Common causes of kernicterus include:

• Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice - Newborns with visible yellowing of the skin or eyes require prompt testing for bilirubin levels. Failure to identify or treat these signs may lead to kernicterus.
• Failure to correct critically low albumin level and monitor the bilirubin: albumin ratio - If a baby’s albumin level is too low, there is not enough to bind to bilirubin. In that situation, kernicterus can occur even when the bilirubin level is otherwise safe. 
• Delayed treatment - If doctors or other medical staff identify hyperbilirubinemia (excess bilirubin) or hypoalbuminemia (low albumin) but leave it untreated for too long, a child may suffer from kernicterus and its complications.
• Improper follow-up care - Newborns discharged early without adequate instructions for monitoring jaundice are at higher risk of developing kernicterus.

If your child is diagnosed with kernicterus, you should contact an experienced kernicterus lawyer immediately. 

We Fight for Families Impacted by Kernicterus 

At Berman & Simmons, we are dedicated to fighting for families impacted by kernicterus. This condition’s consequences reach far beyond the immediate diagnosis, placing significant emotional and financial burdens on families. That’s why we pursue justice relentlessly, leveraging our legal team's unparalleled collective experience.  

Here’s how we can fight for you:

Uncovering the Truth

Our team can investigate every detail of your child’s care, including meticulously reviewing medical records, test results, and hospital protocols. This thorough approach helps us identify where failures occurred and how they may have contributed to kernicterus.

Building a Foundation with Expert Insight

We can collaborate with leading medical professionals, including neonatologists and pediatric neurologists. Their expertise may help validate negligence claims and provide the critical evidence to demonstrate how better care could have prevented your child’s condition.

Coordinating as a Unified Team

You can count on our Maine kernicterus attorneys working closely together, sharing insights, analysis, and strategies. This team-based approach allows us to harness the full strength of our firm’s resources and collective knowledge and deliver representation you cannot get at other firms. 

Advocating Relentlessly for Compensation 

In the wake of a kernicterus diagnosis, you may be dealing with the financial burdens of ongoing medical care, lost wages, and many other expenses. While insurers may attempt to minimize what you are owed, we can negotiate assertively to seek fair settlements. If a trial is necessary, our legal team will not back down. 

We can go the distance, seeking maximum compensation for the following and more:

• All expenses for hospital visits, treatments, therapies, and more
• Rehabilitative and adaptive equipment, from wheelchairs to hearing aids and communication devices
• Home modifications to accommodate your child's needs
• Pain and suffering that your child endured because of a professional's negligence
• Lost income if you or your co-parent were unable to work or had to reduce hours so that you could provide care for your child

Trust Your Case with Berman & Simmons

Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your situation, explore your legal options, and take the first steps toward justice. There’s no cost to speak with our Maine kernicterus attorneys, and you’ll only pay legal fees if we recover compensation for your family. Contact us now to begin your path toward accountability and healing.

You can reach us at (207) 417-4199 or get in touch through our online contact form. Whether you’re in Bangor, the coastal towns of Hancock County, or the quiet corners of Somerset County, we’re ready to help.