There are few cases of medical malpractice more traumatic and upsetting than birth injuries. Whether the child or the mother were injured, the healthcare professional responsible for the mistake can be held accountable in a medical malpractice claim. Damages stemming from such a claim include medical expenses, future cost of care, pain and suffering, and more. Here at the Marc Brown Law Firm, our attorney assists clients in taking on large insurance companies that represent hospitals, doctors, and healthcare professionals/facilities so that your child’s injuries are heavily and fairly compensated. Speaking with a qualified attorney about your Columbia child injury lawsuit can help you work towards maximum compensation.
Common Types of Birth Injuries
- Brain Injuries—various types of intracranial hemorrhage, such as cerebral hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, cephalohematoma, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and subarachnoid hemorrhage are life-threatening events. Bleeding within the brain can result in stroke or damage to the brain tissue. While some degree of bleeding in the brain may be mild and only cause temporary injury, depending on the type of hemorrhage, other instances can cause permanent damage.
- Spinal/Cranial Nerve Injury—Damage to nerves caused by over-pulling or rotation of the baby’s head can result in facial paralysis or spinal cord damage. Both are serious conditions that are avoidable during proper delivery.
- Erb’s Palsy (Peripheral Nerve Injury)—Erb’s Palsy occurs when the baby’s arm suffers unnecessary forces during delivery, and can lead to an inability to rotate the arm. While some forms of Erb’s Palsy are temporary and get better with time, others are not, and permanent disability results.
- Fractures—Fractures are more common in the clavicle, though they can also occur to virtually any long bones (a bone that is longer than it is wide) as well as cartilage-bone separations. Overly aggressive delivery of a baby can result in unnecessary torsion and compression of bones, leading to fractures that require surgery and unnecessary pain and suffering of the
Other birth injuries can cause damage to internal organs, bruising/laceration to the face caused by suction or forceps, swelling of the baby’s scalp, and more. Additionally, the mother can also face serious injuries during birth due to a doctor’s negligence, and these injuries are subject to compensation in a medical malpractice claim.
Proving Medical Negligence
While some injuries are unavoidable even by the best doctors, due to the specific characteristics of the birth, many injuries are the cause of negligence. In order for a medical malpractice claim to be successful, it is crucial that the plaintiff is able to prove that a medical standard of care for the delivery was breached. Proving this requires extensive gathering and acquisition of medical records, financial documents, medical examinations by third party physicians, and even expert witness statements.
Contact a Columbia Birth Injury Attorney Today for Help
If your child was unnecessarily harmed during birth, we understand just how scared, frustrated, and downright mad you likely are. Your child deserved better, and you should not be stuck with the financial costs associated with the injury caused by the at-fault healthcare professional. To hold them accountable for medical expenses and other costs, call the Marc Brown Law Firm today at (803) 848-0008 to schedule a free consultation with a Columbia birth injury attorney.