Jaundice & Kernicterus Attorneys in California
Trial-Ready Advocacy for Injuries Caused by Delayed Jaundice Care
We represent families whose newborns developed serious injuries after jaundice wasn’t detected or treated appropriately. At Carpenter & Zuckerman, our California jaundice attorneys evaluate the medical care, resulting harm, and losses associated with a potential birth injury claim.
John C. Carpenter and Paul S. Zuckerman founded our firm in 1995. Our featured results include a $74.53 million recovery in a birth injury matter, reflecting our experience with high-stakes cases involving lifelong harm.
If your child developed kernicterus or another injury associated with elevated bilirubin, call (888) 484-2033 to request a free consultation.
How Newborn Jaundice Can Progress to Kernicterus
Newborn jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a yellow pigment produced as red blood cells break down, builds up in a baby’s blood. If elevated bilirubin isn’t detected or treated, it can reach the brain and cause kernicterus, a form of permanent brain damage.
Kernicterus is associated with significant movement disorders, hearing loss, and other lasting problems. Early jaundice may appear as yellowing of the skin or eyes, but appearance alone can’t determine bilirubin levels. Testing provides an objective measurement.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reconfirmed universal testing for newborns born at 35 weeks’ gestational age or later. Its guideline calls for either a total serum bilirubin test, which analyzes blood, or a transcutaneous bilirubin test, which measures through the skin, between 24 and 48 hours after birth. Testing should occur before discharge when the newborn leaves sooner.
A Few Of Our Big Wins
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$131M Car Accident -
$74.53M Birth Injury
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$45M Drunk Driver
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$31.7M Brain Injury
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$29.25M Brain Injury
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$21.65M Motorcycle Accident
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$17M Brain Injury
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$16.4M Medical Malpractice
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$14.6M Commercial Vehicle
When Jaundice Care May Amount to Medical Malpractice
A medical malpractice claim requires a doctor-patient relationship, negligence, an injury caused by that negligence, and resulting harm. Negligence means the treatment fell below the applicable standard of care: the level reasonably expected under the circumstances. Whether that occurred depends on the facts surrounding the newborn’s treatment.
A missed bilirubin test, delayed treatment of elevated levels, or inadequate discharge instructions may be relevant to the analysis. Our jaundice lawyers in California review the care provided, the applicable standard, and the connection between any failure and the child’s condition.
Records that may help establish what happened include:
- Bilirubin test results and the time each measurement was taken.
- Medical records documenting examinations, diagnoses, and treatment.
- Discharge documentation and instructions provided to the family.
- Records describing the child’s injury and subsequent care.
These materials can clarify when bilirubin levels rose, how clinicians responded, and whether a care failure caused the child’s injury. The evidence and documented harm determine whether a claim can proceed.
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What to Expect from a Birth Injury Consultation
We begin by listening to your account of the pregnancy, delivery, departure from the hospital, and events that followed. The initial evaluation identifies the newborn’s injury, the treatment involved, and the records that may be available. Our work includes newborn injury cases and claims involving negligent treatment. Throughout the process, we explain each step and keep you informed.
We then assess whether the treatment caused an injury and whether the resulting losses can be documented. The timing and course of a potential claim depend on the evidence, applicable legal issues, and the circumstances of the child’s treatment.
Speak with a California Kernicterus Lawyer
A free consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss what happened, identify information relevant to the evaluation, and learn what legal options may be available.
We work on a contingency-fee basis, so there’s no upfront legal fee. Clients don’t pay legal fees unless we win their case.
Let our kernicterus lawyer in California review your case and explain your legal options. Contact Carpenter & Zuckerman today at (888) 484-2033.
We know when to take cases to trial to secure maximum compensation for our clients.