Westchester County Birth Injury

As parents, we often take the birth of a healthy child for granted. Unfortunately birth injuries frequently occur. It is estimated that 27 children out of 1000 born will be the victim of a birth injury. What is even more unsettling, these injuries can happen unexpectedly during any part of the birth process. Cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy are often seen in these cases, usually from oxygen deprivation or another type of brain injury. These types of injuries can cause a lifetime of profound disability for the child, depending on the severity of the injury. If your child has suffered a birth injury as a result of a medical misdiagnosis or some other type of medical malpractice, it is important that you immediately contact an experienced Westchester County birth injury attorney who will help you pursue compensation for your child's injuries.

Common types of birth injuries

There are a variety of birth injuries that can be caused due to the negligence of a medical professional. Some of the most common birth injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Brachial plexus injuries
• Perinatal asphyxia
• Intracranial or subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Cerebral palsy
• Spinal cord injuries
• Erb's palsy
• Cuts and abrasions

Causes of birth injuries

Current statistics report that 27 of every 1,000 births will involve a birth injury. Injury to the child can happen at any stage during the delivery process. A medical professional's negligence could injury a newborn baby in a number of scenarios.

• The child is deprived of oxygen during delivery. Often this is caused by the umbilical cord being twisted or compressed;
• Mechanical trauma occurs because of the position of the child, or if the baby is too large to pass through the birth canal;
• Medical mistake/negligence by medical staff during delivery. These mistakes can occur just before, during or after delivery. Often unnecessary force is used to deliver the child or using incorrect rotational force during delivery.
• Improper fetal monitoring can result in medical mistakes. If the child has not been closely monitored, the medical team will be unprepared for a challenging delivery, and injury can result.

In some cases the effects of physician error is only temporary and will improve in its own over time. In other case the injury can be fixed through corrective medical intervention. However, in still other cases injured children will need life-long full-time care and will never experience the quality of life that all parents hope for their children. The cost of the care of a child born with a serious, permanent condition is well beyond the means of most families. Fortunately, families may be able to receive compensation from the negligent parties in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice is negligence on the part of a health care provider and occurs when the health care provider departs from accepted medical practice, resulting in the injury to or death of the patient. When this happens the patient or the patient's family is entitled to recover damages including past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates

Birth injuries can leave a family emotionally and financially devastated. Learning that the condition was preventable and caused by the errors of healthcare workers only adds to the emotional pain. If you suspect that your child's medical problems are due to an error by a medical professional, you have the right to demand compensation through a medical malpractice claim. If Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling claims from people injured due to the mistake of a healthcare worker. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

---