NICU Attorney in Pierce County
When a newborn needs care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), parents trust that every detail will be handled with care. If your baby suffered unexpected complications or injuries during a NICU stay in Pierce County, you may be asking whether a preventable error played a role and what you can do now.
Our team at Schroeter Goldmark & Bender proudly represents families whose infants were harmed by medical negligence in the NICU. Our firm has advocated for families in birth injury cases since 1969. Our NICU lawyer in Pierce County works to help parents understand what happened, pursue accountability when care fell short, and seek the resources needed to support their child’s future.
We know you may be reading this while juggling hospital visits, specialist appointments, and sleepless nights. Our attorneys aim to provide clear information and steady guidance, so you do not have to navigate complex medical and legal questions on your own.
To learn more about how our NICU error attorneys in Pierce County, WA, can assist you and your loves ones, call us at (206) 208-0318. We offer free consultations.
NICU Errors & Newborn Harm
NICUs are highly specialized hospital units designed to care for small and critically ill babies. These units rely on complex equipment, intensive monitoring, and careful coordination among doctors, nurses, and other staff. When that system breaks down, even briefly, the result can be serious harm to a fragile newborn.
NICU errors can take many forms, including:
- Medication mistakes: Administering an incorrect drug, an unsafe dosage, or a medication to which the infant has a known allergy may constitute malpractice if it results in injury.
- Delayed or missed diagnosis: Failing to identify a newborn’s medical condition in a timely manner can prevent necessary treatment and allow complications to worsen.
- Failure to monitor: When vital signs or medical equipment are not properly observed, warning signs of distress may go unnoticed until severe injury occurs.
- Resuscitation errors: Delays or improper techniques used when a baby stops breathing or requires emergency intervention can lead to life-altering consequences.
- Misdiagnosis: Identifying the wrong condition may result in ineffective treatment or unnecessary medical procedures that cause harm.
Our NICU error lawyers in Pierce County understand the complexity of these cases and can work with qualified medical professionals to carefully review medical records and the timeline of events. This detailed analysis helps determine whether a child’s injuries were caused by substandard medical care rather than unavoidable medical complications.
Signs You May Need Legal Help
Many parents are unsure whether what happened in the NICU is grounds for a legal claim. You are not expected to sort out medical standards or pinpoint the exact cause of your baby’s condition on your own. What you can do is pay attention to patterns and questions that do not seem to be fully answered.
If you suspect a NICU error, helpful steps can include:
- Document the situation: Write down a timeline of your baby’s NICU stay, including key dates, symptoms, and conversations.
- Save records: Gather documents such as discharge papers, summaries, and any written materials you received from the hospital.
- Write down questions: Keep notes of questions you asked and the answers you were given, especially if they later changed.
- Get medical care: Follow up with pediatricians and specialists and ask them to explain your child’s diagnosis in plain language and what treatment is needed.
- Get legal support: Reach out to a NICU attorney in Pierce County for a legal perspective on whether negligence may have occurred.
You do not need proof of malpractice before you contact us. Our role is to listen, help you gather and understand information, and explain whether the facts suggest a potential claim. Many families tell us that simply having someone independent review what happened provides a measure of clarity in an otherwise confusing experience.
Proving a NICU Errors Claim
To pursue a medical negligence claim involving NICU errors, certain legal elements must be established. These elements help determine whether a health care provider can be held legally responsible for harm.
The four elements of negligence include:
- Duty of care: Medical providers are legally obligated to deliver treatment that meets accepted medical standards, meaning the level of care reasonably expected from similarly trained professionals in comparable circumstances.
- Breach of duty: A breach occurs when a provider’s actions, or lack of action, fall below what other competent medical professionals would have done in the same situation.
- Causation: It must be shown that the provider’s failure directly contributed to the injury, not merely that an injury occurred.
- Damages: These losses may include medical costs, physical and emotional suffering, and other damages recognized under the law.
Talk to Our Team Today
If your baby’s NICU stay resulted in unexpected injuries or complications and you are worried that a preventable error in Pierce County may be to blame, you do not have to face those questions alone. Speaking with a NICU error lawyer in Pierce County can help you understand your options and whether a legal claim is worth pursuing.
To talk with our team about a potential NICU error involving care in Pierce County, call (206) 208-0318.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a NICU error occurred?
You usually cannot know for certain without a careful review of records. Warning signs can include inconsistent explanations, sudden unexplained changes, or concerns raised by later providers. We review your baby’s history and documentation to assess whether the care appears to meet accepted medical standards.
What information should I bring when I call you?
It helps to have your baby’s discharge papers, any summaries you received, and a basic timeline of the NICU stay. Notes about key conversations and diagnoses are useful too. If you do not have everything yet, we can discuss what is available and how additional records might be obtained.
