Birth Injuries Caused By Medical Malpractice
According to recent statistics, approximately 27 out of every 1,000 births involve some kind of birth related injury, with cerebral palsy indicated as the most common. These injuries place tremendous emotional and economic burdens on the family, which is faced with enormous medical bills and a lifetime of hardships raising their child.
In many situations, these injuries are completely preventable, had medical personnel only given proper care. Unfortunately, the actions or inaction of delivery room staff during childbirth may result in catastrophic consequences – and a newborn with birth injuries may recover fully, or suffer lasting physical or developmental disabilities.
When medical negligence is suspected, parents should seek the advice of an experienced New York birth injury lawyer. The dedicated attorneys at The Sanders Firm have been serving NY communities for more than 40 years, helping victims of medical malpractice recover significant damages in these tragic cases.
Recent birth injury lawsuit settlements
Every year multi-million dollar settlements are awarded to families of birth injury victims who suffered serious harm through no fault of their own. Last April, a Philadelphia court awarded $78.5 million to a mother whose child sustained brain damage due to hospital negligence. The child suffers spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which resulted from an untimely C-section. The award includes compensation for ongoing medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering for the child, in addition to emotional trauma for the mother.
Another notable settlement was awarded by a Michigan jury, which handed down a $144 million verdict, citing medical negligence as the cause of a newborn’s brain trauma. As in most birth injury cases, the lawsuits are not motivated by money, but by a desire to ensure the innocent victim receives adequate care, as many children with birth traumas require medical assistance for the rest of their lives.
Types of birth injuries
There are several types of birth injuries that may occur before, during or after childbirth that may result from medical malpractice:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb’s Palsy
- Hypoxia/Oxygen deprivation
- Spinal cord damage
- Brachial plexus injury
- Shoulder dystocia
- Paralysis
- Brain damage
- Forceps injuries
If you suspect that your child has been harmed by preventable birth trauma, consulting a New York birth injury lawyer is crucial in the successful pursuit of compensation for rehabilitation costs, past and future medical expenses, and other economic losses.
Speak with a New York birth injury lawyer
Birth injury malpractice claims are frequently time-consuming and complex. A skilled personal injury attorney in New York will retain experts to review neonatal care and medical records to establish liability. The Sanders Firm specializes in birth injury malpractice claims, helping families of children with cerebral palsy and other birth injuries recover the financial compensation they deserve.
If you or someone you love has suffered the effects of a birth injury in New York, including Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island, please contact us today for a complimentary evaluation. A member of our legal team can assess your case to determine your best options for recovering monetary damages. Call us toll-free at 1-800-FAIR-PLAY (800.324.7752).
