main_logo
Se habla espaƱol
Personal Injury Lawyers Ready To Fight For You

10,000 Clients Helped. Over $80 Million Recovered.

| Personal Injury | Pennsylvania Medical Injuries Lawyer | Pennsylvania Birth Injury Lawyer

Pennsylvania Birth Injury Lawyer

Birth injuries are devastating for new parents. However, if your baby suffered an injury or harm after a difficult birth, the hospital or healthcare professional in charge may be considered liable.

Sometimes, birth injuries are accidental and the fault of no one, but this is not always the case. The actions or inactions of a healthcare professional or hospital may directly lead to your babyā€™s injury.

At Mooney Law, we understand how devastating it can be to realize your baby was harmed during birth. We are here to help you prove liability and seek justice and compensation from the at-fault party.

Understanding Birth Injuries

As trusted birth injury attorneys in Central Pennsylvania, our attorneys have seen firsthand the devastating impact that birth injuries can have on families. Understanding how and why these injuries occur is necessary to help us pursue justice for our clients.

Medical Negligence During Labor and Delivery

One of the most common reasons for birth injuries is medical negligence during labor and delivery. This can include errors made by healthcare providers such as obstetricians, nurses, and midwives. Examples of medical negligence that can lead to birth injuries include:

  • Failure to monitor fetal distress
  • Delayed C-section delivery
  • Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors
  • Administering incorrect medications or dosages

Traumatic Birth Events

Traumatic birth events, such as prolonged or difficult labor, can also increase the risk of birth injuries. These events may occur due to factors such as:

  • The large birth weight of the baby
  • Abnormal presentation of the baby (breech or face presentation)
  • Umbilical cord complications (cord prolapse or compression)
  • Maternal health conditions (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia)

Medical Conditions During Pregnancy

Certain medical conditions during pregnancy can also contribute to the occurrence of birth injuries. These conditions may include:

  • Maternal infections (rubella, cytomegalovirus)
  • Maternal substance abuse (alcohol, drugs)
  • Placental abnormalities (placenta previa, placental abruption)
  • Maternal health conditions (hypertension, diabetes)

Birth injuries can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from medical negligence during labor and delivery to traumatic birth events and maternal health conditions. As birth injury attorneys in Central Pennsylvania, we work to help families understand the cause of their child’s injury and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Types of Birth Injuries

As dedicated birth injury attorneys serving Central Pennsylvania, we understand the complexities and challenges that families face when their child suffers a birth injury. In our experience, various types of birth injuries can occur, each with its own set of consequences and implications.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy often results from abnormal brain development or brain damage. It can occur while the woman is pregnant, during childbirth, or soon after birth. The condition is a group of disorders impacting muscle tone and movement. Symptoms of cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe and may include muscle stiffness, poor coordination, and difficulty with movement.

Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s Palsy, also known as brachial plexus palsy, occurs when the nerves in the upper arm are damaged during childbirth. This can result in weakness or arm paralysis and a limited range of motion. Erb’s Palsy is often caused by excessive pulling or stretching of the baby’s head and neck during delivery.

Brachial Plexus Injuries

Brachial Plexus Injuries are injuries to the network of nerves that control movement and sensation in the arms and hands. These injuries can occur during childbirth when the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pubic bone (shoulder dystocia) or when excessive force is applied to the baby’s head and neck during delivery.

Hypoxia and Birth Asphyxia

Hypoxia and Birth Asphyxia occur when the baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen during childbirth. This can lead to serious complications, including brain damage, cognitive impairment, and developmental delays. Hypoxia and Birth Asphyxia can result from a variety of factors, including umbilical cord compression, placental abruption, and prolonged labor.

These are just a few examples of the types of birth injuries that can occur during childbirth. If your child has suffered a birth injury due to medical errors, mistakes, or negligence during delivery, it’s essential to seek legal guidance as soon as possible.

Establishing Liability in Birth Injury Cases

We specialize in helping families navigate the complex legal process of birth injury cases. Proving liability in these cases requires a thorough understanding of medical malpractice law and a meticulous approach to gathering evidence.

Medical Negligence

To prove liability in a birth injury case, you must demonstrate that medical negligence occurred. This shows that a healthcare provider failed to meet the standard of care expected in similar circumstances. Common examples of medical negligence in birth injury cases include:

  • Failure to monitor the mother and baby during labor and delivery
  • Delayed or improper use of medical interventions, such as a C-section
  • Misuse of medical devices, such as forceps or vacuum extractors
  • Administering incorrect medications or dosages

Expert Testimony

Expert testimony from qualified medical professionals is often essential in establishing liability in birth injury cases. These experts can review medical records, assess the actions of healthcare providers, and provide opinions on whether negligence occurred. Their testimony can be instrumental in helping juries understand complex medical issues and determining liability.

Causation

In addition to proving that medical negligence occurred, we must also establish a causal link between the negligence and the birth injury. This requires demonstrating that the healthcare provider’s actions or omissions directly contributed to the harm suffered by the baby. Establishing causation may involve reviewing medical records, consulting with medical experts, and presenting persuasive evidence to the court.

Documentation and Evidence

Gathering and preserving evidence is crucial in proving liability in birth injury cases. This may include medical records, witness statements, expert opinions, and other documentation supporting your claim. Our team will conduct a comprehensive investigation to ensure that all relevant evidence is collected and presented effectively in court.

Damages You May Receive in Birth Injury Cases

As your dedicated birth injury attorneys, we understand the financial and emotional toll that these cases can have on families. Pursuing compensation for the damages incurred is a critical aspect of our representation.

Medical Expenses

One of the primary types of damages we seek in birth injury cases is compensation for medical expenses. This includes the costs associated with prenatal care, labor and delivery, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, therapy, and any future medical treatments or accommodations necessary for the child’s care.

Pain and Suffering

Birth injuries can result in pain and suffering for both the child and their family. We work tirelessly to secure compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish experienced as a result of the injury. This can include compensation for the child’s pain and suffering, as well as the parents’ emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life.

Lost Earning Capacity

In cases where a birth injury results in long-term or permanent disability, we may seek compensation for the child’s lost earning capacity. This includes the potential income the child would have earned over their lifetime if not for the injury and any limitations or barriers to employment they may face in the future.

Other Damages

Depending on the case’s specific circumstances, we may also pursue compensation for other damages, such as loss of consortium, parental companionship, and guidance, and punitive damages in cases of egregious misconduct or recklessness. We aim to ensure that our clients receive full and fair compensation for their damages due to medical negligence.

Mooney Law Can Help with Your Birth Injury Claim

If your baby was injured during birth due to the negligence or fault of the hospital or staff, you should not have to cover the cost related to their ongoing care and treatment. You may also be entitled to compensation for the emotional suffering caused by the traumatic event.

At Mooney Law, our experienced birth injury attorneys in Central Pennsylvania are ready to help you seek the full compensation you deserve.

Consult with a Personal Injury Expert Today

Secure Your Justice. Contact Us Today

See What Your Case is Worth

Secure Your Justice. Contact Us Today

Donā€™t Listen To Us. Listen to Our Clients.

Area We Serve

Get The Representation You Need Today!

Personal Injury

Secure Your Justice.
Contact Us Today

Why Mooney Law

Thereā€™s A Reason People Exclaim, ā€œMooney, Mooney, Mooney!ā€

Over 200 Years Of Combined Legal Service

We Have The Experience To Protect Your Family, Rights, And Future.

A Full-service Law Firm

Our Attorneys Specialize In All Aspects Of The Law. You Can Come To Us With Legal Matters Ranging From Personal Injury Claims To Criminal Defense, Family Law, And Estate Planning. You Can Count On Us To Protect Your Rights Regardless Of Your Needs.

Over $80 Million Recovered

Our Law Firm Has Recovered Over $80 Million Dollars For Injury Victims And Their Families. We Are Ready To Provide You With The Same Aggressive Representation And Help You Recover The Compensation You Deserve.

14 Office Locations Covering Central Pennsylvania & Northern Maryland

With 14 Locations, You Can Feel Confident There Is A Local Office Near You. We Are Proud To Be Part Of Your Community And Ready To Help With Your Legal Needs. We Also Offer Video Meetings To Ensure We Can Serve Anyone Needing Our Services.