Washington D.C. & Maryland Birth Injury Lawyers
Personal Injury Attorneys in Maryland & Washington, D.C.
The birth of a newborn should be a joyous occasion for parents. Unfortunately, due in part to negligence and medical malpractice, some births result in painful and permanent disabilities in innocent children. Following a birth injury, it's vital that parents:
- Pursue emergency medical care to prevent further complications.
- Develop a long-term treatment plan with qualified medical professionals.
- Meet with a birth injury attorney.
Birth injuries resulting in permanent disabling injuries cause great pain and distress to new parents, when the birth of your child should be a wonderful and joyful milestone in your life. Often, as is the case with many medical malpractice cases, a birth injury could have been avoided.
Preventing Birth Injuries
Because many birth injuries in Washington D.C. and Maryland are often avoidable, there are steps which should always be taken to avoid severe injury to a newborn baby. Doctors and medical staff are required by law to utilize the means available to them in a knowledgeable and medically responsible manner to ensure the best care of mother and baby. In cases where this doesn’t happen, babies can suffer catastrophic personal injury. Such injuries may result in the need for lifelong medical care. In these cases, the hospital, doctor, or health care provider at fault can be held accountable.
Each year in the United States, for every 1,000 babies born alive, six of those suffer birth injuries. The rate is higher for male babies than for females, and the injuries occur more frequently in non-profit hospitals compared to for-profit hospitals. Statistics also show that more birth injuries occur in large hospitals compared to smaller hospital facilities.
Common Birth Injuries
Birth injury statistics show that each year, approximately 6 out of every 1,000 births in the U.S. result in mild to severe birth injuries. While mild birth injuries can include small scratches or bruises incurred during the delivery process, in the most severe cases, complications and medical mistakes can cause:
- Cerebral palsy, an irreversible impairment of speech, movement, development and coordination
- Erb's palsy, a lack of sensation and/or an inability to move the hands or arms
- Facial paralysis
- Fractures
- Spinal cord damage
- Brain damage
- Temporary paralysis
- Group B strep
- Brachial plexus palsy
These conditions and injuries are often due to:
- Choosing an inappropriate delivery method
- Failing to promptly treat lack of oxygen, infection and/or internal bleeding
- Administering wrong doses or wrong medication to babies or their mothers.
Dealing with Birth Injuries
After a child has suffered a birth injury, there is a large cost associated with the lifelong care. This cost can include medical care, schooling and tutoring, time lost from work, mental suffering, and the emotional pain experienced throughout the life of the injured or permanently disabled child. Those who have the care responsibilities of such special needs children know full well the overwhelming cost and requirements of time associated with providing them the services and attention they deserve. If we find that a valid claim exists against a responsible health care provider, Nash & Associates stands ready, willing and able to assist you and your child in the recovery of those expenses and the compensation to which the law entitles you and/or your child for the pain and suffering caused by the negligence of others.
If your child suffers from the devastating effects of birth injury, we invite you to discuss his or her birth and the obstetrical care with us. We will provide you with a thorough analysis of your potential case and assist you in making the proper determination of whether or not you should pursue legal action.
Medical malpractice lawyers are the legal professionals who are best equipped to handle birth injury cases. For more information about birth injuries, or other medical malpractice and personal injury cases, please contact the birth injury attorneys at Nash & Associates or use our online contact form.
Contact Us Now!
