Preeclampsia is a complication involving high blood pressure during pregnancy. It can threaten the health of both the pregnant patient and the baby. When warning signs are missed or the condition is not managed appropriately, a patient may lose the opportunity for treatment that could reduce the risk of serious complications.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers offers a free consultation for families with questions about possible medical malpractice in Jacksonville, Florida. Our firm handles these claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we secure compensation. Contact us today at (904) 356-6071 to schedule a free consultation with a Jacksonville preeclampsia lawyer.
How Can Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers Help After Preeclampsia in Jacksonville, FL?
With preeclampsia, the medical evidence must establish whether providers recognized your risk, responded appropriately to abnormal findings, and took reasonable steps as the pregnancy progressed.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers has more than 45 years of combined experience and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured clients.
Our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers can work with medical experts to evaluate questions, including whether:
- Elevated blood pressure received appropriate follow-up
- Reported symptoms called for additional testing
- Laboratory findings showed the condition was worsening
- Closer monitoring or hospitalization was warranted
- Delivery should have been considered sooner
The focus is on the decisions that affected the outcome. If timely recognition or treatment could have prevented additional injury, those medical decisions may become central to a malpractice claim. Contact our Jacksonville medical malpractice lawyers today for a free case review.
What Causes Preeclampsia?
The exact cause of preeclampsia is not fully understood, and developing the condition does not by itself mean a healthcare provider was negligent. The legal issue is usually whether providers recognized the condition and responded appropriately once warning signs or risk factors were present.
Signs that may require medical evaluation include:
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
- A persistent headache
- Changes in vision
- Pain in the upper abdomen
- Swelling of the face or hands
- Difficulty breathing
Some patients have few noticeable symptoms, which makes prenatal monitoring especially important. Blood pressure measurements and other clinical findings can give providers information that you may not be able to recognize independently.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Preeclampsia Cases?
Untreated or poorly controlled preeclampsia can progress rapidly. For the pregnant patient, severe complications can include stroke, seizures known as eclampsia, organ injury, or placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus too early.
The baby can also be affected when high blood pressure interferes with the delivery of oxygen and nutrients through the placenta.
Possible consequences include:
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- Restricted fetal growth
- Complications associated with reduced oxygen
- Need for intensive neonatal care
A birth injury claim requires separating the harm caused by the underlying pregnancy complication from harm that could have been avoided with appropriate medical care. Medical experts can help evaluate that distinction.
Who Could Be Liable for a Preeclampsia Injury?
Liability depends on which provider was responsible for the decision or omission that contributed to the injury. An obstetrician may be responsible for decisions about monitoring or delivery, while a hospital or another provider may become involved when the problem concerns care given during admission or labor.
Responsibility can also be shared when more than one provider had information showing that the patient’s condition was worsening. The question is not simply who participated in the pregnancy or delivery, but whose failure to provide appropriate care at the appropriate stage contributed to the preventable harm.
Florida medical malpractice cases generally require a qualified expert review to evaluate the applicable standard of care and whether a provider’s conduct fell below it. That analysis helps determine which parties should be included in the claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Preeclampsia Lawsuit?
Preeclampsia injuries may involve the mother’s condition, as well as harm to the baby. This can make the timing of a potential claim more complicated. In Florida, a medical malpractice action generally must be started within two years of the incident or within two years of when the incident was discovered.
Florida also requires specific investigation and notice before you can file a medical negligence lawsuit. These requirements must be addressed within the applicable time limits, and the treatment dates and circumstances of the injury should be reviewed before assuming how much time remains.
Contact a Jacksonville Preeclampsia Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A serious complication during pregnancy does not automatically establish malpractice. A viable claim depends on whether the medical evidence shows that a provider failed to respond appropriately and that the failure caused additional harm.
Coker Law Personal Injury Lawyers can review the care, consult qualified medical experts, and determine whether the evidence supports a claim. Contact our law offices to schedule a free consultation with a Jacksonville preeclampsia attorney.