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Birth Injuries
Attorneys Who Advocate for Victims of Birth Injury in the San Francisco Bay Area
Legal Help in Oakland After the Trauma of Birth Injury
The joy of childbirth can quickly turn to pain when a doctor makes a mistake in the delivery room. Obstetric care is important throughout pregnancy. If a doctor fails to meet the standard of care at any point in the process, both the infant and the mother can suffer devastating consequences. At the Law Offices of John E. Hill, P.C., our attorneys support parents and newborns impacted by medical negligence.
For families struggling with the effects of a serious birth injury, we provide comprehensive legal representation at all stages of a claim. Our lawyers are passionate advocates for victims of medical malpractice, and we fight tirelessly to get our clients the compensation they deserve.
Understanding Different Types of Birth Injuries
Injuries at birth are often caused by lack of oxygen or physical trauma. Consider the following common forms of birth injury:
- Cerebral palsy — Though sometimes caused by abnormalities that develop in the brain prior to childbirth, cerebral palsy can also result from lack of oxygen during the birth process. The symptoms of cerebral palsy, including exaggerated reflexes and lack of muscle coordination, make the condition appear muscular, but it is neurological in nature. Cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but early intervention can improve functional capability.
- Damage to the brain — Lack of oxygen to the brain due to delayed delivery, physical trauma or other factors can cause severe fetal injuries, permanent disability and even death.
- Brachial plexus palsy — Damage during childbirth to the nerves that control movement of the hand, forearm, arm and shoulder is referred to as obstetric brachial plexus injury. Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy are caused by nerve damage in the shoulder, elbow and wrist.
- Facial nerve palsy — Damage to the seventh cranial nerve during delivery may cause facial drooping. Facial paralysis may resolve on its own or require additional treatment or therapy. In some cases, the paralysis is permanent.
Birth injuries may result from inadequate medical care. Successfully negotiating or litigating a birth injury claim depends upon identifying medical professional’s decisions and practices during the process that contributed to the injury.
Our attorneys carefully examine the circumstances of your child’s injury, gather evidence from medical records and seek reliable analysis from experts when necessary. While decisions made by attending physicians may be the root cause of the injury, clinical management and procedures on the delivery floor or in the delivery room of a hospital may come into question. Depending on the factors, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the doctor, hospital or both.
Birth injuries are heartbreaking and often preventable. If you decide to take legal action against the negligent parties, guidance from an experienced attorney can be crucial to the outcome of your claim.
Learn More About Your Right to Compensation in a Birth Injury Claim
At the Law Offices of John E. Hill in Oakland, California, our lawyers focus on improving the lives of those injured as a result of others’ negligence. If you, your child or another loved one was a victim of medical malpractice, you have a right to seek coverage for the financial costs, emotional anguish and other damages you suffer as a result. Contact us online or call (510) 588-1000 today to schedule a free initial consultation. Hablamos español.