What Parents Need to Know About Shaken Baby Syndrome Lawsuits in Virginia

Specific age groups are often more susceptible to traumatic brain injuries than others, with infants in one of the highest risk categories. A single hard shake in a frustrating moment of anger may permanently change a child’s life. If your infant is exhibiting symptoms of shaken baby syndrome, a personal injury attorney can be your best shot at holding the negligent party responsible.

Serious Dangers of Shaking an Infant

Shaken baby syndrome is more common than many parents realize, with the Virginia Department of Social Services citing more than 1,000 infants injured or killed due to head trauma per year. These injuries typically occur when a parent or other caregiver reaches a boiling point of frustration if an infant won’t stop crying.

Sadly, those few seconds of bad judgment can easily cause coup-contrecoup injuries when the child’s brain strikes the sides of their skull. Because an infant’s brain is still developing, there is an extreme risk of death or long-term health repercussions.

Symptoms and effects of shaken baby syndrome may include:

Blindness
Cerebral palsy
Constant irritability
Deafness
Difficulty breathing
Fractures in skull, neck, and ribs
Lack of interest in eating
Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Speech development issues
Vomiting

What to Do If You Suspect Shaken Baby Syndrome

If your infant exhibits any of these symptoms and you have reason to believe someone may have shaken them, take the child to the hospital immediately and then contact the police. Your next call should then be to a skilled personal injury lawyer with experience in traumatic brain injury cases.

Aside from the emotional anguish inflicted on your family, shaken baby syndrome can lead to devastating medical bills if your child requires ongoing treatments and therapies due to permanent brain damage. Even if the at-fault party isn’t currently being criminally prosecuted, an attorney can begin an independent investigation and bring a civil case against the caregiver who shook the child.

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Have You Or A Loved One Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury In Virginia?

If you believe you or a loved one suffered a TBI, an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you focus on recovery instead of fighting a complex battle against an insurance company and the people who caused the injury.

The passion of The Mottley Law Firm is protecting the legal rights of clients who have suffered life-disrupting brain injuries. No matter where you are in Virginia, we want to hear from you. Contact us online or call our Richmond office at (804) 409-0876 to schedule your free consultation.

Kevin W. Mottley [email protected]

Richmond, VA trial lawyer dedicated to handling brain injuries, car accidents and other serious injury claims

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