Infant Death

Legal Help After the Wrongful Death of an Infant

California Infant Death Attorneys

The death of a newborn produces overwhelming grief and loss for parents. The dreams they carried for nine months end in a way that no one could have foreseen.

At Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, our infant death attorneys understand the emotional challenges parents face after the loss of a child during childbirth or in the first year of life. We work to help parents hold individuals or companies responsible for the injuries and death they caused.

The wrongful death lawyers at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have represented parents throughout California and Nevada in infant death cases since 1978. We have successfully handled wrongful infant death cases involving:

• Medical malpractice and birth injuries
• Car accidents
• Defective products, such as faulty car seats, cribs and baby slings
• Dangerous toys
• Choking
• Entanglement
• Suffocation

Examples of Our Success in Infant Wrongful Death Cases

Skull Fracture During Delivery: Our medical negligence wrongful death lawyers negotiated a confidential settlement on behalf of the parents of an infant who died from a skull fracture he sustained during delivery. Our deposition of the obstetrician revealed that he recognized that the infant's ability to pass through the birth canal was compromised, but rather than doing a cesarean section, he used metal forceps to advance the delivery. Imaging studies showed massive cranial fractures, and the infant died shortly after birth. The father had witnessed the horrific delivery, and a portion of the settlement was his claim for emotional distress.

Birth Trauma: Our team of attorneys obtained a binding arbitration award against the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan following negligent delivery at the Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City, California. Our attorneys proved that the infant suffered severe hypoxic injury when his mother's uterus ruptured during labor. The attending midwife failed to reduce or stop the administration of Pitocin, a labor-enhancing drug. The nurses had also left the mother unattended before the uterine rupture, which resulted in a failure to identify the ominous signs of fetal distress.

Financial Recovery for the Loss of an Infant

When an adult dies, a family can recover specific damages for the loss of income and services. When a baby dies, California law provides for "general damages" to the parent. General damages include emotional trauma and depression, loss of companionship, and loss of affection.

If you have lost an infant to a birth injury, or someone you know has lost a child through the negligence of another in a car accident, fire or other type of accident, contact our California infant wrongful death lawyers today. Make an appointment for a free consultation. 1.888.564.8254 or 1.415.658.9310.

Se habla espaňol