ES
Over $500 Million Recovered For Our Clients

Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyer

As humans, we know all too well how one of life’s greatest joys is the arrival of a new child. Families wait for nine long months in happy anticipation of a bouncing new baby. For an unfortunate few, joy turns to sadness when parents learn that their child has been injured at birth. Sometimes a doctor or midwife can do everything right, and yet the baby suffers from some kind of problem. But too often, the problem arises from an unnecessary or inappropriate intervention, from failure to properly monitor the mother and baby during the birthing process or from the carelessness or incompetence of the birth attendant. At Hill & Associates, our Philadelphia birth injury attorneys have found the following to be common medical mistakes that should never happen during childbirth:

  • Failing to diagnose a birthing complication
  • Delaying a C-section when the baby is in distress
  • Improper or excessively rough handling of the baby during delivery
  • Improper or unnecessary use of surgical tools, such as forceps or vacuum extraction
  • Allowing labor to continue too long after membranes rupture
  • Anesthesia errors
  • Failing to identify and treat jaundice in a timely manner

When a baby is harmed by any of these preventable errors in Philadelphia, the parents should seek out the advice of an accomplished Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer with experience in birth injuries. Our founding partner, Leonard K. Hill, has medical professionals on call that can be brought in to examine the records to identify where the handling of the birth deviated from professional standards of care.

Birth injuries can result in a baby’s death in a few cases and, in others, can have permanent or long-term effects on a newborn. These may include:

  • Nerve damage
  • Cerebral palsy and other brain damage
  • Kernicterus from untreated jaundice
  • Oxygen deprivation
  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Erb’s palsy
  • Broken bones
  • Joint dislocations
  • Cephalohematoma (pooling of blood under the tissues covering the skull)
  • Facial lacerations or bruising

Children Injured at Birth Deserve Compensation

It is heartbreaking to see an innocent child start off life with pain, disfigurement, or physical or cognitive impairments. Juries are often willing to award large amounts of money to babies and their families when negligence during prenatal care, labor, delivery, or immediately afterward has deprived a baby of a chance to live a normal life. Over the past ten years, birth injury settlements have doubled around the country. A recent survey acquired by our Philadelphia birth injury lawyers found that recoveries average about $400,000 a case. Many are significantly larger when the damage to the child is extremely debilitating and permanent. Amounts depend on the extent of the injury and the circumstances that caused it and cover a wide range.

Proving Obstetrical Malpractice Using Medical Expert Testimony

Birth injury cases are far from easy to prove. They require a knowledgeable Philadelphia birth injury attorney who has a detailed and in-depth understanding of medical malpractice law, is familiar with the practice of obstetrics and the expected standard of care in the community, and knows the terminology, procedures, and culture of obstetrical practice in Philadelphia. Even more important is his or her access to top medical professionals to assist in establishing liability.

The cost of birth injury is enormous. Your child may need weeks or months or years of intensive treatment in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and years of surgical procedures, physical and occupational therapy, and special education. You will need to engage the services of an attorney with a network of medical experts on call to fight for a recovery that will enable you to give your child the best available care and the best chance at a normal, happy, and meaningful life.

Free Consultation with a Birth Injury Attorney in Philadelphia

In Pennsylvania or New Jersey, the birth injury lawyers at the law firm of Hill & Associates can provide you with the expert representation that you and your child need. Our compassionate and highly skilled attorneys have a superior record of recovering sizable awards for injured children and others. We understand the sorrow you feel for your injured child and will fight tirelessly for the money you need to provide for your baby, both now and in the future. State law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim, so don’t delay. Call our office at (215) 567-7600 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

to speak to a member of our team today.