Preeclampsia Lawsuit
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- March 14, 2024
Preeclampsia is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can occur during pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood pressure and is largely unpreventable, but proper medical care can significantly reduce the risks to both mother and child. Unfortunately, medical professionals sometimes fail to provide the necessary care, leading to serious injuries and even death.
If you, your child, or a loved one were harmed due to preeclampsia-related medical negligence, you may have the right to file a preeclampsia lawsuit. Our Missouri preeclampsia lawyers are here to help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We’ve recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients in St. Louis, Kansas City, and beyond. Call (800) 536-4357 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
- Can You Sue for Preeclampsia?
- Overview of Preeclampsia
- Preeclampsia Symptoms
- Is There a Cure for Preeclampsia?
- Preeclampsia Lawsuits, Settlements, and Verdicts
- Types of Complications Due to Preeclampsia
- Types of Compensation You Can Pursue in a Preeclampsia Lawsuit
- Statute of Limitations for Preeclampsia Lawsuits
- Contact an Attorney for a Free Consultation
Can You Sue for Preeclampsia?
A preeclampsia diagnosis alone is not enough to file a lawsuit. To sue for preeclampsia, there must have been a violation of the standard of care by a medical professional, resulting in harm to the mother or child. In other words, there must have been medical negligence on the part of the provider that directly caused or contributed to the preeclampsia injury.
Can You Sue a Doctor for Not Detecting Preeclampsia?
A missed or delayed diagnosis is a common cause for preeclampsia medical malpractice claims. If a doctor’s failure to detect preeclampsia results in harm to the mother or child, they may be liable for medical negligence.
This can include not properly monitoring blood pressure, failing to recognize symptoms of preeclampsia, or not ordering necessary tests. Other types of medical negligence that may lead to a preeclampsia lawsuit include:
- Delayed or improper treatment of preeclampsia, such as failure to prescribe appropriate medication.
- Inadequate monitoring during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or early postpartum.
- Failure to perform an emergency C-section or recommend an early inducement of labor, if necessary.
No matter the circumstances, it is important to recognize that medical malpractice lawsuits are particularly complex and require the attention of a skilled attorney. The experienced medical malpractice lawyers at our full-service personal injury law firm are standing by the help. You can count on our award-winning legal team to provide the high-quality legal representation you deserve.
Overview of Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in urine, and signs of organ damage, such as in the kidneys and liver. It affects both the mother and the unborn child and carries significant health risks.
Preeclampsia affects up to 8 percent of pregnancies and causes approximately 15 percent of premature deliveries in the United States. Most mothers who experience preeclampsia deliver healthy babies as long as they receive appropriate medical care. If complications arise, prompt treatment can improve outcomes for both mother and child.
Preeclampsia Symptoms
The symptoms of preeclampsia can be subtle. They can also be mistaken for normal symptoms of pregnancy. Not all affected mothers show signs of preeclampsia, and some symptoms may not appear until severe preeclampsia has developed. Those who do experience symptoms may have any combination of the following:
- Excessive swelling in the face, hands, or legs
- Frequent or persistent headaches
- Changes in vision, such as blurred vision, light sensitivity, or seeing spots
- Rapid weight gain
- Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fluid in the lungs
- Decreased urine production
Is There a Cure for Preeclampsia?
The only cure for preeclampsia is delivering the baby. After delivery, preeclampsia usually goes away within a few weeks. That’s why most women with this condition will need to deliver their baby earlier than expected. Delivery by 37 weeks is usually recommended for women with mild preeclampsia, while those with severe preeclampsia may need to deliver earlier.
If preeclampsia is diagnosed later than 37 weeks, the woman’s doctor may recommend delivering the baby right away. This is because the risks of continuing the pregnancy may outweigh the risks of early delivery for both mother and child.
In some cases, early delivery may not be the best option for both the mother and baby. In these situations, doctors should closely monitor the condition and provide treatment to reduce the risk of complications until delivery.
Preeclampsia Lawsuits, Settlements, and Verdicts
Preeclampsia complications can result in significant emotional, physical, and financial losses for mothers, babies, and their families. When a case involves medical negligence, the victim or their family may pursue a preeclampsia lawsuit to seek compensation for these losses.
Compensation for preeclampsia-related medical negligence varies from case to case. However, preeclampsia claims are often worth large sums of money due to the long-term effects and complications associated with the condition. Some noteworthy preeclampsia lawsuit settlements include:
- $6.9 million for the family of a 31-year-old woman who went to the emergency department with postpartum preeclampsia symptoms and was prematurely discharged twice before death.
- $5.4 million for a woman whose baby suffered catastrophic injuries after her medical providers ignored her preeclampsia symptoms in late pregnancy and later failed to respond to signs of fetal distress appropriately.
- $5 million for a woman whose baby developed cerebral palsy and multiple other conditions after her OB-GYN canceled a urinalysis test for preeclampsia, which resulted in a delayed diagnosis.
Because each case is unique, it is difficult to predict and impossible to guarantee ultimate results. However, securing experienced legal representation is the best way to maximize your compensation. You can count on our world-class birth injury lawyers to fight for every penny you deserve. Our strong track record of high-value settlements and verdicts speaks for itself.
Types of Complications Due to Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia can cause severe maternal and fetal complications with permanent and even fatal outcomes. Mothers with preeclampsia are at higher risk of experiencing the following conditions during pregnancy or soon after giving birth:
- HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets), a type of preeclampsia involving liver damage and interference with normal blood clotting.
- Eclampsia, a life-threatening condition in which a pregnant woman experiences seizures or a coma after preeclampsia.
- Kidney failure, liver failure, and brain damage.
- Placental abruption, a serious condition in which the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before delivery, potentially causing heavy bleeding and fetal distress.
- Preterm birth, which can result in a range of complications for the baby, including respiratory problems, developmental delays, and cerebral palsy.
- Fetal growth restriction or intrauterine growth restriction, leading to low birth weight and potential health problems for the baby.
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the baby, a type of brain damage caused by lack of oxygen.
- Death of the mother or baby.
Types of Compensation You Can Pursue in a Preeclampsia Lawsuit
A preeclampsia lawsuit can help you secure compensation for the losses you, your child, or your family experienced due to preeclampsia-related medical negligence. If you file a lawsuit for yourself or on behalf of your injured baby, you may be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Past and future medical expenses, including hospital bills, doctor’s appointments, medication costs, and physical therapy.
- Lost wages if you were unable to work due to your preeclampsia complications or your child’s care needs.
- Lost earning capacity if your preeclampsia complications affected your long-term ability to work or if your child’s birth injuries will affect their employment opportunities later in life.
- Assistive devices and home modifications to accommodate any disabilities resulting from preeclampsia.
- Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If your child or a pregnant loved one died as a result of preeclampsia-related complications, you may be able to pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit, including things like:
- Medical bills and related expenses
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of expected income and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Statute of Limitations for Preeclampsia Lawsuits
You have a limited amount of time to file a preeclampsia lawsuit. The medical malpractice statute of limitations in Missouri is usually two years from the date the malpractice occurred or could have reasonably been discovered, including in preeclampsia lawsuits. However, there is a once-and-for-all deadline of ten years.
Missouri law features an exception for cases involving injured minors, such as a child born with preeclampsia-related injuries. In these cases, the statute of limitations may be extended until the child’s twentieth birthday. However, it’s best to consult with a medical malpractice attorney before assuming exceptions apply to your case. If they do not, the normal deadline will be strictly enforced.
Contact an Attorney for a Free Consultation
You do not need to navigate a preeclampsia lawsuit alone. Our medical malpractice attorneys can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the claims process. At Brown & Crouppen, we’re dedicated to helping Missouri families seek the justice, accountability, and compensation they need to move forward after a birth injury.
We believe everyone in our community deserves the best legal representation possible, which is why we charge no upfront legal fees and only get paid if you win. We have law offices located in St. Louis, Kansas City, and throughout Missouri. Let our seasoned preeclampsia lawyers put their experience and resources to work for you. Call (800) 536-4357 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation.
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