Birth Injuries

Though national statistics posit birth injury as rare (approximately 6 to 8 injuries per every 1,000 live births), they are traumatizing. Oftentimes, these injuries are completely preventable, and are caused by the careless actions of the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who are responsible for the health and safety of you and your baby before, during, and after delivery. If you live in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and your child has suffered a birth injury, our lawyers can pursue the compensation that you and your child deserve. Our attorneys have experience in handling a variety of birth injury cases.

Birth Trauma and Injury
Types of Birth Injury

Brain Damage
Cerebral Palsy
Shoulder Dystocia
Erb's Palsy
Spinal Cord Injury

Birth Trauma and Injury

A difficult or traumatic birth can increase the likelihood of birthing injury. Not surprisingly, doctors are also more likely to make mistakes when faced with a difficult delivery. Larger babies are more susceptible to birth injury, as are premature babies. A breech delivery can also complicate matters, and force doctors to use instruments, such as forceps, to aid in the delivery process. These tools can be misused, and easily harm a fragile infant.

During times of distress, it is critical that doctors and nurses make sure the baby has enough blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Otherwise, long-lasting and sometimes fatal injuries can occur. Oftentimes, a cesarean section may be necessary in order to avoid further injury to an unborn child, and a delay in performing a cesarean section may cause serious trauma. Harm can be also be caused by the misuse of vacuum extractors or forceps. If proper and prompt care is not taken during this critical time, and a birth injury results, the attending doctor(s) may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Our team of birth injury attorneys and medical malpractice lawyers will thoroughly review the circumstances of your case to determine if your child suffered an injury during birth due to the negligence of healthcare professionals.

Types of Birth Injury

Birthing injuries can occur just before, during, and immediately following birth. Soft tissue, skull, face, intra-abdominal, and nerve damage can result in a variety of short- and long-term injuries. At our Minnesota and Wisconsin law firm, our birth injury lawyers have experience in handling a variety of cases involving injuries, such as brain damage, cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, Erb's palsy, and spinal cord injury.

Brain Damage

A variety of conditions can occur during labor and delivery, or just after birth, that can harm a baby's brain. One of the most common causes of this type of birth injury is a lack of oxygen to the brain, known as fetal hypoxia, which can lead to lifelong disability.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that is typically caused by oxygen deprivation, or other injury to the brain, which affects brain function, and causes delays in the child's development, creates abnormal body movements, and a lack of muscle control. It can also cause hearing and vision problems.

Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is a birth injury that can occur when an infant's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone during delivery, and the doctor causes damage by using excessive force in trying to dislodge the baby. The doctor may stretch or tear the muscles that connect the spinal cord to the shoulder, wrist, and arm, leading to a condition known as Erb's palsy.

Erb's Palsy

Erb's palsy is a condition that affects the nerves of the arm, and is most commonly caused by shoulder dystocia. In some cases, the nerves may heal on their own, but in other cases, Erb's palsy may lead to permanent movement limitations and / or paralysis of the shoulder, arm, and hand muscles.

Spinal Cord Injury

Injuries to a baby's spinal cord can occur during birth in a number of ways. If the doctor uses excessive force or misuses instruments during delivery, he or she may cause damage to the infant's spinal cord.

There are many types of injuries that can occur during the birth of your child that can have repercussions later in life. If you are unsure whether or not your child has suffered a birth injury, our Minnesota and Wisconsin birth injury attorneys can review your case. If we find that a birth injury did occur, our attorneys can assist you in pursuing the compensation you and your child deserve.

Contact Our Minnesota or Wisconsin Birth Injury Attorneys

Our team of birth injury attorneys and medical malpractice lawyers can review the circumstances of your child's birth to determine if you have a birth injury case. Contact our lawyers today for a free evaluation of your case.