What Is Shaken Baby Syndrome, and Can I Get Compensation?

 Posted on October 24, 2024 in Personal Injury

Texas news has been abuzz recently with stories about Robert Roberson’s halted execution. He was convicted in 2002 of killing his two-year-old daughter, who was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome. Many Texans wonder precisely what shaken baby syndrome is and the potential consequences.

What is shaken baby syndrome? If someone else abuses your child in this manner, can you get compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death claim? A dedicated lawyer from Alford Law PLLC can investigate your circumstances and determine your eligibility. Call now for your free consultation.

What Is Shaken Baby Syndrome?

Babies and young toddlers are very fragile. Parents and caregivers must take special care to support their heads fully during the first several months of life because of weak neck muscles, heavy heads, and brains that are not fully developed. Even a few seconds of shaking a baby can cause permanent brain damage or death.

Shaking a baby may cause his brain to bounce inside his skull, frequently leading to bruising, swelling, and bleeding. Shaking can also injure the baby’s neck and spine and cause bleeding behind his eyes. The various injuries can also cause:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Vision impairment or blindness
• Cognitive impairment and learning disabilities
• Hearing impairment or deafness
• Physical disabilities
• Behavioral disorders
• Speech disabilities
• Seizures

Symptoms of shaken baby syndrome include vomiting, dilated pupils, lethargy, seizures, fever, paleness, and bulging soft spots on top of the baby’s head. Prompt medical treatment is necessary, but because babies and young toddlers are unable to tell parents that someone shook them violently, parents may not realize what happened and think symptoms are caused by a virus or other illness.

Why Does Shaken Baby Syndrome Happen?

There are an estimated 600 – 1,400 cases of shaken baby syndrome each year in the U.S. Many of these assaults happen because a caregiver is frustrated by a baby’s non-stop crying, but some are intentional. Criminal charges may be brought against the at-fault party, but you may also qualify for compensation by filing a separate civil suit. Daycares, professional babysitters, friends, and family could be held liable for your baby’s injuries and related damages.

What Kinds of Compensation Could You Receive if Your Baby Suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome?

The compensation you could obtain depends on case-specific factors, such as:

• The costs of current and future medical treatment
• The wages you lose while caring for your injured child
• The expenses of necessary medical equipment or home renovations to accommodate a disabled child
• The scope of the long-term effects on you and your child

If your child dies due to shaken baby syndrome, you may also qualify for additional damages through a wrongful death claim. Your compassionate attorney from Alford Law PLLC will calculate your eligible damages and work tirelessly to see you get the full compensation you deserve.

Call Our Austin, TX Personal Injury Lawyer

When someone’s negligent care injures your child, you deserve compensation. You can trust Alford Law PLLC to help you hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm caused. Call us at 210-951-9467 for your free consultation with our skilled San Antonio, TX wrongful death attorney.