Chicago Newborn Seizures Attorney

Seek Justice in Birth Injury Cases Involving Neonatal Seizures

Neonatal seizures can indicate serious injuries, often linked to medical negligence during labor and delivery. Our Chicago newborn seizures attorney team helps families seek compensation for medical treatment, long-term care, and other damages. 

If a healthcare provider’s mistakes led to your baby’s seizures, you may have a legal case. We understand the challenges families face when a child suffers from neonatal seizures, and we’re here to help.

Settlements & Verdicts Recovered by Our Chicago Law Firm

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our experienced Chicago birth injury attorneys have handled hundreds of cases across Illinois, securing significant settlements for families affected by medical negligence during childbirth.

• $20,300,000 Settlement – Ava was born at a major Chicago hospital with severe brain damage due to a delayed response during labor. The attending OB-GYN failed to act quickly after signs of fetal distress. She was later diagnosed with CP and significant cognitive impairment. Her lifelong medical care needs were a major factor in the case value.
• $18,355,000 Settlement – Liam’s mother arrived at a Southern Illinois hospital in active labor, but staff delayed inducing delivery despite ongoing fetal distress. This failure led to HIE and CP. Our Chicago newborn seizures attorneys proved that earlier intervention could have prevented the harm.
• $11,250,000 Settlement – Sophia suffered oxygen deprivation during birth at a Chicago-area hospital after medical staff missed signs of distress. As a result, she developed CP. The settlement reflected the severity of her injuries and the long-term financial burden placed on her family.

What Are Newborn Seizures?

Neonatal seizures are sudden, abnormal electrical activity in a baby’s brain, often signaling underlying brain injuries or neurological disorders. These seizures in newborns can vary in severity and may be challenging to recognize.

Types of neonatal seizures include:

• Subtle seizures – The most common type, often presenting as repetitive mouth movements, eye deviations, or slight muscle spasms.
• Clonic seizures – Characterized by rhythmic jerking movements in one or more muscle groups.
• Tonic seizures – Involve sustained muscle stiffness, usually affecting the baby’s head, arms, or legs.
• Myoclonic seizures – Brief, shock-like muscle jerks that may involve the whole body or specific areas.

Seizures affect a newborn’s brain development and may indicate serious injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or brain damage. Immediate medical attention is essential to prevent prolonged and untreated seizures that can cause permanent harm.

Why Do Neonatal Seizures Occur?

Newborn seizures can result from various medical conditions, often linked to complications during birth. Understanding the cause is essential for proper treatment and potential legal action.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

A severe brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation before, during, or shortly after birth. HIE can lead to permanent brain damage, CP, and seizure disorders.

Stroke

Newborns can suffer strokes due to blood clots or disrupted blood flow to the infant’s brain, which may trigger seizures.

Infections

Conditions like meningitis and encephalitis can cause brain inflammation, leading to neonatal seizures. These infections may result from negligence during labor and delivery.

Metabolic Disorders

Issues like low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or electrolyte imbalances can interfere with brain function and cause seizures.

Brain Malformations

Structural abnormalities in the brain, sometimes undiagnosed before birth, can cause seizures in newborns and lead to long-term disorders.

What Are the Symptoms of Newborn Seizures?

Neonatal seizures can range from subtle movements to more obvious convulsions. Unlike seizures in older children, neonatal seizures may not always involve noticeable jerking or loss of consciousness. Signs to watch for include:

• Subtle seizures – Repetitive mouth movements, lip smacking, eye fluttering, or staring spells.
• Breathing irregularities – Episodes of apnea (pauses in breathing) or shallow breathing.
• Tonic seizures – Stiffening of the baby’s limbs or arching of the back.
• Clonic seizures – Rhythmic jerking movements affecting the face, arms, or legs.
• Myoclonic seizures – Sudden, brief muscle jerks involving one area or the entire body.

Recognizing these signs early is essential, as prolonged and untreated seizures can lead to severe injuries, including lifelong brain damage. If a baby suffers any seizure activity, immediate medical attention is necessary to determine the underlying cause and prevent further harm.

Importance of Early Detection

Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical to minimizing the risk of long-term brain damage. Seizures often indicate underlying conditions like HIE, infections, or metabolic disorders, all of which require urgent medical intervention.

Medical professionals should closely monitor at-risk newborns. Delayed recognition or misdiagnosis of neonatal seizures can result in permanent disorders.

Parents who suspect seizure activity should insist on immediate medical evaluation, including brain imaging and EEG monitoring. Early intervention can improve outcomes, reducing the risk of severe complications. If medical staff fail to diagnose or treat seizures promptly, it may be a case of medical malpractice, and families may have grounds for a lawsuit.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Neonatal Seizures?

Newborn seizures can have lasting effects on a child’s health and development, particularly if they result from brain injuries like HIE or medical negligence. The severity of long-term complications often depends on how quickly the seizures are diagnosed and treated.

Cerebral Palsy

Seizures can lead to cerebral palsy, a lifelong condition that affects muscle control, coordination, and mobility.

Cognitive Impairment

Damage to the infant’s brain during or after birth may result in intellectual disabilities, affecting memory, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Learning Disabilities

Children who experience seizures at birth may struggle with reading, writing, and other developmental milestones, requiring specialized education and therapy.

Epilepsy

Some newborns who suffer neonatal seizures develop seizure disorders later in life, requiring long-term medication and medical care.

Caring for a child with permanent brain damage or neurological disorders places a significant emotional and financial burden on families. Therapy, assistive devices, and special education costs can be overwhelming. If medical errors contribute to your child’s condition, a birth injury lawyer can help you seek compensation to cover these lifelong expenses.

What Legal Options Are There for Cases Involving Newborn Seizures?

If your baby suffers from neonatal seizures due to medical malpractice, you may have legal options. A birth injury lawyer can help determine if a medical provider’s mistakes led to your child’s condition. Seeking legal guidance can provide the financial support needed for medical care, therapy, and long-term assistance.

When to Seek Legal Advice from Birth Injury Attorneys

Medical malpractice during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can sometimes lead to conditions that trigger seizures in newborns. Errors such as improper use of delivery instruments or delays in performing an emergency C-section can cause brain injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), leading to seizures.

Additionally, untreated infections, medication errors, and failure to respond to complications can put a baby at risk. If medical professionals did not take the necessary steps to prevent or treat a birth injury, they could be held liable.

If your child suffers from neonatal seizures and you suspect medical malpractice, consulting with an experienced birth injury attorney can help you understand your legal rights. Early action is necessary, as medical records and other evidence are essential in building a strong case.

How a Birth Injury Lawyer Can Help

A neonatal seizures lawyer is vital in holding negligent healthcare professionals accountable. They assist families by:

• Investigating the cause – Reviewing medical records to determine if a preventable medical error caused the seizures.
• Gathering medical evidence – Collecting documentation, including fetal monitoring records, brain imaging, and doctor’s notes.
• Consulting with medical experts – Working with specialists to evaluate whether medical malpractice occurred.
• Establishing liability – Proving that a healthcare provider’s actions or inaction led to the injury.
• Negotiating with insurance companies – Seeking fair compensation for medical treatment, therapy, and long-term care.
• Filing a lawsuit – If a settlement is not reached, pursue a lawsuit to fight for the compensation your child deserves.

If medical mistakes caused your baby’s seizures, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help. Contact us for a free case evaluation.

Can I Seek Compensation for Newborn Seizures?

When a baby suffers seizures due to medical malpractice, the financial and emotional toll on families can be overwhelming. A birth injury lawsuit can help secure compensation for medical care, therapy, and long-term support. Holding negligent medical providers accountable can ease the burden and provide the resources needed for your child’s future.

Types of Damages

A successful birth injury claim can help recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses – Covers hospital stays, doctor visits, medications, imaging tests, and future treatments.
• Lost earning capacity – If the child’s disabilities prevent them from working as adults, compensation can address future lost income.
• Pain and suffering – Accounts for the emotional and physical distress caused by birth injuries.
• Cost of therapies and assistive devices – This includes expenses for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wheelchairs, and adaptive technology.
• Home modifications – Covers necessary changes like ramps, widened doorways, and specialized medical equipment to improve mobility and independence.

Seeking full compensation ensures that families can afford the care and support their child needs throughout their lifetime.

The Importance of Lifetime Care Costs

Children with permanent brain damage or disorders from infant seizures often require extensive, lifelong medical care. This includes specialized treatments, in-home nursing assistance, and therapy to help with daily challenges. Assistive devices and modifications to the home can further improve the child’s quality of life, but come at a significant cost.

Families should not have to shoulder these expenses alone, especially when medical negligence caused the injury. A newborn seizures lawyer can help secure financial compensation that accounts for lifetime care needs, ensuring your child receives the best possible support. By pursuing legal action, you can protect your child’s future and ease the financial strain on your family.

What Is the Average Newborn Seizure Birth Injury Claim in Chicago?

Based on Law.com’s VerdictSearch, the average award for cases involving neonatal seizures is approximately $39.87 million, with reported values ranging from $5.5 million to over $100 million.

Several factors can influence the value of a newborn seizure claim:

• Severity and permanence of the injury: Cases involving permanent brain damage or long-term cognitive impairment often lead to higher settlements or verdicts.
• Medical expenses: Lifelong care, therapy, assistive devices, and home modifications drive up claim values.
• Extent of negligence: Clear evidence of errors, such as failure to monitor fetal distress or delayed response to seizures, strengthens claims.
• Loss of future earning potential: If a child suffers intellectual disabilities or neurological disorders that prevent future employment, this loss is factored into the compensation.
• Need for lifelong care: Conditions like hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or prolonged and untreated seizures may require 24/7 care.
• Availability of medical records and expert testimony: Strong documentation and analysis from medical experts are key in proving the injury was caused by negligent medical providers.

Example Cases

$51 Million Verdict – Delayed Delivery Causes Severe Brain Injury

Gerald Sallis Jr. was born unresponsive at Western Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park after hospital staff failed to respond to signs of distress for over five hours. Despite clear signs of preeclampsia and abnormal fetal monitoring, no physician intervened until an emergency C-section was performed too late. 

Gerald suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, CP, seizures, and cortical blindness, requiring lifelong care. The jury found multiple medical providers jointly liable and awarded $51 million in total recovery, reflecting the catastrophic nature of his injuries and lifelong medical needs.

$55.5 Million Verdict – Pitocin Mismanagement and Delayed C-Section

Shamond Butler was delivered via emergency C-section after hours of excessive Pitocin administration despite fetal tachycardia and distress. His mother, Shannette Slater, alleged that attending physicians failed to stop the drug or respond to warning signs, leading to oxygen deprivation and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. 

Shamond now lives with CP and severe cognitive impairments, requiring lifelong care. A Cook County jury awarded $55.5 million for future medical costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

$14.1 Million Verdict – Delayed Cesarean Leads to Brain Damage

Jennifer Hill’s son, Ryan, was delivered by C-section after prolonged labor induced with Pitocin. Despite non-reassuring test results and abnormal fetal heart rates, doctors delayed delivery and used forceps and vacuum extraction instead. 

Ryan suffered seizures and brain damage consistent with oxygen deprivation. The jury found negligence in failing to act sooner and awarded $14,128,008 for medical bills, lost earnings, and loss of normal life.

$5.5 Million Settlement – Failure to Perform Timely C-Section Causes Permanent Disability

Lisa Nicholson’s daughter, Chase, was born with severe brain damage at a Morris hospital after staff failed to alert the obstetrician to abnormal fetal monitoring. The baby suffered prolonged oxygen deprivation, resulting in CP, cortical blindness, and a seizure disorder. 

The lawsuit alleged a preventable medical error and delayed intervention during labor. The case settled for $5.5 million, covering Chase’s lifelong medical and care needs.

What Laws Govern Newborn Seizure Cases in Illinois?

Under 735 ILCS 5/2‑622, plaintiffs filing a medical malpractice claim must include a certificate of merit. This document, signed by a qualified health professional, affirms that there is a reasonable basis for the claim. Without it, the case may be dismissed. It ensures claims involving negligence are supported by expert medical opinion at the outset.

Illinois law sets specific time limits for filing medical malpractice lawsuits. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, claims must be filed within two years of when the injury was discovered, but no later than four years from the date of the alleged malpractice. For minors, the deadline is extended to eight years, but not past the age of 22. This law directly impacts cases involving neonatal seizures.

In LeBron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, the Illinois Supreme Court struck down the state’s cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases. The court ruled that the cap violated the separation of powers by limiting jury awards. 

How to Find the Right Lawyer in Chicago

Choosing the right attorney is essential when pursuing a lawsuit for newborn seizures. Medical malpractice cases are complex, requiring legal knowledge, medical expertise, and a deep understanding of how birth injuries affect families. An experienced birth injury lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation your child deserves.

Experience and Expertise

When seeking legal representation, it’s essential to find a lawyer with specific experience in:

• Birth injury cases – Attorneys familiar with birth injury malpractice and neonatal seizures understand how to investigate medical errors and establish liability.
• Medical malpractice – A lawyer with a strong background in medical negligence cases knows how to work with medical records, expert witnesses, and other medical professionals to prove wrongdoing.
• Representing children with disabilities – Birth injuries can lead to lifelong disabilities, requiring ongoing care and financial support. A lawyer who has successfully represented children with cerebral palsy or seizure disorders will be better equipped to handle your case.

An experienced child injury attorney will have the resources to build a strong case, negotiate with insurance companies, and take legal action if necessary. Finding a lawyer with a proven track record in newborn seizure cases can make all the difference in securing the compensation your family needs.

Compassion and Communication

Legal expertise is essential, as is finding an attorney who genuinely cares about your family’s well-being. Newborn seizures can have life-altering consequences, and families need compassionate legal support during this difficult time.

A lawyer with experience handling these cases knows how seizures affect a child’s development, the medical care required, and the financial burden families face. The right lawyer will listen to your concerns, answer questions, and provide emotional support.

Medical malpractice cases can take time, and families should never be left in the dark. A reliable attorney will inform you, explain legal options in simple terms, and ensure you feel confident about your case.

Finding the right attorney means choosing someone who fights for justice and supports you every step of the way. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Expert Legal Representation to Help You Secure Your Child’s Future

If your child suffers from newborn seizures due to medical negligence, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our experienced birth injury attorneys understand the devastating impact of perinatal seizures and fight to secure the compensation families need for therapy and lifelong care.

We have a proven track record of handling birth injury cases, working with top medical experts to build strong claims against negligent healthcare providers. Our law firm offers compassionate support, clear communication, and aggressive legal representation to ensure your family gets justice.

Our Chicago personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (888) 424–5757 or fill out our contact form.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.