The Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyer team working at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC states that a birth injury is some form of physical damage that happens during child birth, most commonly when a baby is passing through the birth canal. Our team has also learned that because birth can be a stressful experience, it's not uncommon for children to receive minor injury during the process. Severe injury, such as brain injury, can usually be prevented through appropriate medical treatment and preventative measures. In many cases of birth injury, the trauma is caused by a negligent doctor or medical malpractice. If your child sustained a birth injury, call our Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyer team to see what legal options are available to you.
Birth injury can result in many types of severe conditions, such as cerebral palsy, Klumpke's Palsy, shoulder dystocia, Horner's Syndrome or Erb's palsy. These types of birth injury can be caused by a number of factors, but many delivery complications are caused by a large baby or small birth canal. Another cause can be attributed to how the fetus is positioned in the uterus before birth; if it is in an abnormal position, complications can arise. In these examples, a skilled obstetrician will see that the mother and baby are at risk and will suggest a course of action that will lead to the best possible outcome. If you think that your child failed to get the proper prenatal treatment for a risky situation, you might be eligible to file a medical malpractice case against the attending physician.
Our Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyer staff, through their years of experience, has discovered that there are more risks associated with a birth injury. These side effects can include brain injury, spinal injury and even wrongful death. If your newborn child has sustained a skull injury or other form of brain damage that was caused by a difficult birth, call our team of Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyers to ensure your legal rights are protected.
During a difficult delivery (often involving a big baby) the shoulder nerves of the child can stretch too much leading to a brachial plexus injury. According to our Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyer team, this type of injury results in the hand or arm becoming weak or paralyzed because of the nerve damage. If the injury is severe, surgery may be required to repair the damage. In severe cases the injury can lead to a decrease in strength, muscle atrophy, abnormal biomechanics, joint dysfunction, osteoarthritis, decreased dexterity, scoliosis and Glenohumeral Dysplasia. When cases are this severe, a surgeon may elect to transfer nerves in order to repair the affected area and restore function.
Cerebral Palsy can also occur because of a birth injury during a difficult deliver. According to our Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyer team, common symptoms of cerebral palsy include: involuntary movement, scissor walking, muscle spasms, unsteady walking, poor balance, walking on toes, poor muscle tone and joint and bone deformities. Cerebral palsy is also known to lead to speech problems, blindness, behavior issues, learning disabilities and loss of hearing. Common causes for cerebral palsy include: exposure to prenatal drugs, improperly using equipment like forceps or vacuum extractors and lack of oxygen during birth. When cerebral palsy is severe, the victim will often require constant care throughout the rest of his or her life.
If your baby has suffered a severe birth injury, both you and your child will likely face a road of challenges ahead. A birth injury can affect your child's ability to grow and develop, which can lead to a host of future complications, in addition to the medical bills that will surely pile up. If you feel that your child's birth injury was caused by negligence on the part of medical staff, contact our Manhattan Birth Injury Lawyer staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC to discuss getting the compensation you'll need to get your child the care he or she deserves.
If you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of a birth injury, contact one of our experienced Manhattan Injury Lawyers at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC to discuss your legal options. Please call us at 800.696.9529, online or contact one of our New York City offices in Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx or Brooklyn, our New York office in Westchester County or one of our Long Island offices in Nassau County or Suffolk County.