Laredo Birth Injury Lawyer
If your baby was harmed during delivery, a Laredo birth injury lawyer at Janicek Law can help your family understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
The South Texas border region has some of the highest maternal death rates in Texas.
Webb County has two hospitals with labor and delivery units: Laredo Medical Center and Doctors Hospital of Laredo. If a mother or child suffers harm at one of these hospitals, your family needs a birth injury attorney who knows how to hold them responsible for medical negligence.
Webb County has higher rates of fetal death, low birth weight, and lack of health insurance than the Texas state average. Hispanic women receive less first-trimester prenatal care than women in other parts of Texas. Without prenatal care, conditions aren’t treated, and the consequences can be devastating.
Lead attorney Beth Janicek and her legal team have over 30 years of experience representing families in medical malpractice and birth injury cases. The law firm has three Texas Board-Certified personal injury trial lawyers, an expertise held by less than 2% of all Texas attorneys. Janicek Law also has Spanish-speaking birth injury lawyers in Laredo, TX, and is ready to help.
For a free consultation, call 210-366-4949 or use our contact form. Hablamos español.
“They took too long to deliver him. HIE is lack of oxygen to his brain so he has really severe brain damage. Janicek Law made me feel I was in the right place. We were able to reach the settlement we fought for. I am able to stay & take care of my son & at the same time, I am able to provide financially for my daughter. Janicek Law, they were aggressive, they fought for us. I am really happy because I am able to start giving the quality of life that he needs. Janicek Law has been amazing. They are going to support you every single step of this hard & difficult time. Go, they will help you.”
Common Types of Claims Our Laredo Birth Injury Attorneys Handle
Our Laredo birth injury attorneys handle medical negligence claims involving the following and more:
Birth Injury | What Happened |
|---|---|
The baby’s brain is damaged during delivery, causing permanent problems with movement, muscle control, and learning. Cerebral palsy is caused by oxygen deprivation or trauma during delivery. | |
Brain injuries that are caused by oxygen deprivation. Even a few minutes without oxygen can cause lifelong damage. | |
Nerves in the baby’s neck, shoulder, or arm are damaged because the doctor or nurse used too much force during delivery. | |
If the healthcare provider pulls the baby’s shoulder instead of repositioning, the baby can suffer nerve damage, broken bones, or oxygen deprivation. | |
The baby’s skull is injured from the wrong use of forceps, vacuum extractors, or too much pressure during delivery. | |
Various types of trauma to the mother, including uterine rupture, uncontrolled bleeding, organ damage, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, mistakes during medical procedures, etc. | |
A medical professional fails to recognize or provide treatment for high blood pressure, leading to seizures, stroke, or death. | |
A severe form of preeclampsia that affects the liver and blood. HELLP is frequently misdiagnosed in border-region emergency rooms. | |
Delayed or improper C-section | Emergency medical procedures are not done in time when fetal distress, cord problems, or placenta issues are present, leading to oxygen deprivation and other damage to the baby or mother. |
Medication and Pitocin errors | Nurses giving labor-inducing medications at the wrong dose or without monitoring. |
If you or your child suffered trauma that isn’t on this list, call us. We can review your case and determine if you have a medical malpractice claim.
Infant Wrongful Death and Maternal Death Cases
When a baby or mother dies because of medical mistakes before, during, or after delivery, a Laredo birth injury lawyer can help your family file a wrongful death claim. These are often medical malpractice claims where a healthcare provider failed to recognize warning signs, provide treatment, or neglect the patient’s concerns.
Our attorneys represent families in cases involving:
- Chorioamnionitis, sepsis, and other infections
- Miscarriage-related injuries and death, including D&C procedures
- Ectopic pregnancy
- and all other fatal injuries caused by medical negligence
Our law firm helps families seek compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, lost income, and the emotional suffering caused by the loss of a loved one.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries in Laredo Hospitals
Many injuries are preventable with proper care. Our medical malpractice lawyers handle birth injury claims in Laredo, Texas, involving the following:
Cause | How Medical Negligence Contributes |
|---|---|
Failure to monitor fetal distress | Medical professionals miss signs of fetal distress. This is the most common preventable cause of birth injury. |
Delayed C-section | The medical team waits too long to perform an emergency C-section, which increases the risk of brain damage and cerebral palsy. |
Improper use of forceps or vacuum | Too much force during an assisted delivery procedure causes skull fractures, brain bleeds, or nerve damage. |
Mismanagement of shoulder dystocia | The baby’s shoulder gets stuck, but the healthcare provider pulls instead of using safe repositioning techniques. |
Failure to diagnose preeclampsia | Medical professionals miss elevated blood pressure readings, lab results, or symptoms reported during prenatal visits. |
Pitocin and Cytotec misuse | Medical negligence involving labor-inducing drugs, causing contractions that are too strong, and other complications. |
Failure to treat maternal infection | Healthcare providers failing to provide treatment for infections like chorioamnionitis or Group B Strep are not treated, leading to neonatal sepsis, brain damage, or fatalities. |
Inadequate prenatal care | Medical professionals who fail to diagnose conditions like gestational diabetes, placenta previa, or preeclampsia. |
Communication failures | Important information is not shared between nurses, doctors, and anesthesiologists during emergencies. |
Laredo Hospitals Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers Investigate Birth Injury Cases
Laredo is home to over 260,000 people, and it has only two hospitals that have labor and delivery units. These are operated by Community Health Systems (CHS) and Universal Health Services (UHS), both powerful companies with experienced legal teams. When a baby or mother is harmed, these powerful companies use experienced legal teams to protect themselves.
Our birth injury law firm in Laredo, TX, knows how to investigate medical malpractice cases, hire medical experts, and build strong personal injury cases that hold all responsible parties accountable.
Birth Injury At Laredo Medical Center
Laredo Medical Center recently agreed to a $20,000 settlement and civil penalty involving claims for services provided by an unlicensed nurse. In birth injury cases, unlicensed staff in high-risk practice areas, like Labor and Delivery, is a serious factor in malpractice claims.
In another medical malpractice case, Cabrera v. Laredo Medical Center (2023-2025), a jury awarded over $8.5 million (later adjusted to $2.45 million) in a medical malpractice lawsuit after a patient bled to death following a routine surgery. The Texas Supreme Court upheld the gross negligence claim. Staff failing to monitor and escalate critical conditions are also the most common types of birth injury cases.
Birth Injury At Doctors Hospital of Laredo
Doctors Hospital of Laredo also operates the Nueva Vida Maternity Clinics, treating Medicaid, CHIP, and self-pay patients. Currently, the Doctors Hospital of Laredo is involved in a federal antitrust lawsuit, alleging attempts to limit access to doctors and services. In medical malpractice claims, allegations like these can be used as supporting evidence showing:
- Limited access to specialists
- Delayed transfers or referrals
- Overloaded hospitals and staff
Business practices, not safety, affected care decisions. This can be used to support evidence of negligence in medical malpractice claims.
Why Hispanic Women in Laredo Need Skilled Legal Representation After Preventable Birth Injuries or Pregnancy Complications
Risk Factor | What It Means for Laredo Families |
|---|---|
Hispanic women in border areas have lower rates of early prenatal care | Late prenatal care means conditions like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and infections are not diagnosed early. |
The increased risks are a result of a system that does not have enough medical professionals, resources, or access for residents. | |
Preventable infections are a leading cause of death for pregnant Hispanic women in Texas (43%) | Sepsis rates increased after Texas banned abortions. When the patient population is nearly all Hispanic, this risk is present in every delivery. |
Language barriers put patients at serious risk.
Consent forms, instructions, and questions during labor are typically only in English. When a person cannot understand what is said or cannot explain what they feel, warning signs are missed. If this contributes to a preventable injury, the family may pursue a birth injury case. If a mother cannot understand what she is agreeing to, she does not have informed consent, and her rights have been violated.
Families in Webb County colonias face the greatest access barriers.
Webb County colonias are far from both hospitals. When a woman develops a complication during pregnancy or labor, it takes longer to get to the hospital. Healthcare providers who know their patient lives in a colonia have a greater duty of care. That duty can include:
- Scheduling prenatal visits more frequently
- Admitting high-risk people to the hospital earlier
- Giving clear, written emergency instructions in Spanish: what to do if there is heavy bleeding, if the baby stops moving, if there is severe pain, or a fever
- Documenting all of these conversations in the medical record
If the doctor does not take these steps and the mother or baby is harmed, this can lead to catastrophic injuries. A birth injury attorney can help determine if you have a valid legal claim.
Medicaid insurance creates gaps in care.
Research shows that Medicaid patients often receive fewer prenatal visits, shorter appointments, and less follow-up care. Additionally, in Nueva Vida Maternity Clinics, high-risk conditions can go undiagnosed before a woman ever reaches the delivery room. The standard of care does not change based on how a patient pays. When it does, and a preventable birth injury results, the injured person or their family can sue the medical professional.
No mother should receive worse care because of the language she speaks, the insurance she has, or the community she comes from. However, this is the cause of many birth injuries. If you or your baby suffered a preventable injury, a birth injury attorney can help you pursue justice through a medical malpractice claim.
Our firm represents families from every community in Webb County. Hablamos español. Call 210-366-4949.
We Seek Maximum Compensation in Laredo Birth Injury Claims and Other Personal Injury Claims
Recoverable damages or compensation refer to money that families receive through medical malpractice claims when a birth injury or birth trauma is caused by medical negligence. Financial compensation pays for medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and other expenses resulting from the long-term effects on the family’s life.
Our Laredo birth injury attorneys fight for the maximum compensation available under Texas law.
Type of Compensation | What the Money Covers |
|---|---|
Lifetime medical care | Surgeries and future medical procedures, occupational and physical therapy, medications, assistive devices, specialized equipment, and a lifetime care plan developed by a life-care planner. |
In-home care and assistance | Personal care attendants, nursing support, and daily living help for the child’s entire life. |
Lost earning capacity | Parents lost wages while caring for an injured child, and future income the child will never be able to earn because of a permanent disability. |
Pain and suffering | The physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of companionship caused by the injury. |
Mental anguish | The emotional impact on parents and family. |
Maternal injury damages | Medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for the mother’s injuries. |
If the injury caused the death of a baby or mother, recoverable damages are under the Texas Wrongful Death Act. |
Texas medical malpractice damage caps: Non-economic damages (emotional damages) are capped at $250,000 per healthcare provider and up to $500,000 when multiple institutions are at fault. That is a total cap of $750,000.
Economic damages (financial losses) are not capped under Texas law. This includes all medical expenses, future treatment costs, in-home care, lost wages, and funeral costs. Defendants must pay all economic damages, no matter how much compensation is owed.
Our Laredo birth injury lawyers are committed to recovering full compensation in medical malpractice claims. Contact our law firm for a free consultation.
How Our Law Office Handles The Texas Birth Injury Lawsuit Process
Most personal injury cases and medical malpractice cases follow the same legal process. There are a few extra steps in the medical malpractice claims process:
Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
Free consultation | Our experienced attorneys listen to your story and explain your legal options in English or Spanish. |
Records collection | We request all medical records. This includes prenatal visits, labor and delivery notes, fetal heart monitoring strips, and NICU records. |
Expert medical review | We hire a qualified obstetrician, neonatologist, or maternal-fetal medicine specialist to review the medical malpractice case, determine whether a mistake was made, and provide expert testimony if needed during trial. |
Filing the lawsuit | We file medical malpractice cases in Webb County District Court. Texas law gives victims two years from the date of injury to file medical malpractice claims for birth injuries. |
120-day expert report | Texas law requires your attorney to submit a qualified expert report within 120 days of filing. There are no exceptions. |
Discovery and depositions | Both sides exchange evidence and ask questions. Our birth injury lawyers in Laredo, Texas, depose the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff involved. Medical experts provide expert testimony about what went wrong and why. |
Financial settlement or trial | We negotiate with the insurance company and demand what your family deserves. Our law firm prepares every medical malpractice case for trial. Insurance companies know that. |
Personal Injury Lawyers Handling Birth Injury Claims in Webb County and the Texas Border Region
We represent clients affected by birth injuries in Laredo, Texas, and across the surrounding region. Patients from surrounding communities travel to Laredo Medical Center or Doctors Hospital of Laredo to deliver. When a person travels to receive medical treatment and is harmed, the delays and access barriers that came before the delivery are part of the medical malpractice claim. Communities our birth injury law firm in San Antonio serves:- Laredo, Texas: All neighborhoods, including the Mines Road corridor, Del Mar, Los Presidentes, and Chacon Creek.
- Webb County colonias: Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, Bruni, Mirando City, Oilton, Aguilares, and unincorporated colonia communities throughout Webb County.
- Zapata County: Zapata, San Ygnacio, and the Falcon Lake area.
- Jim Hogg County
- Duval County
- La Salle County
- McMullen County
- Dimmit County
FAQs for Birth Injuries in Laredo, Texas
How do I know if my baby's birth injury was caused by medical negligence?
You should look for warning signs of preventable birth injuries, including:
- The medical team did not act quickly when the mother or baby was in danger
- An emergency C-section was delayed
- Forceps or a vacuum extractor were used incorrectly
- Medical staff did not closely monitor for fetal distress
- The OBGYN did not diagnose a prenatal condition like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes
- An infection was not treated
What you can do:
- Request your medical records from the hospital
- Contact a birth injury attorney for a free review of your case
Our law firm obtains the medical records, including prenatal, anesthesiologist reports, and fetal heart monitoring strips, hires medical experts, and reviews what occurred.
How long do I have to file a birth injury claim in Texas?
Under Texas law, the deadline is two years from the date of the injury. For minor children, this deadline may be extended in certain circumstances, but you should not count on this. Contact a law firm as soon as possible so that critical evidence can be gathered and preserved.
Can I file a birth injury claim if I was on Medicaid?
Yes. Medical professionals owe the same standard of care to Medicaid patients as to anyone else. If a medical mistake caused your child’s injury, you can file a lawsuit. If you receive a settlement or award, you may need to repay Medicaid for some costs. This is called a lien, and your personal injury lawyer handles it.
What if my baby's injury wasn't obvious at birth?
In most cases, including HIE, cerebral palsy, and brachial plexus injuries, are not diagnosed until weeks or months after delivery. This does not end your legal right to file a lawsuit. Under Texas law, the statute of limitations begins when the injury was or should have been discovered. Contact our personal injury attorneys as soon as you suspect something went wrong.
How much does a Laredo birth injury attorney cost?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. We cover everything, including expert witnesses, medical records, and court fees.
Contact Our Laredo Birth Injury Law Firm For a Free Consultation
If you or your child were injured during labor or delivery, a Laredo birth injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options. To schedule a free case evaluation, call 210-366-4949 or use our contact form.
- Available 24/7
- No fee unless we win
- Hablamos español
- We come to you – Laredo, Webb County, and surrounding communities
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