Birth injuries caused by an untreated illness or physical harm occurring at or around the time of birth can leave affected babies with lifelong health problems requiring extensive medical care. Any kind of injury caused by someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing can be devastating for injured victims and their loved ones, but birth injuries are an especially traumatic consequence of negligence or medical malpractice. If your child suffered a birth injury as a result of something a doctor or nurse did or failed to do before, during, or immediately after delivery, you may have a claim against the doctor, the medical facility, or anyone else responsible for the substandard care your child received. The rules surrounding medical malpractice cases and birth injury lawsuits can be complex, and it is in your best interest to enlist the help of an experienced attorney when pursuing a legal claim for your child’s birth injury. Contact our skilled birth injury attorneys at Robert Brown Law as soon as possible to find out whether your family may qualify for compensation.

Preventable Birth Injuries

 The term “birth injury” is used to describe any physical injury or trauma that occurs before, during, or shortly after delivery. This type of injury can happen as a result of a specific action or lack of action on the part of the delivering doctor or other hospital staff. Sadly, many birth injuries are preventable, meaning they could have been avoided had the allegedly negligent party taken the appropriate care in treating the mother and/or child. The following are some examples of birth injuries that can happen before, during, or after the delivery process:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Brachial plexus injury
• Shoulder dystocia
• Spinal cord injury
• Nerve injury
• Brain damage
• Vacuum extraction injury
• Bruising or forceps marks
• Facial paralysis
• Fractures or broken bones
• Cephalohematoma
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage

There are some birth injuries that are immediately apparent at birth, like broken bones or nerve injuries, while others, like cerebral palsy, may not be diagnosed until several months or even years after the child is born. In many cases, minor birth injuries can be managed with prompt treatment, which is why we recommend seeking medical attention as soon as you suspect an injury or trauma. Unfortunately, more serious birth injuries like cerebral palsy have no cure, and children with these injuries will likely encounter some form of disability for the rest of their lives.

Possible Causes of Birth Injuries

Doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel are trained to provide mothers and newborns with a certain standard of care, and when they deviate from these professional standards, the consequences can be devastating for affected children and families. The following are some examples of ways delivering doctors and other healthcare providers may be negligent with their care, resulting in injury to the baby:

• Unnecessary use of force during childbirth
• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose a health condition in the mother or baby
• Misuse of delivery tools, such as forceps or a vacuum extractor
• Failure to appropriately monitor the mother or baby after childbirth
• Failure to act promptly in a dangerous situation

Complications arising during the birthing process as a result of medical negligence can lead to lifelong injuries or may even result in death. The parents of children who were harmed because a medical professional made a poor decision or failed to act in a way that a reasonable person would under similar circumstances may have grounds to file a medical malpractice or wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible person or party.

Filing a Birth Injury Lawsuit

A birth injury lawsuit is a type of legal action that can help families adversely affected by a preventable birth injury like cerebral palsy or brain damage recover the financial compensation they need to pay for their child’s medical treatment and other damages. This type of lawsuit can be brought against the delivering doctor, the nurses, the hospital, or any other medical personnel responsible for the affected child’s care before, during, or immediately after delivery. In a successful birth injury lawsuit, affected families are awarded damages for past and future medical expenses related to their child’s birth injury, including any necessary medications, surgeries, physical therapy or rehabilitation, and the cost of ongoing care. Other potential damages in a birth injury lawsuit may include physical pain and suffering, emotional trauma, any necessary home modifications or adaptive equipment, and other related expenses.

Why Hiring a Birth Injury Attorney is a Good Idea

Many families adversely affected by a birth injury resulting from medical negligence choose to work with an attorney who specializes in birth injury cases, which can improve their chances of receiving full and fair compensation. We know that no amount of money will make up for the harm your child has suffered because of a doctor’s mistake. However, it can help ensure that your child gets the care he or she needs after suffering a birth injury. By contacting an attorney and getting the legal process started right away, you can access any financial assistance you may be entitled to as quickly as possible.

Our Knowledgeable Birth Injury Attorneys Can Help

Any injury or death occurring as a result of mistakes made during childbirth may be considered medical negligence. If your child suffered a birth injury because of the actions or inaction of a doctor, nurse, or hospital staff, contact our reputable and compassionate birth injury attorneys at Robert Brown Law right away. Receiving proper treatment after a birth injury can significantly improve your child’s quality of life, and a birth injury lawsuit can help cover the cost of any current and future expenses related to your child’s care. Our attorneys at Robert Brown Law know how devastating a preventable birth injury can be, and we will work tirelessly to help you recover the compensation your child deserves. We can also work to hold the delivering doctor responsible for the harm your child suffered in a case of medical malpractice. Our trusted legal team is standing by ready to help, so don’t wait to call.