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Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC Wais Vogelstein Forman Koch & Norman LLC
  • Nationwide Birth Injury & Medical Malpractice Firm
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Minnesota Facial Nerve Injury or Paralysis Lawyer

Pregnant women and their children are very vulnerable throughout the birthing process. Newborns in particular can suffer a number of injuries. Although some of these are minor and resolve on their own without medical intervention, that is unfortunately, not always the case. Certain injuries, such as facial nerve injury or paralysis, are very serious.

Damage to the nerves in the face that cause injury or paralysis is caused by multiple factors. Sometimes, medical malpractice is the cause of these injuries and when that is the case, parents can take legal action. If your child has been hurt, a Minnesota birth injury lawyer can explain your legal rights and help you claim the full compensation you are entitled to.

Understanding Facial Paralysis

When an infant suffers from facial paralysis, they may be unable to move the muscles on one or both sides of their face. Birth injuries, disease, trauma, and a number of other factors can cause the condition. Facial paralysis sometimes comes on very suddenly, while other times, it may develop gradually over time. Typically, the facial features will start to droop, which is often the first sign of the condition.

The condition may also last for a significant period of time, or it may only be temporary. The length of time an infant suffers from the condition will usually depend on what caused the injury. Facial paralysis will have many negative impacts on a newborn, including loss of facial control, uncontrollable drooling, problems producing tears, and feeding issues.

What Causes Facial Paralysis?

Facial paralysis is caused by nerves in the face becoming inflamed or damaged, which negatively affects the muscles in the face. There are multiple factors that can cause the condition, but the most common of these include:

  • Head injuries: Sometimes, the nerves that become damaged in the face are also close to the skull. As such, any time a baby suffers from a head injury, they may also develop facial paralysis and doctors should monitor for this condition.
  • Trauma: The birthing process is a traumatic one, not only for the mother, but for the baby, as well. Any part of a baby’s body can experience trauma during birth, and that includes the skull and face. A prolonged labor, large baby weight, or the use of an epidural are all factors that can make a birth more traumatic, and place a baby at risk of suffering facial nerve injury or paralysis.
  • Bell’s palsy: The most common cause of nerve injury or paralysis is Bell’s palsy, and it affects as many as 40,000 infants throughout the country every year.

Facial nerve injury and paralysis is often a result of medical negligence. A Minnesota birth injury lawyer can help you claim compensation to offset the financial burden of the injury.

Contact Our Birth Injury Lawyers in Minnesota Today

If your child has suffered harm and you believe it was the result of a careless healthcare professional, our Minnesota birth injury lawyers can help. At Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC, our knowledgeable attorneys know how to hold medical professionals liable for their mistakes and we can do it for you, too. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.

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