Placenta Previa Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

Placenta previa is a known complication that can occur during pregnancy.  It occurs when the placenta attaches to the lower part of the mother’s uterus, rather than the top or side, which is more typical.  With proper monitoring and treatment, the serious complications caused by placenta previa can be avoided, and you can have a safe and healthy childbirth.  When your doctor fails to properly monitor for, or treat, placenta previa, complications can escalate and, in some cases, lead to tragedy. At Matzus Law, LLC, a Pittsburgh placenta previa birth injury lawyer will work tirelessly to make sure you get fair compensation if you are the victim of medical negligence related to placenta previa.  We have years of experience fighting to make sure negligent doctors and healthcare providers are held accountable in Pittsburgh and elsewhere in Pennsylvania.

Jason Matzus understands that it can be difficult to know if you were harmed by medical negligence or a fluke complication.  Medical malpractice can be difficult to prove in any case, and it can be especially difficult for someone without experience handling these types of cases.

We are here to handle every aspect of your case, from investigating to finding out what happened in your case, to retaining the best medical experts available to testify on your behalf.  If you were injured because of a complication caused by placenta previa, call us today to learn more about your rights.

Failure to Properly Treat Placenta Previa Can Have Serious Consequences

The placenta plays a critical role in the development of the fetus during pregnancy.  The placenta provides both nutrition and oxygen to the fetus during pregnancy and also carries away waste.

Placenta previa is a condition that must be identified early so that it can be monitored and treated.  Placenta previa can lead to serious complications during the later stages of pregnancy and during delivery.  If not carefully treated, it can cause the placenta to completely block the cervix, making delivery dangerous.

Early identification should allow the doctor and healthcare professionals to respond quickly to prevent more serious complications and develop a plan for delivery—which may include a planned C-section.  If improperly treated or left undiagnosed, placenta previa can cause:

• Hemorrhaging and severe bleeding, which can cause injury to the mother and potentially life-long injuries to the baby
• Pre-term birth, which can result in conditions such as cerebral palsy, low birth weight, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or respiratory problems
• Infertility
• Death of the mother or fetus

When Can Placenta Previa Amount to Medical Negligence?

The occurrence of placenta previa alone does not give rise to your right to pursue financial compensation, however.  After all, the cause of placenta previa remains unknown.  It is the actions—or omissions—of your doctor and other healthcare professionals that give you this right.

Examples of actions or omissions by a healthcare provider that can lead to a claim for medical negligence based on complications from placenta previa include:

• Failure to perform an ultrasound
• Failure to continuously monitor mother and fetus once placenta previa has been identified, or in an emergency situation
• Delays in performing a C-section when called for due to placenta previa
• Performing certain exams on women with placenta previa, which can themselves cause severe bleeding and pre-term birth
• Attempting a natural birth when the mother’s cervix has been completely covered by the placenta

Under Pennsylvania law, it is also necessary to obtain the opinion of a medical expert with experience in the same field in order to bring a successful case for medical malpractice. In addition to identifying the doctor’s error or omission, our lawyers will work with experts to prove that another reasonably trained, competent doctor would not have made the same mistake or proceeded with the same treatment plan.

A Skilled Lawyer Helps Victims of Medical Negligence and Placenta Previa Get Just Compensation

At Matzus Law, LLC, our leading Pittsburgh placenta previa birth injury lawyer will explore every option for recovering fair compensation in your case.  We handle all of the details so that you and your family can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.  A fair compensation award for medical negligence based on placenta previa can include compensation for:

• Past medical expenses
• Medical expenses to treat any injuries or conditions caused by the placenta previa, including the cost of future care if the infant or mother are seriously harmed
• Lost wages and earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of fertility
• Diminished quality of life
• Wrongful death if complications from placenta previa resulted in death

Contact Our Pittsburgh Placenta Previa Birth Injury Lawyer if You or Your Child Were Hurt by Complications from Placenta Previa

It is often the newborn baby who suffers the most extreme consequences of placenta previa.  Failure to quickly perform a C-section can result in oxygen deprivation and brain damage—which may require a lifetime of treatment.

A medical malpractice lawyer at Matzus Law, LLC will stand by your side to make sure your right to fair compensation is protected.  If you lost a loved one due to extreme bleeding caused by placenta previa, we can also help you pursue your right to compensation via a wrongful death lawsuit.

To schedule your free case review, you can call our office or contact us online.

Frequently Asked Questions About Placenta Previa Lawsuits in Pittsburgh, PA

How can you help prove that complications from placenta previa were caused by medical negligence?

We begin by listening to your story and reviewing your medical records. Because we have experience handling these cases, we know what types of tests your doctor should have ordered to diagnose and monitor placenta previa. We also know the types of actions that should be avoided during delivery. We then speak with medical experts to get evidence about what a competent doctor’s treatment plan would have involved. If that plan does not match the care you received, you may have a case for malpractice.

Are there any specific risk factors for placenta previa?

While the exact cause of placenta previa is unknown, risk factors for developing the condition include:

1. Multiple pregnancies (twins or triplets)
2. Previous C-sections, D&Cs, or fibroid surgeries
3. The mother’s age—whether under age 18 or over age 35
4. Past abortions
5. Past instances of placenta previa in prior pregnancies
6. Drug use or smoking during pregnancy

These risk factors generally indicate a need for heightened monitoring to detect placenta previa during pregnancy.