Questions?What Is a Birth Injury Claim for Meningitis?
A birth injury claim for meningitis can help families secure compensation when medical negligence worsens a newborn’s condition.
Meningitis is a deadly infection that can cause brain damage, seizures, hearing loss, and even death if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
Newborn meningitis birth injury compensation helps cover medical care and long-term support. Most infant meningitis claims settle out of court, giving families access to funds faster and with less stress.
The Birth Injury Justice Center has partnered with lawyers who can help families in all 50 states. Our legal partners have secured over $1 billion for families affected by infant meningitis and other birth injuries.
Find out if we can help your family — get a free case review now.
Meningitis Birth Injury Compensation Amounts
The value of a birth injury claim for meningitis can vary based on the severity of the baby’s injury and how much care they may need in the future.
In severe harm or extreme medical errors, multimillion-dollar infant meningitis settlements may be awarded.
- $9 million for an Illinois family for failing to detect Group B Streptococcus (GBS)
- $7.8 million in North Carolina for meningitis, leading to severe brain damage
- $1 million in New Jersey for seizures due to failure to treat meningitis
- $3.7 million for bacterial meningitis that led to severe disabilities in a child
- $4.1 million in California for failure to diagnose meningitis in a 4-year-old child
- $5.2 million for a delayed meningitis diagnosis that caused newborn brain damage
If your child suffered complications from meningitis, your family may be eligible for compensation, too.
A birth injury lawyer can review the facts of your birth injury claim for meningitis and fight for the compensation you need to pay for lifetime care.
Call the Birth Injury Justice Center right now at (800) 914-1562 or Click to Live Chat to see if a top birth injury lawyer may be able to file a birth injury claim for meningitis for you.
Infant Meningitis and Medical Malpractice
Obstetricians and other medical professionals are trained to deliver babies correctly and safely. When they fail to do so and cause harm, their actions may be considered medical malpractice.
- Failing to detect and treat maternal infections like Group B strep, E. coli, Listeria, or Herpes simplex virus, which can be passed to the baby
- Mishandling or delaying sepsis treatment, allowing an untreated infection to spread to the brain and cause meningitis
- Misusing forceps and vacuum extractors, leading to skull fractures or head trauma that increases infection risk if bacteria enter the bloodstream or brain
- Neglecting to monitor for newborn infection after prolonged labor, premature birth, or rupture of membranes, all of which raise the risk of neonatal meningitis
- Overlooking common symptoms of newborn meningitis like fever, poor feeding, respiratory distress, seizures, and bulging fontanelle (soft spot on head)
- Withholding antibiotics from high-risk newborns, like those whose mothers had GBS but weren’t treated during labor
If infant meningitis is not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can cause brain damage, developmental delays, and even cerebral palsy.
This may require children to undergo expensive therapies, surgeries, and more. Parents may miss time from work as they get their child the care they need.
If your baby’s complications could have been prevented, you may be able to file a birth injury claim for meningitis to lessen the financial burden.
Who Can File a Birth Injury Claim for Meningitis?
Families of children impacted by complications of this life-threatening infection may be able to seek meningitis birth injury compensation if medical negligence was involved.
- Parents: The child’s primary caregivers who have been directly impacted
- Legal guardians: Individuals with legal responsibility for the child
Newborn meningitis can lead to complications like brain damage, hearing loss, or developmental delays. Some effects may not become apparent until weeks, months, or even years later.
You don’t need an official diagnosis to seek legal advice. Our team can help determine if you may qualify for meningitis birth injury compensation.
Reach out to one of our experienced labor and delivery nurses right now — for free.
Beth has more than 18 years of specialized experience in labor and delivery. She’s available to hear your story and help you figure out the cause of your child’s injury — and what you can do next.
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Call or chat with a caring, experienced nurse right now — we’re standing by to get you help and answers.
Steps to Filing a Birth Injury Claim for Meningitis
Filing a birth injury claim for meningitis involves several key steps. A lawyer can handle all of the legal work, so you can focus on your child’s care and future.
Here are the general steps to pursue meningitis birth injury compensation:
- Free case review: Top birth injury law firms offer free legal consultations to determine if you may have a case. Get your free case review right now.
- Collect evidence: Your legal team will gather evidence, like medical records, witness testimony, and expert opinions, to build a strong birth injury claim for meningitis.
- File the infant meningitis lawsuit: Your attorney will file a birth injury lawsuit in the proper court and ensure any legal deadlines are met.
- Negotiate a settlement: Your lawyer will work to secure a newborn meningitis settlement, so you get financial compensation as quickly as possible.
If your infant meningitis lawsuit doesn’t settle, your legal team will be prepared to fight for your family in court with the goal of securing compensation from a trial verdict.
However, most birth injury lawsuits result in settlements, allowing families to secure compensation without ever stepping foot in a courtroom.
Factors That Affect Meningitis Birth Injury Compensation
Several factors may impact the amount of compensation families receive from a birth injury claim for meningitis.
For example, when complications are severe and lead to long-term harm, meningitis birth injury compensation can provide life-changing financial support.
- Degree of medical malpractice involved
- Expenses for birth injury treatments
- Pain and suffering your family has endured
- Severity and long-term impact of meningitis complications
Local regulations may also impact the amount of any meningitis birth injury compensation you may receive, since laws vary by state.
The Birth Injury Justice Center works with skilled attorneys who can calculate your child’s lifetime care costs and pursue the infant meningitis birth injury compensation your family deserves.
Get a free case review to see if you may qualify.
When to File Your Birth Injury Claim for Meningitis
Families should consider filing a birth injury claim for meningitis as soon as they suspect their child’s condition could have been prevented.
Acting without delay is important due to the statute of limitations, a deadline that limits the amount of time you have to take legal action. Once this window of opportunity passes, you won’t be able to file a birth injury claim for meningitis again.
Our legal partners can help families in all 50 states. Call us right now at (800) 914-1562 — while there’s still time.
Get Help Filing Your Birth Injury Claim for Meningitis
Your family shouldn’t have to face the emotional and financial burden of your child’s preventable birth injury alone.
Compensation from a birth injury claim for meningitis can help cover medical treatments, ongoing care, and other necessary expenses, allowing you to focus on your child.
We work with experienced lawyers who help families nationwide hold negligent health care providers accountable.
Our legal partners have secured more than $1 billion for families affected by preventable birth injuries, and they may be able to help your family, too.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now or fill out our case review form to see if we may be able to help your family seek compensation.
Birth Injury Claim for Meningitis FAQs
What are the permanent damages of meningitis?
The extent of long-term effects depends on the severity of the infection and how quickly it was diagnosed and treated.
Permanent damage from meningitis can include:
- Brain damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental delays
- Epilepsy
- Hearing loss
- Hydrocephalus
- Vision problems
In severe cases, it can also lead to limb loss due to sepsis (blood infection) or lifelong mental impairments.
When a medical provider fails to prevent lasting harm, families may be able to take legal action through a birth injury claim for meningitis.
Get a free case review now to learn about your legal options.
What are the long-term effects of meningitis at birth?
The long-term effects of meningitis at birth depend on the severity of the infection and how quickly it was treated.
Some babies may experience hearing or vision loss, developmental delays, or hydrocephalus (sometimes called water on the brain). In more severe cases, brain damage can occur, requiring lifelong medical care and support.
Can newborns make a full recovery from meningitis?
Some newborns can make a full recovery from meningitis, especially if the infection is detected and treated early with antibiotics and supportive care.
However, severe cases may lead to long-term complications. The outcome depends on factors like the type of meningitis, how quickly treatment began, and the baby’s overall health.
When doctors fail to diagnose, delay treatment, or mismanage care, meningitis can lead to permanent damage, including brain injuries, hearing loss, or developmental delays.
When this happens, families may be able to file a birth injury claim for meningitis to seek compensation.
How does infant meningitis happen?
Meningitis occurs when the meninges, the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, become infected.
Newborns and infants under two are at higher risk due to their underdeveloped immune systems. There are two main types of meningitis: bacterial and viral meningitis.
What are the symptoms of meningitis in babies?
Meningitis symptoms in babies can appear suddenly and may worsen quickly. Recognizing the signs early is crucial for prompt treatment.
Common symptoms of meningitis in infants include:
- Breathing difficulties
- Bulging soft spot (fontanelle)
- Feeding problems
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Restlessness or drowsiness
- Stiff neck or body
Doctors can confirm a diagnosis of meningitis through a spinal tap or lumbar puncture to extract spinal fluid that can be analyzed for fungi, bacteria, or viruses. They may also need to perform imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans.
How do you get compensation for a meningitis birth injury?
You can get compensation for a meningitis birth injury by filing a birth injury claim. If successful, the payouts can help cover losses associated with your child’s condition, such as pain and suffering and medical bills.
Call us at (800) 914-1562 right now to see if our team may be able to assist you.
