Chicago Birth Injury Attorney

This is a form of disability that arises as a result of damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth. Oxygen deprivation is the main cause of this kind of injury. Cerebral palsy usually manifests itself by weak/spastic muscles and diminished motor skills. In some instances, it may also lead to cognitive disabilities.

This is named after the brachial plexus – nerves that control the movement of the shoulder, arm, and hand. The child may suffer an injury when these nerves get stretched or torn during birth. These kinds of injuries occur due to the improper handling of the newly-born. This especially happens when the baby is too large or is roughly positioned in such a way that smooth delivery becomes difficult. The majority of cases of brachial plexus injuries are temporary. In severe cases, however, the child may suffer some form of permanent immobility of the arm.

Bell’s palsy is a paralysis of the facial nerve. This often occurs during complicated or assisted births. A newborn may suffer Bell’s palsy due to the improper use of forceps or as a result of excess pressure during delivery. In many instances, this paralysis heals on its own after a while. Where it doesn’t, the child may require surgery to correct the anomaly.

This injury is not as common as the others named above, but it is in fact another potential childbirth injury. A newborn may have bone fractures as a result of the improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction during an assisted birth. Collarbone fractures may also be caused due to slow or difficult labor or delivery.

As a neonatal injury, scalp-related bleeding, swelling, or bruising is also a common birth injury. Some instances of this include the swelling of the scalp due to excess pressure from the birthing process or through the use of birthing devices, or bleeding beneath the protective membrane covering the skull of a newborn. Swellings or bleeding will usually recede on their own. Bleeding beneath the skull may however trigger seizures or lead to brain damage in a newborn.

Spinal cord injuries are one of the birth traumas a newborn can go through. Often occurring due to the improper use of birthing equipment, the injury may lead to complete paralysis or cause neurological problems including lack of muscle control. You have a right to file a claim for financial compensation if your newborn has suffered any of these injuries as a result of negligence on the part of your doctor or medical professional. Be assured that at Uchelitigation, we will not let your injury go without remedy.

A mother and the child are entitled to quality medical treatment. The medical professional has a duty of care that must be rendered within the ‘standard of care’. The standard of care will of course be determined by what is expected of a reasonable health giver under those circumstances. Any medical personnel that fails such standard of care may be deemed to have committed medical negligence or medical malpractice. That this negligence occurred as a result of error, accident, oversight or omission doesn’t matter. Once the medical personnel fails in the duty of care during delivery, they can be held liable for any injury to the child or mother. If you believe your medical professional failed in the duty of care owed to you and that this resulted in an injury to you or your child, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced Chicago birth injury attorney. We will examine the situation and advise appropriately on your legal options.