Stillbirth and Infant Death

Learn how an experienced Ohio wrongful death attorney can help you

Losing a newborn baby can be one of the most traumatic events in a parent’s life. Worst of all, many stillborn births and infant deaths could have been prevented. That’s because stillbirths often occur due to medical negligence. When this happens, parents should strongly consider taking legal action to hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions. That’s why our legal team wants to meet with you.

Experienced Cleveland wrongful death lawyer John A. Lancione can help you every step of the way. He has more than three decades of experience handling legal cases involving fatal birth injury claims in Ohio and nationwide. As a result, he has an in-depth understanding of wrongful death claims involving newborn children.

When you have attorney Lancione and his dedicated legal team at The Lancione Law Firm on your side, you can take the necessary steps to hold the at-fault party responsible. Our law firm has the knowledge and the expertise you need at this critical time. We know what questions to ask and what evidence matters most. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success. That’s why we want to work with you.

What is a stillbirth?

A stillbirth is when a child is born without signs of life at least 20 weeks into pregnancy or during delivery, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a woman has a baby born without signs of life less than 20 weeks into her pregnancy, that situation is commonly referred to as a miscarriage.

Approximately 1 in 160 births are stillbirths, which is roughly 24,000 stillbirths each year, according to the CDC. Stillbirths normally fall into three different categories depending on when the stillbirth took place during pregnancy. The three types of stillbirths are:

• Early stillbirth (between 20 weeks and 27 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy)
• Late stillbirth (between 28 weeks and 36 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy)
• Term stillbirth (more than 37 weeks into a woman’s pregnancy)

What are common causes of stillbirth?

Stillbirths and infant death occur for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes include:

• Complications during a woman’s pregnancy, including placental abruption, resuscitation errors and other fetal risk factors.
• Maternal risk factors during the mother’s pregnancy, including diabetes and gestational diabetes.
• Complications during the baby’s delivery, including delayed delivery and labor and delivery problems.
• Infections, including sepsis.

Whatever the cause of your infant’s stillbirth, make sure you fully understand your legal rights. Make sure you talk to an attorney who can answer your questions and explain the legal options available to you.

How does negligence play a role?

Medical professionals have a responsibility to carefully monitor a pregnant woman and her fetus throughout her pregnancy. Failure to do so can be the result of negligence and medical malpractice in many cases. Examples of negligence that result in a stillbirth or infant death include:

• Not following standards of care and established medical protocols during a woman’s pregnancy.
• Not conducting standard medical tests during a woman’s pregnancy.
• Failure to take into account a woman’s pre-existing medical condition or health history.
• Misdiagnosing or misreading medical test results.
• Causing a fatal injury to the infant during the pregnancy or delivery.

Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals undergo years of rigorous training. This is because they can potentially cause fatal injuries or illnesses to infants if they make a mistake. When they do, it’s our job to help you hold them accountable for their actions. That’s why attorney Lancione wants to meet with you right away.

Put your trust in a law firm that puts your needs first. Contact us

We understand how frustrating and upsetting such cases can be for families. The last thing you might want to think about is taking legal action after losing an infant. You want to mourn the loss of your child.

But it’s important to realize that the sooner you take action, the stronger your legal case will likely be. Evidence can disappear over time. Memories can fade. There are also often strict deadlines for taking legal action. In Ohio, you only have two years from the date of your infant’s death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in cases involving medical malpractice, according to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) § 2152.02(D).

Two years might seem like a long time. But the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to build a strong legal case. This is often because important evidence can be lost or destroyed as time goes by. That’s why it’s important to talk to an experienced lawyer who can help your family through this difficult time in your lives.

Ohio wrongful death attorney John A. Lancione and our entire legal team can guide you through the legal process. No matter how long it takes, we will be there for you when you need us the most. And if you ever have a question about your case, you can call attorney Lancione directly anytime on his personal cellphone.

Get the help your family deserves. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with The Lancione Law Firm. You can reach us online or call (440) 331-6100 or (877) 515-4369 to speak directly with attorney Lancione. He’s the lawyer you want working for you.