MISSOURI LEGAL HELP CENTER - BIRTH INJURY LAWYER
Did You Know?
Birth injuries occur in 27 out of 1000 births.
Birth Injury Quick Facts:
- Approximately eight percent of all children are born with some form of birth defect or physical irregularity.
- Birth defects are the number one cause of death during the first year of life.
- Unborn children can be injured by the mother's workplace exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy.
- There are over 4,000 known birth defects including those of the heart, digestive system, face, spine, limbs, brain, eyes, kidneys, bladder, and chromosomal irregularities.
- Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States , accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths.
- Of about 120,000 U.S. babies born each year with a birth defect, 8,000 die during their first year of life.
- An American study has found that children born after fertility treatment are more likely to suffer a range of birth defects the New England Journal of Medicine a study reported that in the first three months of pregnancy tests performed could catch most cases of two particular birth defects, including Down syndrome and trisomy 18.
- Birth defects are the fifth-leading cause of years of potential life lost and contribute substantially to childhood morbidity and long-term disability.
- Over forty states allow children and their parents to bring a lawsuit for pre-natal injuries.
Medical malpractice is one of the most complicated areas of law. If you think medical negligence may have played a part in your child's injury, you need an experienced birth injury lawyer who understands the complexities of birth injury cases. A birth injury lawyer can help you get the settlement you need to take care of your child's enormous medical costs, help you deal with the emotional hardship a birth injury can cause, and help your family adapt to this lifestyle change
Over forty states allow children and their parents to bring a lawsuit for pre-natal injuries. When a baby is born with an injury, the family may be faced with a future that will involve complicated and prolonged care for that child. Complicating the situation is the fact that parents are often uneducated about the cause of their child's condition.
Birth Injury Medical Mistakes
In some cases, a birth injury may go undetected for months or years. The birth injury may be due to one or more medical mistakes during pregnancy, labor or delivery. Parents are often left with the incorrect impression that their child simply has a birth defect, and that it could not have been prevented. Sometimes this is true, but often times it isn't. Most parents have no way of knowing what happened to their child and many do not know where to begin to search for answers.
Types of Birth Injury:
- Brachial Plexus Palsy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Erb's Palsy
- Shoulder dystocia
- Group B strep infections
- Spinal cord trauma
- Klumpke's palsy
- Horner's syndrome
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Paralysis
- Fractures
- Cephalohematoma (can lead to jaundice)
- eningitis
- Cranial nerve trauma
Typical Causes of Birth Injury:
- Failure to respond to or recognize bleeding ( abrupted placenta or fetal bleeding)
- Causing or failing to respond to umbilical cord entrapment or compression (prolapsed cord)
- Failure to respond to fetal distress
- Delay in ordering or performing C-section
- Misuse of vacuum extractor or forceps
- Misuse of pitocin (labor stimulating drug)
- Poor resuscitation and newborn care after birth
- Failure to prevent, recognize or treat infection.
- Failure to diagnose or treat jaundice
- Failure to diagnose or treat meningitis
Possible Neurological Signs of Birth Injury:
- Floppy, depressed, pale or blue after birth
- Seizures and neurological problems in first days of life
- Permanent damage often including cerebral palsy, cortical blindness and mental retardation or learning deficits.
Birth defects are the fifth-leading cause of years of potential life lost and contribute substantially to childhood morbidity and long-term disability. Because the causes of about 70% of all birth defects are unknown, the public continues to be anxious about whether environmental pollutants cause birth defects, developmental disabilities, or other adverse reproductive outcomes. While many of these birth defects are relatively minor, some can cause lifelong disabilities and premature death.
Birth Injury Lawsuit
A birth injury lawsuit is filed when there is a strong case indicating malpractice was the cause of the birth injury has been found. While not all birth injuries will mean a birth injury lawsuit can be successful, lawyers specialized in the field will be able to recognize if there may be a claim. In the event that a birth injury lawsuit is present, the process to seek damages can begin. This process can be very lengthy and grueling, making it essential to find a birth injury lawsuit lawyer that is able to expedite the process in an efficient and successful manner.
CONTACT A BIRTH INJURY LAWYER IN MISSOURI
If you are in need of legal advice or services, or simply wish to speak to an attorney who has successfully handled a Birth Injury case in Missouri , you may use this Free Online Consultation Form.
There is NO COST or obligation for this service.
