If your child suffered a birth injury caused by negligent medical care, you may feel overwhelmed by the challenges ahead. The trusted Severna Park birth injury attorneys with Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. are here to help your family demand justice for your child’s injuries. With our team advocating for you, you can hold the at-fault medical professionals accountable and secure the compensation needed to support your child’s future.
What Are Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries occur when medical errors during labor and delivery result in harm to the baby or mother. These injuries can range from mild to severe, often leaving lasting physical or emotional challenges for families. In many cases, birth injuries are preventable and stem from avoidable mistakes made by healthcare providers.
Examples of birth injuries include cerebral palsy, which can result from oxygen deprivation during delivery, and brachial plexus injuries, often caused by excessive force during childbirth. Skull fractures and other forms of trauma may also occur when improper techniques or tools are used. These injuries not only affect the child’s physical health but may also require ongoing medical treatment, therapy, and care.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries Due to Medical Negligence
Medical errors during pregnancy, labor, and delivery are often the root cause of preventable birth injuries. From failing to recognize complications early to making critical mistakes during delivery, negligence can lead to devastating outcomes. Identifying these errors is essential for holding responsible parties accountable and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Delayed C-Section
Delaying a cesarean section despite clear signs of fetal distress can result in severe complications, including oxygen deprivation or permanent brain damage. For instance, prolonged labor without intervention can lead to hypoxia, which significantly increases the risk of cerebral palsy. Obstetricians must monitor fetal heart rates closely and act promptly when abnormalities indicate a need for surgical intervention.
In many cases, failure to perform a timely C-section occurs due to miscommunication within the medical team or a lack of preparedness for emergencies. These delays can have lifelong consequences, affecting the child’s ability to develop and thrive. Families facing such situations often feel frustrated knowing the harm could have been avoided with proper care. Attorneys with expertise in birth injury cases can uncover whether the delay was preventable and fight for the compensation families need.
Improper Use of Delivery Tools
Forceps and vacuum extractors are critical tools for assisting with challenging deliveries, but their misuse can result in devastating injuries for newborns. Head trauma, skull fractures, and brachial plexus injuries are common when these instruments are applied with excessive force or incorrect positioning. Such errors often stem from inadequate training or a failure to exercise caution during delivery.
The consequences of improper tool use extend beyond physical injuries. Babies with severe head trauma may face developmental delays, while shoulder dystocia caused by excessive pulling can result in permanent nerve damage. By consulting medical records and expert testimony, birth injury attorneys can determine whether negligent use of delivery tools played a role in causing harm.
Failure to Recognize Fetal Distress
Monitoring the fetal heart rate is one of the most critical responsibilities during labor and delivery. Abnormal heart rates, oxygen deprivation, or reduced fetal movement often signal potential complications that require immediate medical intervention. Failure to recognize or respond to these warning signs can result in devastating outcomes, including stillbirth or lifelong disabilities.
Negligence in fetal monitoring may include ignoring abnormal patterns on a fetal heart rate monitor or misinterpreting signs of distress. These lapses can leave families questioning why medical staff did not act sooner to protect their child. Attorneys with experience in birth injury cases investigate whether proper protocols were followed and whether delays in action contributed to the injury.
Medication Errors
Labor-inducing drugs, such as Pitocin, require careful monitoring to avoid complications for both the mother and baby. Incorrect dosages can cause uterine hyperstimulation, reducing oxygen supply to the baby and increasing the risk of brain damage. Additionally, administering the wrong medication or failing to adjust dosages based on the mother’s condition can lead to severe adverse effects.
Medication errors also occur during pain management or when antibiotics are used to prevent infections. Mistakes in this area may lead to maternal complications, prolonged labor, or harmful side effects for the newborn. Birth injury lawyers analyze medical records to identify whether improper medication use played a role in the injury and work to hold negligent providers accountable.
When negligence is suspected, it is critical to act quickly. Our Severna Park birth injury lawyers have extensive experience identifying these errors and holding healthcare providers accountable. By reviewing medical records, consulting experts, and investigating hospital practices, we work to uncover the truth and secure justice for families.
The Lifelong Impact of Birth Injuries on Families
Birth injuries often create lifelong challenges for children and their families. Physical disabilities, such as mobility issues or paralysis, can limit a child’s ability to participate in everyday activities. Cognitive impairments or developmental delays may also require specialized education and long-term therapy. For families, the emotional toll of witnessing their child’s struggles can be immense.
The financial burden of birth injuries is equally significant. Families may face ongoing expenses for medical care, therapy, adaptive equipment, and home modifications. Special education programs and caregiving support can further strain financial resources. These costs often last for years or even decades, adding to the stress parents experience while trying to provide the best possible care for their children.
Legal Rights for Families Affected by Birth Injuries in Severna Park
Families in Severna Park have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim if medical negligence caused a preventable birth injury. These claims can cover both economic damages, such as medical bills and lost income, and non-economic damages, such as emotional distress and loss of companionship. In Severna Park, the Maryland Health Care Malpractice Claims Statute provides a framework for filing these claims, ensuring families have a clear path to seek justice.
Damages can include ongoing care costs, therapy, and even home modifications for children requiring assistive devices. Local families often face unique challenges, such as coordinating care through Severna Park healthcare facilities, which underscores the importance of local legal representation. With the help of Severna Park medical malpractice attorneys, families can feel confident pursuing the compensation they need to support their child’s future.
How Severna Park Birth Injury Attorneys Can Help You
Severna Park birth injury attorneys provide a range of services tailored to your family’s needs, beginning with a comprehensive review of medical records to identify errors or negligence. They consult with leading local and national medical experts to gather evidence and assess whether the standard of care was breached during labor and delivery. With this thorough preparation, attorneys can build a strong case that holds healthcare providers accountable.
Steps to Take After Discovering a Birth Injury
If your child suffered a birth injury, taking immediate action can make a significant difference in securing the compensation your family deserves. Following these steps helps preserve evidence, protect your legal rights, and strengthen your claim:
1. Consult a Severna Park medical malpractice attorney.
Schedule a consultation with attorneys experienced in handling birth injury claims. These professionals will evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and guide you through the process. A local attorney’s familiarity with Severna Park healthcare providers and courts offers a strategic advantage when pursuing compensation.
2. Obtain a copy of your medical records.
Your Severna Park birth injury lawyer will gather all records from your pregnancy, labor, and delivery, paying close attention to any notes or reports that may indicate errors. These records serve as the foundation for evaluating whether negligence occurred. Be sure to include documents from local Severna Park hospitals or clinics, as they can provide critical insight into the circumstances surrounding the injury.
3. Seek a second opinion from a medical professional.
Consult with a trusted doctor or specialist to confirm the injury and determine its cause. A second opinion is essential for identifying whether medical errors contributed to your child’s condition. Severna Park families may find valuable resources through nearby pediatric care facilities or specialists in Maryland with experience evaluating birth injuries.
By taking these steps promptly, families can lay the groundwork for a strong legal case. Partnering with Severna Park birth injury attorneys ensures your family receives the support and advocacy needed to move forward.
Why Choose Us as Your Best Birth Injury Law Firm in Severna Park?
Our firm is proud to bring decades of specialized experience to birth injury cases in Severna Park. We have successfully handled cases involving complex medical errors, from improper fetal monitoring to delayed cesarean sections, securing life-changing compensation for families. With a proven history of advocating for clients in challenging medical malpractice cases, we are deeply committed to delivering meaningful results for families affected by birth injuries.
What makes our approach unique is the level of personalized attention we provide to every family. We know that every case is different, which is why we take the time to understand your child’s specific needs and the circumstances surrounding the injury. Our team uses advanced resources, including partnerships with medical experts, to build a strong, evidence-based case. By focusing on thorough preparation and compassionate representation, we offer families the guidance and support they need to move forward.
Severna Park Birth Injury FAQs
What is the statute of limitations for birth injury claims in Maryland?
In Maryland, families generally have three years from the date the injury was discovered or five years from the date the injury occurred, whichever is sooner, to file a medical malpractice claim under Maryland Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-109. This law ensures parents have sufficient time to understand the severity of the injury and consult legal experts. The statute of limitations for a child will not expire until their 21st birthday. However, it is important to note that this timeline can vary depending on the circumstances. For instance, if the injury renders the victim cognitively impaired, the statute may never expire.
Acting quickly is critical to building a strong case. Evidence such as medical records, witness testimony, and expert evaluations must be collected and analyzed promptly to ensure accuracy and credibility. Delays can lead to challenges in accessing key documentation or verifying facts. Consulting with an experienced birth injury attorney early on provides families with a clearer understanding of their legal options and strengthens their claims.
How do I prove negligence caused the birth injury?
To prove negligence, your attorney must demonstrate that the healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care, directly leading to your child’s injury. This process often involves a thorough review of medical records to identify signs of errors, such as delayed C-sections or improper use of delivery tools. Attorneys frequently collaborate with medical experts who can testify about how the standard of care was breached. For example, if fetal heart rate monitoring showed distress that was ignored, this could indicate negligence.
Negligence can also include medication errors, failure to communicate critical information among the medical team, or unpreparedness for complications. Your attorney will gather evidence to link the negligent actions directly to the injury, leaving little room for dispute. By presenting this evidence convincingly, your attorney builds a case aimed at holding the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
What compensation can I recover in a birth injury case?
Compensation for birth injury claims often addresses both immediate and long-term needs. Economic damages include medical expenses for surgeries, therapies, and specialized care, as well as future costs such as rehabilitation and assistive devices. Families may also recover lost wages if a parent has to leave their job to care for their child. These tangible losses are calculated carefully to provide financial stability for years to come.
Non-economic damages are equally important in these cases. Families may seek compensation for the emotional distress and pain caused by the injury, as well as the loss of enjoyment of life. For example, a child with a permanent disability may require lifelong care, which places immense emotional and financial strain on their family. An experienced birth injury attorney evaluates every aspect of your situation to ensure that the compensation fully reflects the impact on your family’s quality of life.
Connect With Our Top-Rated Birth Injury Lawyers in Severna Park Today
When medical negligence causes a birth injury, your family deserves trusted legal guidance to pursue justice. A compassionate Severna Park birth injury lawyer with Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. is ready to help you hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. Call our office or use our secure contact form to arrange your free consultation and take the first step toward protecting your child’s future.