$925,000 Settlement for Trauma Care Malpractice

The firm settled this case where trauma surgeon, residents, and nurses failed to recognize that the infant plaintiff, who was a rear-seat occupant in a motor vehicle accident, suffered trauma to her thoracic spine. Had this spine injury been recognized earlier, it could have been treated surgically before she began showing signs of paralysis some 12 hours later. Earlier treatment/surgery could have achieved a better result than the paraplegia she suffered. Although the defendants alleged the infant suffered a spinal cord injury at the moment of the crash without radiographic (x-ray, CT or MRI scan) evidence (SCIWORA), and argued that earlier surgery would have given the plaintiff no better result, the plaintiffs were able to argue that even with SCIWORA, strict immobilization of the spine before and after surgery leads to better results.