Birth Injury Lawyer

Birth Injury Statistics

In most cases, it can take months — even years for parents to begin to notice their child has a developmental delay. This usually happens when the child is not meeting milestones. Sadly, this is more common than many parents think:

• Millions of children suffer birth injuries each year (some are attributed to medical negligence)
• 1 out of 100 children are born with a birth injury
• 30,000 birth injuries are recorded each year
• 3 birth injuries occur every hour
• 1/2 of all birth injuries can be prevented by planning for obstetrical risk factors

Why Isn’t My Child Meeting Milestones?

When a child isn’t meeting milestones, or missing them altogether, there’s a strong possibility this is the result of a birth injury.

Birth injuries vary, but they can all affect your child’s development, either physically or mentally — or both. Some of the most common birth injuries include the following:

• Cerebral Palsy (C.P.) – Also known as ‘CP,’ this is caused by a brain injury, usually suffered in the delivery room. CP can impact a child’s ability to move, and muscle coordination is usually impaired. Cerebral Palsy can also impact motor skills and oral functions, making it a devastating injury to many families. More on Cerebral Palsy here
• Hypoxic Encephalopathy (HIE) – This happens when oxygen is deprived from the brain. It’s also one of the leading causes of infant death. Tje children who survive Hypoxic Encephalopathy usually have developmental delays, show signs of epilepsy, or have impaired motor skills. These children often require long-term care and special accommodations for the remainder of their lives.
• Erb’s Palsy, or Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI) – Erb’s Palsy can be mistaken for Cerebral Palsy, but it’s a completely different kind of nerve damage. This affects a child’s upper arm movement. It can also impact movement and rotation in the child’s lower arm. More on Erb’s Palsy here
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Not unlike spinal cord injuries in adults, this birth injury can be extremely serious. Because these injuries are so severe, they’re likely the result of a negligent doctor or hospital staffer in the delivery room.
• Fractures – Doctors who don’t know what they’re doing, or those who are negligent, can cause a number of different accidents during delivery. At this point, a newborn’s bones are still developing. These bones are softer, and they can be bent or broken, if a healthcare team makes a mistake.
• Facial Paralysis – If doctors are improperly handling a baby during a delivery, certain mistakes can cause nerve damage. This usually results in temporary or permanent facial paralysis, and this is noticeable when the child is crying..
• Injuries from Forceps and Vacuum Extractors – Doctors sometimes use vacuum extractors and forceps to help during a difficult delivery. Sometimes referred to as an assisted delivery, these tools and techniques are very risky. Vacuum extractors and forceps have commonly been linked to these injuries:
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Bone fractures
  • Brain damage
  • Seizures

• Why does my child have Cerebral Palsy? What causes Cerebral Palsy?

  Cerebral Palsy can be the result of any brain injury – even those that occur after birth. However, many children who have CP are victims of a birth injury that happened during delivery or immediately after.

  Why does my child have HIE? What causes Hypoxic Encephalopathy?

  Doctors can usually identify potential challenges before a child is born, but medical errors are increasingly becoming problematic in delivery rooms. Hypoxic Encephalopathy can be caused by medical mistakes including excessive anesthesia, placental trauma and umbilical cord complications.

  Why does my child have Erb’s Palsy? What causes Erb’s Palsy?

  Erb’s Palsy can have a number of different causes, but it’s most often connected with a difficult child birth, and negligent doctors in the delivery process.

  What Do I Do If My Child Suffered A Birth Injury?

  If your child has been diagnosed with any of these injuries, or they exhibit any of the symptoms associated with these injuries, your family could receive significant compensation.

  At The Barnes Firm, we have experienced Cerebral Palsy attorneys who have helped other families, mothers and children for decades. Some of our Cerebral Palsy lawyers are former healthcare professionals with knowledge of today’s treatments, and the laws and ethics doctors must follow.

  If you suspect your child has a birth injury, contact a Cerebral Palsy lawyer at The Barnes Firm for a FREE consultation.

  The Barnes Firm 1-(800) 800-0000