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Why Hire A Birth Trauma Lawyer?

Because of the shock and pain associated with birth trauma and the harm to your loved ones, dealing with the repercussions of these injuries can be a lonely journey. Sometimes the injuries are obvious and life-threatening. Other times, even serious symptoms may not become apparent until much later.

If you or your child has been a victim of birth trauma as a result of negligence by a doctor, caregiver or institution, you may be entitled to a settlement or financial compensation. If you suspect you or a loved one has been injured, it is important to call a Michigan lawyer as soon as possible. Navigating the road of medical malpractice alone is not only difficult, it’s nearly impossible. But you aren’t alone at all. Our compassionate attorneys are here to help. We have reviewed many birth trauma cases, and through our experience, we have helped many people get the justice they and their children deserve. Don’t fight alone, and don’t risk waiting.

Our Michigan attorneys have already handled many Michigan birth trauma cases, and we’re ready to help win a fair and just settlement for you. Call us anytime, 24 hours a day, and we will be happy to serve you. Remember, we fight for you.

What Is Birth Trauma And What To Do

Did you have an ordinary, normal pregnancy, and were you expecting a healthy baby boy or girl? Did you know that something just wasn’t right? Are there lasting consequences? And could it have been prevented? Was the doctor, midwife or nurse that delivered your child negligent in care of your birth and your newborn? Did the caregiver botch a complicating factor?

Any harm to a child is always troubling and painful. While there is no substitute for a healthy baby, and no amount of compensation can repair the damage of birth defects or untimely death, these sometimes preventable mistakes can be financially costly and are certainly worthy of justice. You may be entitled to some amount of compensation if the caregiver delivering or caring for your child made mistakes in the care of your birth, fetus or newborn.

Ask yourself, could your child’s injury have been prevented? A birth injury happens when a newborn, fetus or mother is harmed at or prior to childbirth. Sometimes these injuries are not natural occurrences owing to the nature of childbirth but are the result of malpractice, mistakes or negligence on the part of the doctor, caregiver or medical institution.

If your child has symptoms such as weak arms, crossed eyes, a learning disability or slurred speech, he or she may have a condition that was preventable. If you suspect that something went wrong back in the delivery room, we are here to help. We’ll go back 18 years to investigate birth trauma and birth defects to get you – and your child – the justice you deserve. We will evaluate your case free of charge to determine what went wrong.

Learn more about the symptoms of palsy caused by birth trauma

Our compassionate lawyers specialize in the following:

  • Cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, Hypoxia, brain injuries, quadriplegia, stillborns, preeclampsia, all other birth injuries

Birth Trauma & Birth Injury FAQ

When should you contact a birth injury lawyer?

As opposed to many other types of personal injuries, injuries resulting from birth trauma can be difficult to detect at first. The signs and effects of birth trauma injuries can range from weak arms and slurred speech, all the way to learning disabilities. These symptoms can take years to be fully detectable in children, and can take even longer to diagnose as a result of birth trauma.

If you suspect your child has been the victim of birth trauma, you should contact the birth injury lawyers of Scott Goodwin Law P.C. by the child’s 10th birthday. While the signs of birth trauma may not be easily noticed at first, the signs will be harder to detect and prove after the first ten years of your child’s life and may lead to greater issues down the road.

What are some signs that your child was injured during birth?

The nature of birth injuries can take many varied forms, and can display itself differently in different children depending on the cause and severity of the injury. A few of the most common ones can include:

  • The child staying behind in the hospital after the mother is discharged, following the birth
  • Premature birth
  • Oxygen deprivation during delivery
  • Diagnosis of cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy
  • Emergency C-sections, often indicating the doctor waited too long to recognize there was an issue with the birth
  • Child not meeting milestones at school or not developing as fast as other children in the family

These, and other signs, can be indicative of birth trauma or injury that your child suffered without your knowledge.

What are common complications of the birth process?

The birthing process can be a sensitive and complicated affair, posing many health risks to both the mother and the child along the way. A few of the most common complications that could be encountered during birth include:

  • Prolonged labor, when the labor period lasts longer than expected
  • Fetal distress, when the fetus is suffering from health maladies prior to being born
  • Abnormal fetal heart rate
  • Water breaking too early
  • Shoulder dystocia, where one of the fetus’ shoulders gets stuck during birth
  • Excessive bleeding

If you or your child suffered any of these injuries during birth, your child may have been the victim of birth trauma.

What causes birth injury or birth trauma?

Birth injuries can be caused at any time during the birthing process, a process already inherently risky for both the parent and child. Many birth injuries, such as shoulder or head trauma, are caused by complications during birth, such as a lack of oxygen reaching the child (a common source of cerebral palsy diagnosis) or a dislocated shoulder while leaving the birth canal.

However, a great deal of these injuries can actually be caused by mishandling by the doctor during birth. For example, if too much force is applied to the baby’s head and neck during birth, it can lead to injuries to the brachial plexus or even Erb’s palsy. Trauma to the head during delivery due to accident or mishandling can lead to internal hemorrhaging, depriving the baby’s brain of needed oxygen and leading to greater trauma down the road.

These injuries, if caused by negligence on behalf of the medical professionals involved in your child’s birth, may lead to greater complications later in life. By contacting the birth trauma lawyers of Scott Goodwin Law P.C. at 1-888-GOODWIN, you can seek justice for injuries suffered by your child during birth at the hands of negligent or inattentive medical staff.

Do birth injuries affect mothers?

Yes, they can impact mothers. Examples of possible injuries include pelvic fractures, vaginal injuries or Cesarean section wounds. Mothers can suffer injuries due to medical errors, such as the misdiagnosis of an existing condition or a mistake made during delivery. For example, causing physical harm while using forceps.

How do you care for a child with a birth injury?

A child with a serious birth injury may spend significant time in the NICU after birth. When they return home, they may need medications, therapy sessions, doctor’s appointments and other forms of care. In many cases, in-home care is needed, especially when the child has a disability or a long-term mental or physical condition.

Is a birth injury ever the parents’ fault?

A birth injury arising from medical negligence is never the parent’s fault. The blame lies with the health care professional that caused the injury and/or the hospital where the injury occurred. Medical malpractice lawsuits empower you to hold accountable the person or facility that harmed your child, whether through negligence or intentional action.

How do you know what kind of long-term support a child needs?

Building a close relationship with the child’s medical team can help you meet your child’s support requirements. However, some needs will only become clear with time. For instance, a child with cerebral palsy may begin missing milestones as the weeks and months pass.

A doctor can offer advice on the child’s long-term care and support needs. Unfortunately, some children will require in-home care for the rest of their lives following a birth injury.

Birth Injuries Can Lead To Lifelong Disability

Infancy is just the start of child development. An injury at this age – especially one that causes nerve, joint or brain damage – can lead to lifelong disability, limiting their development and often requiring long-term health care services. Birth injury examples include:

  • Cerebral palsy
  • Erb’s palsy
  • Hypoxia
  • Brain injuries
  • Quadriplegia
  • Preeclampsia

A settlement should account for all necessary medical needs and financial damages, such as emergency care, physical therapy, infant occupational therapy, the use of medical technology and assistance devices, lost wages, reduced earning potential and in-home care costs.

At Scott Goodwin Law P.C., our team of experienced birth injury lawyers is dedicated to each case. We can help you explore your options and fight for your right to compensation. Call 1-888-GOODWIN or use the online contact form to schedule your initial consultation.