How Can a Lawyer Help You Deal with Birth Injuries and Their Impact?
With a population of 1,584,064, Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the United States. Philadelphia is also among the cities with the highest number of birth injuries per year.
Birth injuries can happen to any baby, regardless of their health or the circumstances of the birth. If the baby suffered a birth injury, you might be feeling overwhelmed and confused about what to do next.
The following article will provide you with information about birth injuries, including what causes them and how you can seek medical help for your child.
It will discuss what you can do if medical negligence was involved in the birth and how a Philadelphia birth injury lawyer may help you understand its impact on your life.
What Is a Birth Injury?
A birth injury is any damage caused to an infant during or immediately after the birthing process. Birth injuries may vary from mild bruises to more severe brain damage or cerebral palsy issues.
Birth injuries are not always a result of medical negligence. However, suppose your baby was injured due to medical malpractice or carelessness on the part of a doctor or other healthcare professional. In that case, you may be able to seek legal recourse in Philadelphia.
Understanding the Causes of Birth Injuries
There can be many causes of birth injuries, and your lawyer can help you understand them better.
There are potential causes of birth injuries, including:
1. Lack of Oxygen to the Brain
A lack of oxygen can damage a baby’s brain, causing complications such as cerebral palsy. It can occur when a baby is trapped in the birth canal or not receiving enough oxygen due to an umbilical cord wrapping around their neck.
A lack of oxygen can also happen if there is a delay in delivery, resulting from medical negligence if your doctor does not order a c-section when necessary.
2. Forceps or Vacuum Extraction
Forceps and vacuum extractors are tools used by doctors to help deliver the baby. They can be used if there is a delay in delivery or the baby’s head becomes stuck.
It is essential to ensure that your doctor uses these tools as safely and carefully as possible. During delivery, forceps are used when a baby’s head is stuck or another complication.
They are specifically designed to grip the child’s skull and pull them out of the birth canal.
If they are misused, they can cause severe damage to a baby’s skull and brain. Vacuum extractors work similarly to forceps, but they vacuum to grip the baby’s head. They are less likely to cause injury if used correctly.
3. Birth Injuries Caused by Prematurity
Premature babies are at high risk for birth injuries because their organs and tissues are not fully developed. Premature birth may be due to several factors, such as maternal health problems or incorrect diagnoses.
Premature babies are also at risk for injuries caused by a lack of oxygen. For example, low birth weight babies are more likely to develop cerebral palsy due to the lack of nutrients and oxygen they receive in the womb.
What Can a Birth Injury Lawyer Do to Help You?
If you believe that your child’s birth injury resulted due to medical malpractice, you should contact a Philadelphia birth injury lawyer.
A lawyer can help you understand the evidence in your case and give you advice on how to proceed.
If you want to file a lawsuit, your lawyer will represent you in court and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
They will also help you negotiate a settlement with the hospital or doctor responsible for your child’s injury. It is important to remember that time is of the essence when filing a birth injury lawsuit. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner they can start investigating your case.
Conclusion
Birth injuries can be mild or severe, but they all can cause lifelong complications. If a baby has suffered an injury, you can contact an attorney in Philadelphia immediately and take the necessary steps required.
