There are few things more exciting than bringing a new child into your family. Unfortunately, labor and delivery can be dangerous, even in New York, where we have access to some of the best doctors and hospitals in the country. But thankfully, if you’ve been searching for a birth injury lawyer, Winkler Kurtz can be an option for you.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in an average year, there are over 4 million childbirths in U.S. community hospitals, making it the most common reason for hospitalization. The majority of these births end well, with a healthy mother and baby.
Yet in some cases, a doctor or other medical professional is negligent, which can lead to serious injuries or even death. The AHRQ reports that in a single year, 157,700 mothers and babies suffered birth trauma. In these situations, a skilled Long Island birth injury lawyer can help families recover the compensation that they need to help them move forward with their lives.
Winkler Kurtz, LLP is committed to helping the families of birth injury victims recover compensation to help them pay for the lifelong care and treatment that they will often require. Contact us today by phone at 631-928-8000 or email us to schedule a consultation with an experienced Long Island birth injury lawyer.
How Common Are Birth Injuries in the U.S.?
Birth injuries include any type of physical trauma to a baby that occurs during labor and childbirth. A birth injury may be mild, such as a bruise, or severe — causing nerve damage, a brain injury or even death.
While most of us view childbirth as a relatively safe and straightforward medical procedure, the reality is that birth injuries happen with surprising frequency. Data extrapolated from an AHRQ report indicates that approximately 28,000 babies are born each year with a birth injury — or one baby every 20 minutes. The AHRQ found that 1.7 newborn males and 1.5 newborn females were injured for every 1,000 births.
Generally, newborns covered by public health insurance (such as Medicaid) are slightly more likely to suffer birth injuries than those covered by private insurance. However, the rate of birth injuries is roughly the same in the wealthiest areas of the country as it is in the poorest locations. Injuries to newborns occurs most often in non-urban areas. According to the AHRQ, the Northeastern area of the United States has one of the highest rates of injury to newborns.
These numbers demonstrate that birth injuries happen far too often in the United States. Perhaps more importantly, many birth injuries are severe, causing injuries and conditions that may be debilitating or even lead to death. This increases the need for a birth injury lawyer for assistance.
Types of Birth Injuries
If a newborn suffers trauma during childbirth, he or she may suffer a range of injuries, with complications that can include lifelong illnesses or even death. As Long Island birth injury lawyers, we most commonly see the following types of birth injury malpractice cases:
- Erb’s Palsy: also called Brachial Plexus palsy, this birth injury is often caused by doctor applying excessive force if a baby’s shoulder is stuck under a mother’s public bone, resulting in damage to the nerve bundles in the shoulder region.
- Cerebral Palsy: this injury can be related to lack of oxygen during delivery, resulting in damage to the motor areas in the baby’s brain that disrupt his or her ability to control the body’s movements or posture.
- Kernicterus: an excess of bilirubin in a baby’s blood can cause extreme jaundice, leading to brain damage. If properly diagnosed and treated, kernicterus will not generally cause an injury.
- Cervical Dystonia: pressure on a baby during a difficult birth may cause a head, neck or shoulder injury, leading to the muscles of the neck contracting and drawing the head forward, backward, or to the side.
- Fractures: during some deliveries, a baby may suffer a broken collarbone, or a broken arm or leg.
- Spinal Cord Injury: a baby’s spinal cord may be damaged due to excessive traction or rotation during delivery. A severe spinal cord injury may lead to death.
- Cranial Nerve Injury: if the head is compressed during delivery by the use of forceps or as the head passes by the sacrum, it may result in temporary or permanent paralysis and disfiguration.
These and other birth traumas may result in injuries that require care for the remainder of a child’s life. The need for ongoing medical care and other treatment makes it all the more important for families who have suffered this type of medical malpractice to contact a skilled Long Island birth injury lawyer as soon as possible after the birth of their child.
Work with a Long Island Birth Injury Lawyer
The attorneys of Winkler Kurtz, LLP have more than 75 years of combined experience helping victims of all types of negligence, including medical malpractice. We are devoted to helping our clients recover for their losses, so that they can focus on healing and recovery.
As experienced Long Island birth injury lawyers, we know how to get results so that you can focus on what is important: your family. We will guide you through the process and work diligently to get you the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today at 631-928-8000 or contact us online anytime to schedule a consultation with a birth injury lawyer.
Need A Personal Injury Lawyer Near Stony Brook, NY? Welcome to Winkler Kurtz LLP
Serving residents of Stony Brook, Rocky Point, Port Jefferson, Miller Place, and Setauket.
Have you recently become injured due to an accident that was no fault of your own? Are you worried about how this is going to affect your future? If you live in the Long Island area, our team at Winkler Kurtz, LLP, will be there for you. Our personal injury lawyer near Stony Brook, NY, can help ensure you remain financially protected after an incident such as this occurs.
What Is A Personal Injury Lawsuit?
A personal injury lawsuit occurs when one person suffers an injury or trauma that may have been caused by another party. When this happens, the person responsible for making the damage take place can be held legally accountable. It can look like different things depending on the incident, but rest assured that our personal injury lawyer near Stony Brook, NY, will work tirelessly until serving justice.
Common Types Of Personal Injury Lawsuits
- Motor vehicle accidents.
- Medical malpractice.
- Wrongful death.
- Workplace accident.
- Premises liability.
- Product liability.
- Slip and fall cases.
Burden Of Proof
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of a personal injury lawsuit revolves around what is known as the burden of proof. In personal injury cases, the plaintiff carries the burden of proof. This means that the plaintiff’s legal team is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant caused the accident in question. Our personal injury lawyer near Stony Brook, NY, knows what goes into doing this and will provide the burden of proof to the court.
Potential Outcomes
When you decide to work with our team here at Winkler Kurtz, LLP, you give yourself the best chance of receiving a favorable outcome in the courtroom. Depending on the accident that occurred and the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to various damages. Our personal injury lawyer near Stony Brook, NY, will do everything they can to secure the full package of damages. These can include:
- Compensation for medical bills that come from the injury.
- Loss of income.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
- Wrongful death.
- Punitive damages.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyer near Stony Brook, NY
After serving the Long Island community for over 30 years, our team at Winkler Kutz, LLP, is confident we can provide you with adequate legal representation. If you’re looking to file a personal injury lawsuit, there is no better team to hire. To get this process started, be sure to contact our personal injury lawyer near Stony Brook, NY, today.
What Types of Cases does our Personal Injury Lawyer Take?
Motor Vehicle Accidents
The Long Island personal injury attorneys of Winkler Kurtz, LLP have substantial experience handling cases involving motor vehicle accidents, including:
We aggressively pursue compensation for our clients through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, and when necessary, litigation. Our highly skilled trial lawyers understand how to get results so that our clients can move forward with their lives after an accident.
Workplace Injuries
At Winkler Kurtz, LLP, we assist injured workers who have been hurt in a number of ways, including:
- Scaffolding/Ladder Falls
- Struck by an Object
- Machinery/Equipment Injuries
- Slip and Falls
- Construction Accidents
- Serious Injuries
- Wrongful Death
While not every work accident will lead to a personal injury claim, a full investigation of the facts in the case is necessary to ensure you are properly compensated and that all negligent parties are held accountable for your injuries. Our Long Island personal injury attorneys are adept at analyzing cases involving workplace injuries and helping our clients obtain the best possible outcome for their losses.
Medical Malpractice
Generally known as medical malpractice, these claims can encompass a wide range of injuries, such as:
- Birth Injury
- Brain Injury
- Misdiagnosis
- Wrongful Death
- Surgical Errors
- Hospital Negligence
- Failure to Diagnose
The lawyers of Winkler Kurtz, LLP understand the complexities of medical malpractice cases, which can involve an extraordinary number of files and the need for expert witnesses. We have helped hundreds of clients recover from injuries caused by negligent medical professionals and secured favorable outcomes for all damages sustained as a result of these careless acts.
Work with a Personal Injury Lawyer near Stony Brook, NY
To schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers, contact us by phone at 631-928-8000 or contact us online.