If your child suffered harm because medical providers failed to recognize or respond to signs of distress from umbilical cord compression, call (304) 720-6700 or message Tiano O’Dell, PLLC today. We can schedule a free consultation and discuss your potential claim.
Why Clients Trust Us
We approach these cases with the care and preparation your family deserves because:
- We take the time to understand how your child’s injury affects your daily life, long-term planning, and future care needs.
- We review the medical evidence closely to identify missed warning signs, delayed intervention, and communication failures.
- We build strong cases with expert support so hospitals and providers are held accountable when preventable mistakes cause harm.
Our Case Results
- $3 million settlement for a birth injury medical malpractice case.
- $4.98 million verdict for a medical malpractice case involving a missed diagnosis in the emergency room.
- $10 million settlement for a brain injury case involving a college student.
Potential Injuries From Umbilical Cord Compression
The umbilical cord delivers oxygen and nutrients to the baby. When the cord becomes compressed, twisted, trapped, or prolapsed, the baby may not receive enough oxygen. Even a short delay in restoring oxygen flow can cause serious harm. Potential birth injuries from umbilical cord compression include:
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE-brain injury)
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizure disorders
- Developmental delays
- Brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation
- Organ damage
- Stillbirth or fatal birth injuries
Medical providers may need to respond by changing the mother’s position, stopping labor-inducing medication, adding fluid through amnioinfusion, or moving quickly toward emergency delivery. When providers delay action, the risk of permanent injury increases.
Warning Signs That Should Not Be Ignored
Umbilical cord compression often appears through changes in fetal heart rate. Medical teams must carefully monitor these patterns and respond when signs suggest the baby is in distress. Signs that may require urgent action include:
- Repeated variable decelerations on fetal monitoring strips.
- Slow fetal heart rate or prolonged bradycardia.
- Reduced fetal movement before or during labor.
- Umbilical cord prolapse.
- Signs that the baby is not getting enough oxygen.
A preventable injury may occur when doctors or nurses overlook these signs, fail to communicate concerns, or delay an emergency C-section.
West Virginia Birth Injury Laws
West Virginia law allows families to pursue medical malpractice claims when a health care provider’s negligence causes injury or death. Under West Virginia Code §55-7B-3, a claim requires proof that:
- The provider failed to use the “care, skill and learning” expected of a reasonably prudent provider.
- That failure was a “proximate cause” of the injury or death.
West Virginia also has filing rules. Under West Virginia Code §55-7B-6, a claimant must generally serve a notice of claim at least 30 days before filing suit, and the notice must include a screening certificate of merit from a qualified expert. Meaning, a qualified medical expert believes there is evidence that the provider’s conduct may have fallen below the accepted standard of care.
Why Hiring a Charleston, WV Umbilical Cord Compression Attorney Is Critical
Umbilical cord compression cases depend on medical evidence that families often cannot access or interpret alone. A Charleston Umbilical Cord Compression lawyer can:
- Review fetal monitoring strips, labor notes, and delivery records.
- Work with obstetric and neonatal experts to determine what went wrong.
- Identify whether providers delayed emergency intervention.
- Calculate the full cost of your child’s future care.
- Negotiate with insurers and prepare the case for trial if needed.
By handling the legal process, an attorney can relieve the burden of retrieving records, meeting deadlines, hiring experts, and negotiations so your family can focus on your child’s care.
Take the Next Step
Call (304) 720-6700 or message Tiano O’Dell, PLLC online today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Charleston, West Virginia umbilical cord compression attorney.
