Birth & Neonatal Injuries

Medical errors can occur during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and after a child is born. An estimated 28,000 birth injuries occur per year. Cerebral palsy is one of the most well known types of birth injury, which is permanent brain injury that takes place in the womb, at birth, or after birth, often resulting in problems with motor skill coordination, speech and learning. Cerebral palsy is usually caused by a restricted or delayed flow of oxygen to the brain during or after delivery.

Other common types of injury that happen at birth include shoulder dystocia (difficult delivery due to the baby’s shoulder lodging against the mother’s pubic bone), respiratory problems, brachial/erbs palsy (paralysis or weakness of the arm), bruising, forceps marks, facial paralysis from nerve damage due to pressure on the baby’s face, and fractures.

The effects of birth injury do not always become apparent right after birth, but sometimes take years before becoming evident.

Some of the common causes for birth/neonatal injury include:

Failure to perform a c-section early enough during labor to prevent brain damage
Misuse of prostaglandin gel to soften the cervix, resulting in adverse effects
Failure to accurately diagnose the size of the baby (Shoulder dystocia may occur if baby is too large and may injure the baby’s shoulder or arms or result in brain damage. Premature birth may occur if labor isn’t delayed when the baby is too small and not fully developed.)
Improper use of a vacuum extractor or forceps during delivery
Failure to monitor the baby’s blood pressure or insulin levels after birth
Failure to respond to a change in baby’s heart rate during labor

Obtaining an attorney with a proven track record in litigating birth/neonatal injuries is crucial to obtaining the compensation you are entitled to receive. Ross Feller Casey attorneys have successfully handled numerous serious birth/neonatal injury cases, including:

$8 million settlement for baby injured at birth from delay in delivery
$6.5 million settlement for boy who was injured at birth due to delay in delivery
$6.0 million settlement for boy who was brain injured at birth due to delay in delivery
$5.0 million settlement for baby who died from a lung injuries suffered because the tubes to her isolette were improperly connected
$5.0 million settlement for a girl who was brain injured due to delay in delivery
$4.0 million settlement for a boy who was brain injured at birth due to delay in delivery
$2.5 million settlement for parents of a newborn who suffered fatal injuries at the time of delivery
$1.0 million settlement for a boy injured at birth (shoulder dystocia)
$700,000 settlement for boy who suffered bowel dysfunction resulting from negligent care in the first days of life

At Ross Feller Casey we offer a free case evaluation to discuss your birth/neonatal injury concerns. Please contact our law firm to arrange a consultation.