Pittsburgh Birth Injury Lawyers

What is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury refers to any physical harm sustained by a newborn before, during, or shortly after childbirth. While some birth injuries are minor and heal on their own, others can lead to lifelong disabilities and require extensive medical care.

Not all birth injuries are caused by medical negligence. However, when healthcare providers fail to follow standard procedures, misdiagnose complications, or use improper techniques during labor and delivery, their actions may be considered malpractice. In such cases, parents may be entitled to seek compensation through a birth injury claim.

Common Birth Injuries 

While a birth injury can incur an injury during childbirth in many ways, some are more common than others. Common birth injuries include:

• Birth Asphyxia: Birth asphyxia is a medical emergency in which an infant's brain and other organs do not receive enough oxygen during birth. 
• Brachial Plexus Injury: A brachial plexus injury is a birth injury that occurs when the nerves that run from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand are stretched or torn. This birth injury can occur if a baby's head and neck are pulled in different directions during birth. It can also happen if too much pressure is placed on an infant's head during childbirth. Brachial plexus injuries can result in paralysis of the arm or hand, loss of feeling, or decreased movement.
• Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that permanently affects body movement, muscle coordination, and posture. It is caused by abnormal development or damage to the brain before birth, during birth, or after birth up to age three. Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe.
• Erb's Palsy: Erb's palsy is a birth injury that affects the nerves of an infant. It is caused by damage to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves in a baby's neck and shoulder area. The condition may occur when a baby's head, shoulders, or neck are stretched during birth. Symptoms of Erb's palsy can include weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the arm and hand on one side of the body. 
• Oxygen Deprivation: Oxygen deprivation, also known as hypoxia or anoxia, is a condition in which the body or part of the body is deprived of oxygen. It can result from a birth injury, malpractice, or other medical errors. Oxygen deprivation can have severe and long-lasting effects on the body and brain.
• Facial Paralysis: Facial paralysis is a medical condition in which the facial muscles are weakened or not functioning correctly due to nerve or muscle damage. When facial paralysis occurs, it can cause a range of physical and emotional issues for the patient, including difficulty speaking, eating, drinking, and breathing. It can also affect a person's ability to express emotion through facial expressions.
• Shoulder Dystocia: Shoulder dystocia is a birth complication that occurs when a baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pubic bone during birth. This can cause severe injuries and even death in both a baby and their mother. Shoulder dystocia can occur due to improper use of birth-assisting tools or a failure to promptly identify birth complications.

Signs of a Birth Injury

Signs that a child has suffered a birth injury include trouble breathing, not moving their arms or legs normally, or having seizures. Other birth injuries can be harder to spot, such as hearing or vision problems, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. If your child is not reaching their milestones at the expected age, that could indicate a birth injury. It's best to seek medical advice immediately to get a diagnosis and determine the best course of action. 

Another sign that your child may have suffered birth injury is if they are experiencing chronic pain. This could be anything from headaches or neck pain to abdominal pain. Birth injuries can sometimes cause chronic pain for months or even years after birth.=

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries often result from complications during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. While not all complications are preventable, some injuries occur because of negligence on the part of doctors, nurses, or hospital staff. Common causes include:

• Failure to monitor fetal distress
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
• Delayed decision to perform a C-section
• Failure to diagnose or treat infections
• Inadequate monitoring of the mother or baby during labor
• Improper handling of shoulder dystocia
• Misuse of labor-inducing drugs like Pitocin

When medical professionals fail to act according to the accepted standard of care, they may be held legally responsible for resulting birth injuries.

Who is Liable for a Birth Injury?

Determining liability in a birth injury case often requires a thorough investigation and the involvement of medical experts. Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties may be responsible, including:

• Obstetricians or Gynecologists who make poor medical decisions or fail to respond to emergencies.
• Nurses or Hospital Staff who fail to properly monitor mother and baby or miscommunicate important health data.
• The Hospital or Healthcare Facility if there is evidence of systemic negligence or understaffing.
• Anesthesiologists or Other Specialists who make errors during cesarean deliveries or other procedures.

At Friday & Cox LLC, our attorneys conduct comprehensive reviews of medical records, consult with leading medical experts, and build strong cases to hold negligent parties accountable.

Why Choose Friday & Cox LLC?

Our firm is dedicated to standing up for families affected by preventable birth injuries. When you choose Friday & Cox LLC, you gain access to:

• Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorneys
• Personalized Legal Support
• Compassionate, Family-Focused Advocacy
• No Upfront Legal Fees – We Only Get Paid If You Win

Our Pittsburgh birth injury attorney understands how overwhelming it can be to deal with a birth injury diagnosis. Let us help you secure the financial support your family needs to move forward.