San Antonio HIE Lawyer

Name: Janicek Law
Address: 1100 NE Interstate 410 Loop #600, San Antonio, Texas, 78209
Telephone: 210-366-4949

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Attorney San Antonio

One of the many birth injuries that a baby can suffer from is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) which can lead to long-term disabilities and thousands of dollars in medical bills. No family should have to bear the psychological pain and medical debt that comes with birth injuries. That’s why the San Antonio HIE lawyer team at Janicek Law is passionate about fighting for victims of medical malpractice.

Our San Antonio birth injury lawyers offer a free consultation and work on a contingency fee basis, so victims of medical negligence won’t owe any legal fees unless their dedicated HIE lawyer secures financial compensation on their behalf. To begin your attorney-client relationship with HIE birth injury attorneys in San Antonio, call 210-366-4949.

What is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)?

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs during childbirth.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy happens when oxygen circulation and blood flow are restricted to the brain during birth, therefore causing brain damage.

Our San Antonio traumatic brain injury lawyer team has extensive experience proving that medical malpractice led to the baby’s HIE condition. Contact our law firm for a free case evaluation.

What Causes HIE?

HIE is caused by oxygen deprivation and lack of blood flow to the baby’s brain. More specifically, fetal distress, high-risk pregnancies, and delivery complications can cause this type of brain injury.

High-Risk Pregnancies

Certain conditions create a higher risk pregnancy such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. If these conditions aren’t closely monitored and taken care of by doctors, the mother and baby could suffer serious health consequences. One of the potential outcomes is HIE.

Umbilical Cord Complications

The umbilical cord is basically responsible for giving the baby enough oxygen while it’s in the womb. If this umbilical cord is crushed during pregnancy or birth, the baby could suffer birth asphyxia, therefore raising the baby’s risk of developing HIE.

Complications With the Placenta and Uterus

The placenta and the uterus do a lot of things to keep the baby safe and alive. One of those things is providing enough blood flow to the baby during pregnancy and birth. The placental and uterine complications listed below can lead to HIE.

Placental Abruption occurs when the placenta detaches from the uterus while the baby is still in the womb.
Placenta Previa ocurrs when the placenta sits way too close to the cervix. If this condition isn’t monitored closely, the mother could suffer major bleeding while the baby suffers oxygen deprivation.
Placental Insufficiency occurs when the baby doesn’t receive enough blood flow from the placenta.
Uterine Rupture occurs when the uterus partially or completely tears.

Serious Infections

If the mother develops a serious infection, such as an STI or bacterial vaginosis, she could pass it to the baby during birth. This can happen if the doctors fail to diagnose the mother’s infection and control it with antibiotics beforehand.

Prolonged Labor

If HIE occurs because a doctor allows labor to go on for too long, mothers have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. Prolonged labor is incredibly physically stressful for both mother and baby. If a doctor doesn’t intervene with a C-section, both mother and baby could suffer life-threatening birth injuries.

Very Low Blood Pressure or High Blood Pressure in the Mother

Maternal blood pressure abnormalities can directly affect how much blood the baby gets through the placenta. If the mother’s blood pressure is gone unmonitored and untreated, her baby could suffer perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Additionally, a 2004 study suggests that maternal blood pressure abnormalities can lead to low birth weight and perinatal death.

Mismanaged Neonatal Conditions

In some cases, health conditions in the baby’s first month of life (AKA the neonatal period) can lead to neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, especially if these health conditions aren’t properly handled by the child’s doctor. If your baby suffered respiratory issues, hypoglycemia, or even jaundice that may have led to neonatal encephalopathy, you could file a medical malpractice lawsuit with the team at Janicek Law.

Failure to Monitor the Baby’s Heart Rate During Labor and Delivery

During labor and delivery, it’s crucial for doctors to keep an eye on the baby’s heart rate for signs of fetal distress. Fetal distress can indicate that the baby isn’t receiving enough oxygen or blood, which can lead to perinatal HIE. In some cases, emergency C-sections are necessary to save the baby. If your baby suffered brain damage because your doctor failed to monitor its heart rate, you could sue for medical malpractice.

Premature Birth

Premature babies are at risk for several long-term health conditions, including HIE because of their underdeveloped lungs. That’s why it’s crucial for doctors to do everything they can to prevent premature birth. But if premature birth is unavoidable, doctors must provide adequate medical care to babies in the NICU in order to prevent brain damage.

Can HIE Cause Cerebral Palsy?

Yes, HIE can cause cerebral palsy in babies. Cerebral palsy is basically brain damage or abnormal brain development that causes lifelong cognitive and neurological disabilities. If a baby suffers from a lack of oxygen or blood for too long, their brain cells can die and lead to a brain injury.

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a surgical error or complications during childbirth, contact our San Antonio cerebral palsy lawyer group for a free consultation.

How Often Does Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Occur in Babies?

According to a 2011 study, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is a rare but very serious brain injury. It only happens in 1.5 to 2.5 per 1,000 births. Additionally, the same study suggests that up to 60% of HIE babies will either die or have serious neurological disabilities by the time they’re 2 years old. Those who survive past two years old often struggle with lifelong mental retardation.

How HIE Symptoms Affect an HIE Birth Injury Claim in San Antonio

A child’s HIE symptoms will naturally depend on the severity of their brain damage. Symptoms range from excessive fussiness to long-term disabilities and cognitive impairment depending on the hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy stages. Babies can suffer from mild, moderate, or severe HIE.

What are Mild HIE Symptoms?

Mild HIE is the easiest to manage and can even resolve with minimal medical treatment. Symptoms include:

Abnormal muscular stiffness and tendon reflexes
Feeding problems
Excessive crying, sleeping, and irritability

What are Moderate HIE Symptoms?

Moderate HIE symptoms include:

Floppy baby syndrome, which basically means that the baby lacks muscle tone in the whole body
No reflexes or ability to grasp objects
Difficulty sucking on bottles or breasts
Seizure activity
Breathing that sporadically starts and stops

What are Severe HIE Symptoms?

Severe HIE

In severe cases of HIE, babies will likely suffer from:

Extreme, frequent seizures
Extremely poor muscle tone which causes the baby to move like a rag doll
No response to sensory stimuli such as touch, pain, smells, sights, and sounds
Odd eye movements or dilated pupils
Breathing, blood pressure, and heart malfunctions which are often fatal

HIE Treatment

The best treatment for brain damage in the postnatal period is cooling therapy – also called therapeutic hypothermia – which lowers the infant’s body temperature and slows the metabolic rate. If the cooling treatment is successful, it can prevent further brain cell death and injury. The cooling period generally lasts for about 72 hours. In addition to therapeutic hypothermia, doctors must do what they can to prevent seizures, low blood sugar, and brain swelling, all of which could cause more severe brain damage.

It’s important to note that hypothermia treatment doesn’t reverse HIE because it’s a permanent injury. However, lowering the baby’s temperature could create less brain injury and, therefore, less disability later in life.

Those who have suffered moderate to severe HIE will likely need therapy and medication for their whole lives, especially if they later develop cerebral palsy. Because cerebral palsy sufferers frequently suffer from speech and mobility issues, it’s necessary for them to undergo physical therapy and speech therapy for the best possible quality of life.

San Antonio HIE Attorney

If you or your baby has suffered any kind of birth injury due to medical negligence, you deserve justice. The medical bills associated with brain dysfunction are massive and can affect your whole family. That’s why HIE birth injury attorneys at Janicek Law are so passionate about fighting for babies born with brain damage. No amount of compensation will take away the physical and mental pain of a birth injury, but it could provide closure while allowing your baby and your family to live more comfortably. Let us help you. Call 210-366-4949 for a free consultation.

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   Natasha Garza 
 31 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an amazing experience with Janicek Law from beginning to end. Karen Rangel recommended us to Cassidy Muniz, and we are so thankful she did. Cassidy assisted myself, my husband, and our two daughters, and all four of us are extremely happy with the experience and outcome. Cassidy truly went above and beyond for our entire family. She was always responsive, patient, professional, and helpful, and she kept us informed throughout the entire process. Everything went smoothly, we had no issues, and she made what could have been a stressful situation so much easier for us. The entire team at Janicek Law is amazing, and we felt like we were in great hands from start to finish. We are incredibly grateful to Karen for recommending Cassidy and especially grateful to Cassidy for everything she did for our family. We would 100% recommend Cassidy and Janicek Law to anyone looking for a team that truly cares about their clients. Thank you all so much for everything! ❤️
  
 
       
   Alex McWhirter 
 18 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were referred to Janicek Law firm from a lawyer in Brownsville, who pointed out that they are experts in the field of medical malpractice and I am so grateful. We worked with Andrew and Gaby and they were dedicated and worked hard to get us the best possible outcome. They kept us informed and updated through every step of the process, always with a friendly and very professional disposition. Despite language and distance challenges, they accommodated all of our needs, and I would highly recommend Janicek Law Firm. They made a bad situation better by listening to our concerns, helping us through a sorrowful time for my family, and advising on how to defeat our opponent. For any families that have a beloved and elderly relative who suffered in the hands of callous and neglectful medical institutions, Janicek Law Firm were amazing in advocating for our relative and making these corporate entities accountable. Thank you, Andrew and Gaby, we really appreciated your help!
  
 
       
   Heidi Soto 
 8 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr Bernal and Karen were great. They always kept me up to date on all that was going on at all times. When it came down to mediation Mr Bernal knew exactly what to do and say to make things clear with the insurance company who wanted to take advantage of me. I highly recommend Mr Bernal if you ever are in an accident. He will definitely take care of you.
  
 
       
   Lucy 
 30 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am beyond thankful for everyone at Janicek law for the professionalism, dedication, and support you all have showed throughout my lawsuit. From the very beginning, you all made a difficult and stressful situation much easier to navigate! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, keeping me informed every step of the way and making this process as stress free as possible! I can without a doubt definitely recommend this law firm!
  
 
       
   Iris Contreras 
 16 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have started this review so many times, but every time I do, I realize there simply aren't enough words to thank the people at Janicek Law. Almost 3 years ago, my world ended. I lost my son, Zayden—the greatest love of my life. My other son, Zy, witnessed the unimaginable that day. He carries those memories with him every single day, and we are forever grateful that he is still here because we very easily could have lost him too. Our family didn't just experience a tragedy—we experienced trauma that changed us forever. When I first met the team at Janicek Law, I wasn't just grieving. I was broken. I was a mother trying to survive the unthinkable while helping my surviving son heal from something no child should ever witness. I didn't know if I had the strength to keep fighting. There were so many moments when I wanted to give up. Every deposition, every conversation, every piece of evidence forced me to relive the worst day of my life. I told them I couldn't do it anymore. But they never let me forget why we were fighting. They reminded me that Zayden deserved justice. They reminded me that Zy deserved justice. They believed in my family even when I couldn't believe in myself. What makes Janicek Law different is that this was never just a job to them. They never made me feel like another client or another case number. They knew my children by name. They celebrated Zayden's life. They cried with us, prayed with us, hugged us, encouraged us, and walked beside us through every heartbreaking step. They carried a piece of this burden with us, and I will never forget that. Even after the case was over, they didn't disappear. They still answer my calls. They still help me with paperwork. They still check on me. They still make me feel like my family matters. That's something you cannot fake. That's love. Somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing them as "my attorneys" and started seeing them as family. And I truly believe I have a family for life. No amount of money will ever bring my little boy back. I would trade every penny to hear his laugh one more time. But because of Janicek Law, I have peace knowing that his life mattered, his story was heard, and that they fought for my boys with everything they had. From the deepest part of a mother's heart... thank you. Thank you for loving my children. Thank you for never giving up on us when I wanted to give up myself. Thank you for standing beside us through the darkest chapter of our lives. You gave my family more than legal representation—you gave us hope, dignity, and people we will love for the rest of our lives. You helped a grieving mother find the strength to be the voice her son no longer had. In a world that can feel so unfair, you reminded me that there are still genuinely good people. We love each and every one of you, and we will never forget what you did for Zayden, for Zy, and for us.❤️
  
 
       
   Destiny Sanchez 
 14 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My friend Karen referred us to Janicek law firm and I am so grateful. We worked with cassidy moving forward and she went above and beyond while helping me with my accident case. From the very beginning, she was professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer my questions. She kept me informed throughout the entire process and made a stressful situation much easier to handle. Her dedication, hard work, and attention to detail truly made a difference in my case. I am incredibly grateful for everything she did for me and my family. I would highly recommend Cassidy and Janicek Law Firm, who genuinely cares about clients and fights for the best possible outcome. Thank you cassidy for everything!
  
 
       
   Virginia-Ann Bernal 
 8 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After my accident, I felt overwhelmed and had no idea what to do next. Choosing Janicek Law Firm was one of the best decisions I could have made. From the very beginning, Philip Bernal,  Cassidy Muniz, and Karen Rangel took the time to explain the process, answer my questions, and make sure I always knew what to expect. Cassidy and Karen were  absolutely incredible throughout my entire case. They coordinated my medical care, helped with scheduling appointments, communicated with my insurance, and was always available whenever I needed guidance or reassurance. Their compassion and dedication truly made a difficult time so much easier. The entire team worked hard to build my case, keeping me informed every step of the way, and ultimately secured a settlement I was very happy with. More importantly, they gave me the peace of mind to focus on healing instead of worrying about the legal process. I can’t thank Philip, Cassidy, Karen and everyone at Janicek Law Firm enough for their professionalism, kindness, and commitment. If you’re looking for a law firm that genuinely cares about its clients, I highly recommend them. THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!
  
 
       
   Corey Sil 
 29 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. Skemp and Gaby took care of everything and made my suit for Wrongful Death as easy as possible. I couldn’t have done any of this with out them! They honored and represented my Mother to the fullest and for that I am greatful! G. Silvas
  
 
       
   Jasub Baez 
 22 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Good lawyers .
  
 
       
   Aldo Salinas 
 10 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend the team at Janicek Law. From the very beginning, they provided outstanding legal service that was both professional and deeply compassionate. The entire staff is incredibly knowledgeable, and they made a complex process feel manageable and stress-free. It’s rare to find a firm that combines such high-level legal expertise with a genuinely friendly, client-focused approach. I am very grateful for their support and would choose them again without hesitation.
  
 
 
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 358 reviews

Janicek Law handled my case with such professionalism. I was always kept in the loop about what was going on with my case. Cassidy Muniz is amazing at what she does and I really felt like they actually cared about me and my case. Highly recommend Janicek Law Firm!

I could not be happier with the service and compassion from the Janicek Law Firm. They were friendly, responsive and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. I would give ten stars if I could – They are excellent!

Janicek Law was patient and understanding to my situation – it’s a fight – but they would make my father proud. Thanks you for taking the time to look over my case and speaking up for my family.

Beth and Mona have been truly helpful with our case! They have really done an amazing job. I would highly recommend them to anyone I know.

Incredibly talented and knowledgeable attorneys that will fight negligent nursing homes and bring Justice to the elderly and their families.

I am very happy and pleased with the Janicek Law Firm. I had such a difficult time finding someone to look into my case. The Janicek Law Firm has been very professional and attentive to my questions. They will take the time and review your situation and have been very dedicated in reviewing my case.