Thanks to all the advancements that have been made in medical science and technology over the years, childbirth is much safer than it was even a few decades ago. However, there’s still a lot that can go awry while you’re giving birth. Getting compassionate and skillful care from obstetricians and other healthcare professionals can be vital to minimizing your risk of something going wrong while your child is being born.
Unfortunately, any experienced medical malpractice attorney can tell you that not every doctor who helps with childbirth does so with the diligence and consideration their patients deserve. That sometimes leads to life-altering injuries that could’ve been prevented with better care. If you or your baby were hurt by your doctor while you were giving birth, you should make it a priority to discuss a possible civil claim with a Bensalem birth injury lawyer.
What Kinds of Birth Injuries Can Justify Lawsuits?
Unfortunately, even highly qualified doctors who are providing the best possible can’t always prevent injuries during childbirth, especially if the mother giving birth is dealing with a lot of pregnancy complications. That said, you have a right to expect that your doctors will give you the best possible care at all times and act in the same way any other doctor with an equal amount of experience and training would in a given situation.
This means doctors can be held civilly liable for damages if they violate this standard of care and cause injuries during childbirth like:
- Tearing of the brachial nerves in the shoulder, leading to Erb’s palsy
- Damage to nerves in the face, leading to facial paralysis
- Skull or brain deformation from something like improper use of forceps
- Swelling or hematoma under the baby’s scalp
- Bone fractures, particularly in the collarbone
Lack of post-birth care can also increase the risk of conditions like jaundice getting unnecessarily worse, as a Bensalem attorney can further explain.
Getting Paid for Short-Term and Long-Term Losses
Money alone can’t make up for every negative effect of a birth injury, especially one that leads to a permanent and life-altering condition like cerebral palsy. What it can do is help reduce the impacts of specific losses you, your baby, and your family will have to deal with because of a birth injury, including things like:
- Emergency medical expenses immediately after a birth injury occurs
- Expected future costs of care needed to manage and reduce the severity of a birth injury in the long term
- Future loss of working and earning ability for a disabled child
- Lost work income for a parent who needs to care for a disabled child
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Loss of life’s pleasures
Guidance from a winning birth injury lawyer in Bensalem can be key to getting paid fairly for all your specific losses and filing a strong and comprehensive claim within the filing deadlines set by Pennsylvania law.
Get Help from a Bensalem Birth Injury Attorney
Learning your child has suffered any kind of injury while being born is one of the most frightening experiences any parent can have. Learning your child’s injury only happened because of your doctor’s negligence can be frightening and frustrating in equal measure, as far too many people learn.
Fortunately, you have help available from experienced Bensalem birth injury lawyers who know how to fight effectively on behalf of families like yours. Call Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers today to get started on your potential claim.
