Birth Injuries
From Lawyer-personal-injury
Birth Injuries
The arrival of a new child in the family should be a time for joy and celebration. However, mistakes can occur during childbirth that can leave your child with devastating and costly injuries.
Cerebral Palsy - Cerebral Palsy is a serious medical condition that results from brain injury to a child. This brain injury may be the result of medical complications that arise during childbirth. Approximately 2 cases of cerebral palsy occur in every 1000 births worldwide. Additionally approximately 10,000 new cases of cerebral palsy are diagnosed in children each year. It is not unusual for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy to incur enormous medical bills related to their treatment which may include things like physical therapy, specialized care, and medical devices such as wheelchairs. The children may also face the possibility of loss of future wages in the event that their condition is so serious than they are never able to work. Some early signs of cerebral palsy include seizures, jerky movements, and developmental delays.
Erb’s Palsy - Erb’s Palsy is also known as Brachial Plexus or Shoulder Distocia. Most cases occur during the birthing process when the baby’s shoulder gets caught and compressed. It is more likely to occur in larger birth weight babies. It is a medical condition related to nerve injury affecting the nerves of the shoulder, arm and/or hands. The injury may result in injuries ranging from loss of motor coordination and/or feeling in the hand to loss of muscle control in the shoulder or arm. The damage may be mild with the potential for complete recovery, or it may be severe with no potential for recovery. When it occurs during childbirth, it is often due to inappropriate birthing techniques. Even mild cases of Erb’s Palsy may require the child to undergo costly and painful procedures such as physical therapy, surgery and other treatments.
If your child has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy or Erb’s Palsy which you suspect was the result of a birth injury, contact us today to explore your legal rights. The law varies as to the amount of time you have to file a claim. Therefore, it is important that you consult an attorney as soon as possible.
