Birth injuries are some of the most tragic cases that personal injury lawyers see. These injuries are often preventable, yet thousands continue to occur across the United States each year.
Birth injuries are not only physically and emotionally devastating, but financially overwhelming for families who have been tragically affected. At Silver & Silver, our compassionate team of birth injury lawyers in Newton Square, PA believes in diligently helping families pursue compensation for these injuries from the liable parties.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Birth Injury Claim?
Depending on the situation and nature of birth injuries, parties that can be held liable can include:
- Obstetricians
- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Other medical and support staff
- Hospitals
If your child has been harmed by a healthcare provider, our skilled personal injury lawyers will hold every party who played a role in that injury accountable to ensure that you get the help you need to go forward and get the best care for your child.
Labor and Delivery Injuries
Things happen at lightning speed in the delivery room, but doctors and nurses are highly trained to take care of any emergencies. Current science provides us with many tools to diagnose problems and monitor the fetus during delivery. Unfortunately, many birth injuries are caused by a failure to diagnose and perform critical actions during labor and delivery, including:
- Failure to timely diagnose a problem
- Failure to treat
- Cesarean section errors
- Oxygen deprivation
- Administration of incorrect or the wrong dosage of medication
Erb’s Palsy Injuries
One of the most common birth injuries, Erb’s palsy is caused by the unsustainable straining or stretching of the brachial plexus, or the nerve cluster running from the lower neck into the arm. While it is not unusual for childbirth to require adeptly maneuvering a baby from the birth canal, this can become more difficult and require more finesse when a baby is positioned incorrectly.
Neurological Birth Injuries
Neurological birth injuries affect the functioning of the brain and cause brain damage. They are commonly caused by oxygen deprivation and poor care during labor and delivery. These injuries can include:
- Hypoxia/asphyxia
- Cerebral palsy
- Hydrocephalus
Cerebral Palsy Injuries
Injuries caused by lack of oxygen during birth can fall under the umbrella of cerebral palsy. Children who suffer from cerebral palsy often struggle with physical and/or cognitive issues. While there is much that can be done to improve the eventual outcome in some of these cases, this usually necessitates early evaluation, quick intervention, and appropriate therapy that can require significant financial resources.
Other birth injuries can include:
- Bone fractures
- Shoulder dystocia
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Sepsis or other infection
- Injuries caused by forceps of vacuum extraction
- Facial paralysis
- Brain damage
- Intrauterine fetal demise
At Silver & Silver, we understand the grave consequences of a birth injury. These injuries can affect a child for life and require long-term and costly medical interventions. Through a birth injury claim, we can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and seek compensation for your costs and other damages.
Are All Birth Injuries Considered Malpractice?
Not all birth injuries can be considered under a malpractice claim. While some injuries are tragically unavoidable, others are the direct result of a provider’s negligence. Unfortunately, parents may not know the difference until an extensive investigation is conducted. Hiring an attorney for personal injury can help parents understand what happened and who can be held liable if negligence was a factor.
Getting the Experienced Legal Assistance of a Newton Square, PA Birth Injury Lawyer
If your baby suffered an injury during the birth process, and you suspect it was caused by a medical provider, it is crucial to get legal help to determine whether negligence was at play. Let us help. At Silver & Silver, our Newton Square, PA birth injury lawyers are highly experienced in birth injury litigation and understand how to hold negligent doctors, nurses, and other medical providers accountable. Call us at 610-638-7255 or contact us through our website contact form to schedule a confidential birth injury consultation.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.