Philadelphia Birth Injuries Lawyer

Parents eagerly await the arrival of their baby, so it is devastating and overwhelming when errors by Pennsylvania health care providers result in birth injuries. Tragically, the data indicates that situations of birth trauma are relatively high. Statistics reveal that the prevalence of injuries increased 23 percent in recent years, with head and scalp injuries comprising 80 percent of all birth trauma. The medical complications vary widely, and some infants can fully recover with treatment. However, many parents must plan for a lifetime of care when birth injuries cause permanent disability. Plus, it is important to realize that mothers may also suffer harm.

Mistakes with prenatal care, labor, and post-delivery are covered under Pennsylvania medical malpractice laws, which provide remedies for families who sustain devastating losses. If a physician erred in providing care, our team at the Quinn Law Group is prepared to take legal action. We will guide you through the process to ensure you receive fair compensation from all at-fault parties. Please contact our firm to schedule a free case evaluation with a skilled Philadelphia birth injuries lawyer. You can also read on for some valuable information about your rights.

Common Types of Birth Trauma

Labor and delivery are normally stressful for the infant, but mistakes and oversights during the process can lead to profound consequences. For example, both mother and infant are at risk if a health care provider:

• Not diagnosing a health condition during prenatal stages that could affect fetal development.
• Fails to assess and address emergencies that arise during labor.
• Does not properly monitor the vital signs of the mother and infant during delivery, which could indicate distress or oxygen deprivation.
• Improper or excessive use of a birth assistive device, such as forceps or vacuum extractor.
• Using too much pressure or force during labor.
• Failing to make the call for a C-section after a prolonged, stalled, or particularly difficult delivery.

These errors and negligent acts could be fatal or catastrophic, potentially causing:

• Cerebral palsy.
• Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
• Brachial plexus injuries, which affect the bundle of nerves linking the baby’s neck and shoulder.
• Preeclampsia, a condition that puts the mother’s life at risk when not accurately diagnosed.
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Facial paralysis.
• Many other birth injuries.

Pennsylvania Birth Injury Laws

Because birth trauma is a type of medical malpractice, there are certain elements you need to prove to recover compensation. You must have evidence showing that your physician deviated from the relevant standard of care, and this misconduct was the direct cause of birth trauma. Therefore, the specific factors are:

• The standard of care your doctor owed to you, which would be related to the medical specialty areas of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health.
• How your physician deviated from the standard of care through specific errors that a careful doctor would not have committed.
• Whether the birth injuries were caused by a deviation of the standard of care or some other cause.

Much of the evidence related to these elements will come from medical experts, and medical records will be important for showing the nature of birth trauma.

Legal Help with Seeking Compensation

Med mal claims are subject to extremely strict procedural rules in Pennsylvania, and there are requirements to meet even before you can sue in court. A plaintiff is required to file a Certificate of Merit, stating that a medical professional reviewed the facts of the case and found that there is a reasonable probability that the doctor did breach the standard of care. This paperwork must be submitted with the lawsuit, or your case could be dismissed. Along with the certification requirement, there are also the complexities that come with any civil case.

The Quinn Law Group will tackle all the tasks to ensure you are fairly compensated for your family’s losses. You can count on a Pennsylvania birth injuries attorney to seek amounts for:

• All medical costs, including expenses for your child’s life care plan.
• Lost wages if you were forced to leave the workforce to provide caregiving services.
• Pain and suffering.
• Emotional distress.
• Other losses that impact quality of life.

Discuss Legal Remedies with a Philadelphia Birth Injuries Lawyer

It is useful to understand the fundamentals of birth trauma claims, but you should trust the Quinn Law Group for help with the details. To set up your no-cost consultation with a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney, please call (215) 709-8923 or visit our website today. We can advise you on the next steps in the legal process after reviewing your situation.

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