Birth Injuries During Labor & Delivery Are Preventable in Pennsylvania

There are many potential causes of birth injuries, including maternal or fetal health conditions, problems with the placenta, or a transverse presentation. While the aforementioned causes are unavoidable, they are not the largest culprits of birth injuries. In fact, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, the most common reason for birth injuries is communication errors among the hospital staff and doctor overseeing the birth, which is entirely preventable and inexcusable, especially when considering the serious ramifications that result from such errors.

What Are the Top Causes of Birth Injuries?

There are a wide range of causes for preventable birth injuries, but some of the most common include:

• Head Trauma: During delivery, a careless or poorly trained physician or nurse might inflict head trauma to a newborn, which can cause a child to develop cerebral palsy or other lifelong disabilities.
• Forcible Delivery: Some deliveries are difficult and require the use of delivery assistance tools. A doctor might use forceps, a vacuum, or forced pressure to assist the mother. However, if a doctor uses these tools incorrectly or applies too much force, there is a significant risk of birth injuries to the infant, such as brachial plexus and Erb’s palsy, which causes mobility issues, weakness, or paralysis.
• Delayed Delivery: If any complications arise during labor and delivery, these issues must be resolved quickly to avoid injury or illness. A delay can result in serious complications, including macrosomia, cephalopelvic disproportion, breech, or other maternal illness. Additionally, both the life of infant and mother are at risk in these circumstances.
• Oxygen Deprivation: This is one of the most common complications, resulting from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This causes the brain tissue of an infant to die and may result in permanent brain damage.
• Prematurity: If healthcare providers fail to monitor fetal growth throughout a mother’s pregnancy, they will likely miss any indicators of complications that can be addressed and treated before any injuries are sustained by the child or mother.

It is estimated that birth injuries affect about 60,000 of the 4 million births in the United States every year. While this number might not seem terribly high, they are all nonetheless heartbreaking and, unfortunately, often quite preventable. No child should have to suffer an injury caused by negligence and carelessness. In addition to the emotional toll they take on a family, birth injuries are expensive, costing more than twice what a complication-free delivery does. This does not even take into account the costs of ongoing care and therapy that is often required for children who sustain birth injuries.

If a medical care provider injures you or your child, whether through negligence or a failure to act, you may be entitled to compensation.

Begin a Free Case Evaluation with a Montgomery County Birth Injury Lawyer

Your family is undoubtedly experiencing a difficult time if your newborn was injured during delivery. It is your right to hold those responsible accountable for your child’s injuries. At Morris Wilson, P.C., our skilled Montgomery County birth injury lawyers have years of experience in handling such cases, which we will use to your advantage. Our legal team will devote the time and resources necessary to fully investigate every aspect of your case, including medical records, witnesses, and more. Within just the past 5 years, our firm has secured over $30 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients, earning a reputation for our dedication and commitment to serving those who seek our help.

We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you will not owe us any legal fees if we cannot win your case.

Call us today at (610) 825-0500 to schedule a free consultation.