracranial Bleeding

Four significant hematoma types tend to be the focus of a birth injury lawsuit:

Epidural Hematoma

Epidural hematomas involve blood collection between the skull and the dura mater. It may occur in association with a skull fracture or cephalhematoma. Infants with epidural hematoma may present with symptoms such as apnea, seizures, or focal neurologic abnormalities, and the fontanelles may be bulging if intracranial pressure is increased. The outcomes with epidural hematoma are pretty good, and these are the least likely of these four brains bleeds to lead to a birth injury malpractice lawsuit.

Intraventricular Hemorrhage/Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH), usually during the first three days of life, is the most severe type of intracranial bleeding. Preterm infants are most at risk, and bleeding episodes often involve small amounts of blood. In severe cases, there may be bleeding into the parenchyma with large amounts of blood in the cisterna magna and basal cisterns. Infants with large intraventricular hemorrhages have a poor prognosis, especially if the hemorrhage extends into the parenchyma. Follow-up and referral for early intervention services are important for infants who survive and have neurologic deficits.

In birth injury lawsuits, parents may allege that medical negligence caused or contributed to their child’s IVH or IPH. This may include failure to properly monitor the infant during labor and delivery, failure to timely diagnose and treat hypoxia-ischemia, or failure to timely diagnose and treat bleeding in the brain.

More about intraventricular hemorrhages and settlements and verdicts

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is the most common type of intracranial hemorrhage and involves bleeding between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater. Infants typically present with apnea, seizures, lethargy, or an abnormal neurologic examination on the second or third day of life. The prognosis for subarachnoid hemorrhage is usually good, but large hemorrhages may lead to hydrocephalus as the infant grows.

Medical malpractice in a SAH birth injury lawsuit may involve failure to properly monitor the mother and baby during delivery, failure to diagnose and treat conditions that increase the risk of SAH, improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction during delivery, and failure to perform a timely C-section.

Subdural Hemorrhage

Subdural hemorrhage involves bleeding between the dura and the pia mater. The incidence of subdural hemorrhage in infants is estimated to occur in approximately 16.5 to 24.1 cases per 100,000 children.

Small, subdural hemorrhages are common and typically benign, while large subdural hemorrhages are more severe and tend to occur in neonates of primiparas, in large neonates, or after difficult deliveries. Babies with this kind of brain bleed may experience symptoms such as apnea, seizures, and a rapidly enlarging head. In severe cases, there may also be an abnormal neurologic examination with hypotonia, a poor Moro reflex, or extensive retinal hemorrhages. The prognosis for large subdural hemorrhages is guarded, and neurosurgical drainage of the hematoma may be necessary for rapidly progressing bleeding.

How Are Infant Brain Bleeds Diagnosed?

An infant brain hemorrhage is a serious medical condition that requires prompt and accurate diagnosis. This is typically achieved through advanced diagnostic imaging tests. Two of the most common and effective imaging tools used are CT Scans and MRIs, each playing a crucial role in providing doctors with a detailed view of the brain.

A CT Scan (Computed Tomography) is often one of the first imaging techniques used in emergency situations because you can get it done quick. It provides a clear picture of the brain’s internal structures, allowing doctors to detect the presence and extent of the bleed. The scan works by using X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the brain, which can help identify areas of swelling, tissue damage, or broken blood vessels. This is crucial in understanding just how bad the brain hemorrhage might be.

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is another essential tool in diagnosing infant brain bleeds, offering a more detailed image than a CT scan, especially in non-emergency cases. MRIs use powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain’s soft tissues. This method is especially effective at detecting smaller or more subtle brain injuries, as well as drilling down on precise location of the brain bleed. The high-resolution images help physicians identify the affected blood vessels and the extent of the damage, making it invaluable for creating a treatment plan.

Infant Brain Bleed Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Birth injury malpractice cases involving infant brain bleeds have a very high potential settlement value. Birth injury cases in general are some of the highest-value medical malpractice cases because they often involve injuries that leave a child permanently disabled. Injuries with a permanent life impact have the highest settlement value because plaintiffs can get economic damages for lost future earning potential and future medical expenses.

Infant brain bleeds are usually some of the most devastating types of birth injuries that can occur. When an infant suffers a brain bleed during childbirth there is rarely a good outcome. As a result, infant brain bleed malpractice cases are at the very top end of the settlement value range.

The ultimate settlement amount families see in these cases hinges on several key factors:

Proving Negligence

The necessary cornerstone of any birth injury malpractice lawsuit is proving that the healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused the newborn’s hematoma. This requires showing that the doctor, nurse, or hospital deviated from the standard of care, which could include failing to monitor fetal distress, misusing delivery tools like forceps or a vacuum, or delaying a necessary C-section. The stronger the evidence linking the provider’s actions (or inaction) to the brain injury, the higher the potential settlement. Medical records, expert testimony, and fetal monitoring strips are all crucial pieces of evidence in establishing this link.

Extent of the Injury

The severity of the brain bleed and the long-term impact on the child’s life are major determinants of the settlement value. Infant brain bleeds often result in permanent disabilities like cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, or developmental delays. Cases with more severe, life-altering injuries tend to have higher settlement values because they involve lifelong care, extensive medical treatments, and lost future earning capacity.

Economic Damages:

A significant portion of a settlement in these cases is based on economic damages. Settlement payouts in brain bleed birth injury lawsuits are often driver by future costs. These are generally the cost of future medical care, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies that the child will need throughout their life. Additionally, families may recover damages for lost earning capacity, as the child may never be able to work or support themselves due to the injury. In cases involving a severe brain hemorrhage, these costs can easily reach tens of millions of dollars.

Non-Economic Damages:

In addition to the economic damages, plaintiffs can also recover non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life. The emotional toll on the child and their family, particularly in cases of severe disability, plays a major role in the overall settlement value.

Long-Term Care and Life Expectancy:

The child’s life expectancy after a brain bleed is also an important factor and the logic that guides it is somewhat perverse. If the child is expected to live a full life with the injury, the future cost of care will be much higher, leading to a larger settlement. Conversely, if the injury shortens the child’s life expectancy, this might affect the valuation of future damages.

Jurisdiction and Malpractice Caps

The state in which the case is filed can also impact the settlement amount. Sadly, some states impose caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits. So even if a jury awards a large verdict, these caps may limit the actual payout. Even so, economic damages can still often easily drive jury awards into the tens of millions.

Sample Verdicts and Settlements in Infant Hematoma Cases

Below are summaries of settlements and verdicts from birth injury cases involving infant brain bleeds resulting from medical negligence during the labor and delivery process.

$75,859,000 Verdict (Illinois 2024): The baby was in breech position and the defendant OB/GYN negligently mishandled the vaginal breech extraction delivery causing severe distress to the baby. The baby suffered multi-level injuries to her brachial plexus, a complete transverse fracture of her right humeral shaft, a metaphyseal fracture of her proximal left humerus, scalp swelling, a fracture of her right occipital bone, and intracranial bleeding, including a subdural hematoma, cerebellar hemorrhage, epidural hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
$9,995,000 Settlement (California 2022): The defendant in this case was negligent in performing a vacuum assisted delivery with excessive force. The baby was eventually delivered with a clavicle fracture, subgaleal hemorrhage, brachial plexus injury and signs of hypxic ischemic encephalopathy; her hypoxic-ischemic injuries, which were confirmed via MRI, reportedly resulted in cereral palsy, seizures, and profound developmental delays that will prevent her from working and living independently and that will require her to have 24-hour care.
$33,153,912 Verdict (Florida 2017). A child suffers a brain bleed during the birthing process, which causes a lack of oxygen to the brain. The injuries are catastrophic: the child needs around-the-clock care for the rest of his life. The plaintiff’s birth injury lawsuit alleges that the doctors and nurses should have initiated the delivery earlier with a c-section, that too much Pitocin was given, and child’s fetal heart monitor provided ample evidence that this delivery was in trouble in time to avert the disaster that occurred.
$4,600,000 Settlement (New York 2016): During a Caesarean section at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, a vacuum extractor was used after the physician rotated the infant from a transverse lie to a cephalic lie. Within the first day of life, the child was diagnosed with focal seizure activity, including a seizure that lasted almost six minutes. He sustained subdural and subarachnoid hematomas and consequently suffers from an ongoing seizure disorder and speech and language delays. His parents hired an infant brain bleed attorney who sued the physicians, their employers, and the hospital for negligence. The plaintiffs claimed the Defendants were negligent in delivering the baby and the post-delivery care. The plaintiffs alleged Defendant Physicians should not have used the vacuum extractor to deliver the child as it caused trauma to his head. The plaintiffs also alleged Defendant Vassar Medical Center’s staff wrongly placed the infant in the well-baby nursery. Defendants denied liability, claiming all actions were within the standard of care and that any brain injuries were not severe and would have a good recovery. The parties agreed to settle before trial for $4,600,000.
$2,000,000 Settlement (Massachusetts 2008): A 30-year-old woman, pregnant with her first child, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with a fully dilated cervix. The fetal heart rate decreased during labor, and the woman was urged to push. After three hours of pushing, the obstetrician advised the woman that vacuum extraction and forceps would need to be used. The woman explained she was afraid of forceps and continued to push for another 45 minutes until the obstetrician returned and performed a delivery using forceps and vacuum. After three attempts to get the baby’s head into the perineum, he was delivered hypotonic and required resuscitation. The next day, after a series of seizures, he was transferred to another hospital where a frontal and subdural hematoma was discovered. He was soon diagnosed with developmental delays. The woman sued the obstetrician and his nurse for failing to timely deliver the child. The parties agreed to settle before trial for $2,000,000.
$1,100,000 Settlement (New York 2007): A pregnant woman, nine days past her due date, presented to North Central Bronx Hospital in mild labor. She was placed in a room, attached to a fetal monitor, and hospital personnel would perform a perfunctory exam every so often. After about two hours, a nurse midwife took over. The woman’s water broke, and the infant was delivered. Four days into his life, the child appeared fine but was not feeding well. He was later admitted to the neonatal ICU with signs of abnormal extremity movement. A CT scan revealed a subdural hemorrhage, and he was soon diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The mother sued the hospital for negligence. Plaintiff claimed the nurse midwife constantly pulled and tugged during the birth. The Plaintiff’s sister who witnessed the delivery, testified that the nurse midwife had difficulty during the delivery. Defendant denied Plaintiff’s allegations. The parties agreed to a $1,100,000 settlement during mediation.
$2,450,000 Settlement (California 2006): After experiencing uterine contractions later in her pregnancy, a woman presented to a local hospital’s emergency room. A vaginal exam revealed a complete dilation with an arm in view. The on-duty obstetrician opined the baby indicated a footling breech, and the woman was moved to the operating room for an emergency C-section. The obstetrician, however, ordered the child to be delivered vaginally. While they were able to complete the delivery, the child suffered cranial hematomas that left him with developmental delays and speech problems. The mother hired a newborn brain hemorrhage attorney who sued the medical group for malpractice, claiming the physicians were negligent in the child’s delivery. The defendants denied negligence and contended the extent of the infant’s developmental damages. The parties agreed to settle for $2,450,000 during mediation.
$1,600,000 Settlement (California 2006): A soon-to-be mother arrived at Alta Bate Summit Medical Center in Oakland to give birth. It was observed that the fetus was high in the mother’s birth canal, and the attending obstetrician elected to use a vacuum and pulling technique. The vacuum detached four times before they could fully deliver the infant. He was found to have a subgaleal hematoma which resulted in severe cognitive defects. He is in the lowest 10th percentile for IQ and will never be employable. His parents sued the obstetrician for medical malpractice. The plaintiffs claimed the fetus was too high in the birth canal for vacuuming, and a C-section should have been performed. Defendants denied Plaintiff’s allegations. The parties agreed to settle before trial for $1,600,000.

How Do You Know if Your Baby Has a Brain Hemorrhage?

Infants with intracranial hemorrhages (brain bleeds) from birth may display some of the following symptoms depending on the severity and location of the bleed:

Soft spot or abnormal bulge on the head
Seizures
Apnea
Feeding difficulties
Breathing difficulty
Lethargy

Can Infant Brain Bleeds be Caused by Doctors During Delivery?

Yes. Infant brain hemorrhages can be caused by the negligent use of birth-assistance tools such as obstetric forceps or a vacuum pump. Doctors sometimes use these tools to grip the baby’s head and maneuver them through the birth canal when normal labor contractions are ineffective. However, when used with too much force or lack of skill, these tools can cause trauma to the baby’s head and lead to brain bleeds.

How Are Infant Brain Hemorrhages Treated?

Treatment for an infant brain hemorrhage usually requires emergency neonatal brain surgery. Sometimes multiple surgeries may be necessary. The surgery aims to stop the bleeding and protect the brain.

Is There a Difference Between a Hemorrhage and a Hematoma?

The difference between a hemorrhage and a hematoma lies in the nature of the bleeding. A hemorrhage refers to active, ongoing bleeding, where blood escapes from a damaged blood vessel, often requiring immediate medical intervention to stop the flow. Hemorrhages can occur internally or externally and may result from trauma, high blood pressure, or blood clotting disorders.

In contrast, a hematoma is after the bleeding has stopped. It is a localized collection of blood that pools in tissues or organs after the bleeding has stopped. It typically forms a clot and is contained within a specific area, maybe under the skin or in muscle tissue. Hematomas usually resolve on their own. But they sometimes require drainage. So while a hemorrhage indicates active bleeding, a hematoma represents the aftermath of bleeding that has ceased.

Contacting a Maryland Birth Injury Lawyer

Brain bleeds in newborn babies can lead to lifelong injuries, including cerebral palsy. Not every brain bleed causes a severe injury or results from medical malpractice. But too many children were harmed forever and killed because the OB/GYN delivering the child did not follow their training and went down a path that a reasonable physician just would not have chosen.

If you want a lawyer to fight for you and your child, call our medical malpractice lawyers at 800-553-8082 today or get a free, no-obligation online consultation.