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Caput Succedaneum Attorney in Everett

Over 50 Years Helping Washington Families Pursue Birth Injury Justice

Caput succedaneum is swelling of a newborn’s scalp caused by pressure on the baby’s head during labor and delivery. It often resolves within days. When it results from improper use of delivery instruments or other preventable errors, families may have questions about whether negligence played a role.

Schroeter Goldmark & Bender is a Seattle-based law firm with more than 50 years of experience representing families affected by birth injuries, including those involving caput succedaneum. We work with families across Washington State to evaluate what happened in the delivery room and whether a medical malpractice claim may be warranted.

If your newborn was diagnosed with caput succedaneum and you have questions about the delivery, call us at (206) 208-0318 to discuss your situation with our team.

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Why Families in the Everett Area Work With Our Firm

Medical malpractice cases arising in Snohomish County are generally filed and litigated in Snohomish County Superior Court, located in Everett. Our familiarity with Washington’s courts, local hospitals, and the medical and legal professionals involved in these cases positions us to build claims designed to hold up under scrutiny.

We tailor our approach to each family’s circumstances. No two deliveries are alike, and the legal strategy for your case reflects the specific decisions made in your delivery room. Our goal throughout is to let you focus on your child while we manage the legal process.

What Caput Succedaneum Is & How It Differs From Other Conditions

Caput succedaneum involves edema, or fluid swelling, in the soft tissue of a newborn’s scalp. One distinguishing feature is that the swelling can cross the skull’s suture lines, the joints where the skull bones meet. The affected area typically appears soft and puffy, giving the head a cone-shaped look, and it generally resolves on its own within a few days.

Common contributing factors include prolonged labor, premature rupture of membranes, and the use of vacuum extraction or forceps during delivery.

Caput Succedaneum vs. Cephalohematoma

Cephalohematoma is a related but distinct condition involving blood collecting beneath the periosteum, the membrane covering the skull bones. Unlike caput succedaneum, cephalohematoma doesn’t cross suture lines and may not become noticeable until hours after birth.

Both conditions carry a risk of elevated bilirubin levels. As bruising or swelling breaks down, bilirubin enters the bloodstream. When newborn jaundice isn’t identified and treated promptly, bilirubin can accumulate to levels that, in rare cases, may lead to kernicterus, a form of brain injury caused by severe untreated jaundice.

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When Caput Succedaneum May Involve Medical Negligence

Not every case of caput succedaneum involves wrongdoing. When it follows the excessive or improper use of vacuum extraction or forceps, insufficient fetal monitoring that delayed recognition of distress, or a delayed decision to perform a cesarean despite warning signs, the question of negligence becomes relevant.

To establish a medical malpractice claim in Washington, a family generally must show that the healthcare provider owed a duty of care, that the provider’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care, and that the breach caused the injury and resulting damages. Our caput succedaneum lawyers can help evaluate whether those elements may be present in your case.

Washington’s Filing Deadlines Under RCW 4.16.350

Washington’s medical malpractice statute, RCW 4.16.350, generally requires that a claim be filed within three years of the negligent act or within one year of discovering the injury, whichever occurs later. Washington’s former eight-year statute of repose was ruled unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court in Schroeder v. Weighall and can no longer be enforced. Consulting a caput succedaneum attorney promptly may help you act within these deadlines.

Building a Caput Succedaneum Malpractice Claim

A claim typically begins with a careful review of labor and delivery records. We look for evidence of fetal monitoring gaps, documentation of when instruments were applied and how, and the timeline of key decisions during delivery. These records can help show whether the standard of care was met.

Washington law generally requires a written opinion from a qualified medical expert supporting the claim before or shortly after filing. We work with medical reviewers whose analysis of your records helps form the foundation of that opinion and the claim itself.

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Talk to Our Caput Succedaneum Attorneys

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett’s Pavilion for Women and Children operates a Level III NICU in partnership with Seattle Children’s Hospital, providing care for newborns who may need it after a difficult delivery. Families managing both medical and legal questions may benefit from having experienced caput succedaneum attorneys involved early.

We work to pursue compensation for medical expenses and long-term care needs while holding negligent providers accountable. Washington’s filing deadlines can make early consultation valuable.

You shouldn’t have to navigate a medical malpractice claim while caring for your newborn. Call us at (206) 208-0318 and let our team handle the legal process while you focus on your child.

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