Birth Injuries
A birth injury can be defined as any harm to a baby that takes place during or around the time of birth. If a baby suffers an injury during childbirth, they may suffer a wide variety of injuries. These birth injuries can come with a lifetime of complications or can tragically lead to death. Here are the most common birth injury cases our Long Island birth injury lawyer typically sees:
Cerebral Palsy
A neurological disorder that can leave a child permanently disabled. This injury can result from a lack of oxygen during delivery and causes damage to motor areas in the child’s brain that can significantly affect muscle control and cause developmental delays. While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are treatments available to manage symptoms and help adults and children live as independently as possible.
Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy, or brachial plexus palsy, is an injury that is characterized by the paralysis of a child’s shoulder, arm, or hand. The brachial plexus nerves are damaged during the childbirth process and typically occurs due to excessive pulling on a child’s head or neck during delivery, pulling on their feet in a breech delivery, or the child’s head, neck, or shoulders getting stuck in the birth canal or under the pelvic bone during delivery.
Many children with Erb’s palsy make a full recovery. However, some children need additional therapies to recover. In more severe cases, the child may not regain use of the injured limb.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spine is an essential part of the body that sends signals to the brain that allows it to control the limbs. A spinal cord injury during childbirth can interrupt these necessary signals and impact your child’s ability to move and sensory abilities. Spinal cord injuries can occur during delivery if the doctor pulls on the child’s spine too hard. These injuries can lead to a lifetime of complications for your child, but treatment can prevent the damage from worsening.
These birth-related traumas can result in injuries for you and your baby and may require care for the remainder of a child’s life. Ongoing medical care and treatments can place a lot of stress both emotionally and financially for you and your family, so it is essential that you contact an experienced Long Island birth injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact Us
At Winkler Kurtz, LLP, we have decades of experience helping victims of medical negligence. We are devoted to helping our clients achieve the necessary compensation so they can focus on healing. Our experienced Long Island birth injury lawyers will work with you to yield your desired results through this challenging process. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.