Bell’s palsy is a medical condition where the facial nerve swells or becomes inflamed and causes a loss of muscle control on one side of the face. It is often connected to infections, immune responses and strokes. However, it can also be caused by medical malpractice – mainly, birth injuries.
Our Minneapolis birth injury attorneys at Goldenberg Lauricella can help if your child has Bell’s palsy that you believe is related to medical negligence. We have handled birth injury cases for clients in Minneapolis for more than 40 years. Contact us to schedule your free consultation to find out how we can help.
Why Minneapolis Clients Choose Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC
- We are highly experienced and successful in the field of medical malpractice law. In our time handling birth injury cases in Minnesota and nationwide, we have recovered more than $200 million in case results.
- Our skilled team of attorneys is trusted by families in Minnesota when results matter most. We have a history of winning complex and high-stakes medical malpractice claims. We handle each case with diligent attention to detail.
- We don’t want our clients to struggle more than they already are – financially or emotionally. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t charge any fees for our services unless the case ends in compensation for the client.
How Can an Attorney Help With a Bell’s Palsy Case?
Preventable cases of Bell’s palsy can lead to legally complex medical malpractice claims. These personal injury cases typically involve complicated medical and scientific issues, such as health care negligence and improper birthing techniques. For this reason, they often require the oversight of experienced Bell’s Palsy lawyers.
Hiring a legal representative can make all the difference during a high-stakes birth injury case in Minneapolis. When an insurance claim is filed because of a Bell’s palsy diagnosis, the insurance company will most likely try to dispute liability and protect its own interests. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult for the family of an injured infant to achieve true justice.
If your child’s Bell’s palsy will result in long-term or permanent physical disability, it’s even more important to contact a knowledgeable attorney. You can trust a lawyer to fight for the compensation your child deserves for what may be a lifetime of disfigurement, lost wages, lost quality of life, and other damages. The right lawyer will fight in and out of the courtroom on your behalf, doing what it takes to secure the results you deserve.
What Is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy, or facial nerve palsy, is a medical condition that causes a loss of function on one side of the face. It is a short-term weakness or paralysis of the face that can occur when the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve) gets compressed, inflamed, swollen or injured.
Bell’s palsy is generally a temporary form of paralysis, as the facial nerve can regenerate and heal. However, it can cause permanent damage if the nerve is fully destroyed (dies). Synkinesis can also occur, where regenerated nerve fibers implant into the wrong facial muscles, permanently changing the muscle signaling in the affected area.
Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy can affect any part of the face, but its effects will be limited only to one side. This includes the eyes, nose, mouth, ears and facial muscles. Therefore, it can have a variety of symptoms, including:
- Temporary weakness or paralysis on one side of the face
- Facial drooping or muscle spasms
- Persistent headache
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Trouble speaking
- Changes in ability to taste
- Altered tear or saliva production
- Drooling
- Pain near the jaw or behind the ear
- Sensitivity to sound
- Inability to close eye completely
Bell’s palsy can also lead to secondary conditions. If the eyelid does not close completely, for instance, excessive dryness or corneal abrasions can affect vision.
What Causes Bell’s Palsy?
The cause of Bell’s palsy is sometimes unknown, with unclear triggers. However, specific factors can often trigger inflammation of the seventh cranial nerve. This includes various medical conditions and medical malpractice.
Several birth injuries, or malpractice during childbirth, can result in Bell’s palsy in an infant, including:
- Traumatic facial injuries during or shortly after birth
- Improper use of vacuums or forceps during delivery
- Failure to use the correct birthing techniques
- Failure to order an emergency C-section
If a medical practitioner made a careless mistake or breached the standard of care during the pregnancy or delivery process, injuring an infant’s facial nerve and causing Bell’s palsy, the family may have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the individual and/or medical facility in Minneapolis.
Bell’s Palsy and Medical Malpractice Claims
Bell’s palsy can be a serious condition that causes permanent disability in a newborn, including facial nerve damage, abnormal facial muscle contractions and a loss of eyesight. If there is evidence that Bell’s palsy is an outcome of medical malpractice during the delivery of a child, a birth injury lawsuit could be brought against the responsible party or parties.
A malpractice claim for Bell’s palsy must prove the following:
- A doctor-patient relationship existed between the defendant and the plaintiff.
- The defendant breached the standard of care expected of them as a medical practitioner.
- The defendant’s breach of professional duty is what caused the infant’s Bell’s palsy.
- The plaintiff (or plaintiff’s family) suffered compensable damages as an outcome of the malpractice.
The burden of proof is “more likely to be true than not true,” also known as a preponderance of the evidence. Meeting this burden of proof requires clear and compelling evidence, such as medical documentation, records, medical expert testimony, photos, videos and witness statements.
Contact Us for a Free Bell’s Palsy Case Review in Minneapolis
As a victim of a medical malpractice birth injury in Minneapolis, you and your family can fight for your rights with help from a highly experienced attorney at Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC. We work around the clock to advocate for patients injured by harmful medical negligence in Minnesota and nationwide.
We know you might be confused and overwhelmed after learning of your child’s Bell’s palsy diagnosis. We are here to evaluate your case, explain your rights and help you choose the best path forward – beginning with a free initial consultation. Call (612) 333-4662 to connect with our local medical malpractice attorneys in Minneapolis today.