Las Vegas Placental Abruption Lawyers
Strong advocacy for women and infants who suffer injuries during pregnancy
During a patient’s pregnancy, doctors know that they need to monitor mothers for the possibility of a placental abruption. The consequences of an abruption include severe birth injuries to the baby and dangerous bleeding to the mother. Placental abruption can be fatal. At Claggett & Sykes Law Firm, our Las Vegas placental abruption lawyers fight to hold physicians and hospitals accountable for failing to monitor, diagnose, and treat a placental abruption. Let our birth injury attorneys help you.
Quick Questions
- Why is placental abruption dangerous?
- What are the symptoms of placental abruption?
- What are the risk factors for placental abruption?
- How should Las Vegas doctors diagnose placental abruption?
- How should Las Vegas doctors treat placental abruption?
- What is the value of my placental abruption claim in Nevada?
- Do you have a Las Vegas placental abruption lawyer near me?
Placental abruption occurs when part or all the placenta (the organ that develops during pregnancy in the uterus) detaches from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery. The Mayo Clinic states placental abruption often occurs during the last trimester of pregnancy, but it can happen as early as 20 weeks into the pregnancy.
The danger to the fetus is that the placenta won’t be able to deliver the oxygen and nutrients that the fetus needs to grow. A placental abruption also makes it harder for the fetus to be protected from infections.
Possible complications of placental abruption for the mother include:
- Shock due to loss of blood
- The need for a blood transfusion
- Blood clotting difficulties
- Kidney or other organ failure due to the loss of blood
If the bleeding cannot be controlled, surgical intervention may be necessary.
The possible complications for the baby include:
- Restricted growth due to the lack of nutrients
- Lack of oxygen
- Premature birth
- Stillbirth
According to Very Well Health, placental abruption is linked to a high fetal/infant mortality rate of about 10%.
The symptoms of a placental abruption that pregnancy doctors should monitor include:
- Vaginal bleeding – though bleeding may not occur
- Pain in the abdomen and/or back, which can start suddenly
- Tenderness or rigidity of the uterus
- Uterine contractions, usually one right after another
Blood may become trapped inside the uterus – which means that there may be bleeding but no bleeding is visible. Some cases of placental abruption can cause light or intermittent bleeding. Other signs include low amniotic fluids and various complications.
Your doctor should also monitor the fetus for signs of distress.
Our Las Vegas placental abruption lawyers review whether a doctor monitored the mother for the appropriate risk factors, including:
- A placental abruption in a prior pregnancy that wasn’t due to abdominal trauma
- Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or eclampsia during the pregnancy
- Smoking
- Cocaine use during pregnancy
- Infections inside the uterus during pregnancy
- The age of the mother is 40 or older
- Early rupture of membranes, which causes leaking amniotic fluid before the end of pregnancy
If your doctor suspects a mother has placental abruption, the doctor will check for uterine rigidity or tenderness. To help identify the source of any vaginal bleeding, the doctor will likely prescribe urine tests, blood tests, and an ultrasound. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the mother’s uterus on a monitor.
According to Very Well Health, ultrasound detection of placental abruption is low because “Bleeding around the placenta can appear similar to the placenta itself.” They also note that “A definitive diagnosis can only be made after examination of the placenta following birth. A placenta that has abrupted will usually have an area of clotted blood.”
Placental abruption should not be confused with placenta previa, which involves the placenta partially or completely covering the cervix.
At Claggett & Sykes Law Firm, we work with OB-GYNs and other healthcare professionals to show that your doctor failed to make a proper and timely diagnosis of placental abruption or failed to provide competent treatment.
The treatment for placental abruption depends on how far along the pregnancy is. The Mayo Clinic says the following:
- The baby isn't close to full term. If the abruption seems mild, your baby's heart rate is normal and it's too early for the baby to be born, you might be hospitalized for close monitoring. If the bleeding stops and your baby's condition is stable, you might be able to rest at home. You may be given medication to help your baby's lungs mature and to protect the baby's brain in case early delivery becomes necessary.
- The baby is close to full term. Generally, after 34 weeks of pregnancy, if the placental abruption seems minimal, a closely monitored vaginal delivery might be possible. If the abruption worsens or jeopardizes your or your baby's health, you'll need an immediate delivery — usually by C-section.
A blood transfusion may be required in some cases.
Our Las Vegas birth injury lawyers file personal injury claims on behalf of mothers and infants who are harmed due to the failure to diagnose and treat placental abruption. We also file wrongful death claims if a mother and/or child die due to placenta abruption.
In personal injury claims, Claggett & Sykes Law Firm demands compensation for:
- All current and future medical expenses
- The physical pain and emotional suffering of the mother and/or child
- Any loss of bodily function
- Any loss of quality of life
- Any loss of income when a mother is injured
- Loss of consortium is when a mother is injured
If placental abruption is fatal and caused by medical malpractice, we demand that the doctors and any other responsible healthcare providers pay wrongful death damages for:
- The funeral and burial costs
- The sorrow and grief of the family
- The financial losses due to the death of the mother
- The loss of guidance, support, and affection the mother and/or child would have provided
- Any pain and suffering the mother or child experienced before passing away
We’ll explain what caps apply to medical malpractice claims. We’ll also explain the time limit for filing your claim. Victims and families should contact us immediately.
Do you have a Las Vegas placental abruption lawyer near me?
Claggett & Sykes Law Firm meets clients at our office located at 4101 Meadows Lane, Suite 100. We’re near Springs Preserve and Meadows Mall. We also consult with parents and children by phone, video, and when necessary – by arranging a personal visit to your home or a healthcare facility.
We represent clients who have catastrophic injuries.
Contact our Las Vegas placental abruption lawyer today
Doctors need to anticipate and monitor mothers for the possibility of a placental abruption. They should be held accountable if they make an improper diagnosis or fail to provide immediate competent care. If your child or the mother of your child dies or suffers harm due to medical malpractice, the Las Vegas placental abruption lawyers at Claggett & Sykes Law Firm are ready to help. We’re experienced personal injury lawyers who have obtained more than 125 verdicts and settlements for $1 million or more. To schedule a free consultation, call us or fill out our contact form today.