Indianapolis Birth Injury Lawyer

Every year, an estimated 120,000 babies in the United States are born with a birth injury, one of every eight infants. Common birth injuries can range from mild to severe and affect any part of the baby’s body. Some severe birth injuries include cerebral palsy, brachial plexus, and Erb’s palsy.

Birth injuries are caused by numerous problems, including labor and delivery problems, infections, premature birth, and genetic disorders. Some birth injuries can be prevented by receiving early prenatal medical care and having a skilled obstetrician present during labor and delivery.

Was your baby born with a birth injury? The personal injury attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, are legal advocates for families with babies born with serious birth injuries.

National Birth Injury Statistics and Facts

Each year, an estimated 3,000 infants in the United States die due to birth injuries. Additionally, an estimated 25,000 babies are left with permanent birth injury disabilities.

These numbers only reflect the children who die or are permanently disabled; countless other infants and families suffer from less severe but nonetheless significant birth injuries.

• Most birth injuries are preventable
• The most common type of birth injury is a fractured bone
• The most common cause of birth injuries is excessive force or traction during delivery
• The risk of a birth injury increases with each additional delivery

Birth injuries can cause long-term health problems for the child as well as emotional distress for the parents

The statistics on birth injuries are alarming and underscore the importance of prevention. By understanding the risks associated with childbirth and taking steps to minimize those risks, we can help ensure that all babies have a safe and healthy start to life.

Indiana Birth Injury Statistical Data

According to the Indiana Department of Health, the state has a birth injury rate of 2.1 per 1,000 births. This means that for every 1,000 births in Indiana, approximately 21 babies are born with a birth injury. While this number may seem high, it is lower than the national average of 3.3 per 1,000 births.

Despite this lower rate, any birth injury is a cause for concern. Birth injuries can occur for various reasons, including issues with the baby’s health, problems with the umbilical cord or placenta, and complications during labor and delivery.

Some birth injuries are minor and require minimal treatment, while others can be life-threatening or result in long-term disabilities.

If you or your child has suffered a birth injury, it is important to seek legal help immediately. A skilled birth injury attorney can help you understand your rights and determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit.

Causes of Indianapolis Common Birth Injuries

Each year in the United States, an estimated 3.9 million babies are born. For most of these births, everything goes as planned, and the baby is delivered healthy and without incident. However, for some babies, things do not go as smoothly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately more than 120,000 infants are born with a birth injury every year.

While the specific cause of any individual birth injury can vary greatly, many common causes account for most injuries sustained by newborns. Some of these causes include problems with the baby’s position in the womb, difficulties with labor and delivery, and infections in the mother or baby.

Causes of most birth injuries:

• Failure to monitor for fetal distress: When a fetus is not monitored regularly, health complications can go undetected and lead to birth injuries.
• Improper use of medical instruments: Birth injuries can also be caused by the improper use of medical equipment and birth assisting tools, such as forceps or vacuum extractors.
• Premature birth: Premature babies are at a higher risk for birth injuries due to their underdeveloped organs and tissues.
• The improper use of medication: Can also lead to birth injuries. For example, the use of Pitocin can cause excessive uterine contractions.
• A cord prolapse: Birth injury occurs when the umbilical cord slips out of the baby’s vagina before delivery, cutting off the baby’s oxygen supply.
• Breech presentation: When the baby is positioned feet-first in the womb instead of head-first. This increases the risk for birth injuries such as cerebral palsy.
• Infection during pregnancy: Infection during pregnancy can cause premature labor and birth injuries.
• Placental abruption: The placenta is a thin layer of tissue that attaches to the wall of the uterus and supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. Placental abruption is a separation of the placenta from the uterus wall before delivery, which can cut off the baby’s oxygen supply.
• Bone fractures: These occur from medical errors, mishandling the child during delivery, or medical negligence.
• Perinatal asphyxia: The result of inadequate oxygen intake during the birthing process. Perinatal asphyxia often involves ischemic insult or hypoxia within close temporal proximity to the peripartum (labor) and intrapartum (delivery process).
• Shoulder dystocia: Caused by improperly handling of birth assisting tools during the birthing process. Shoulder dystocia is the result of the child’s shoulders becoming stuck in the birthing canal against the mother’s pelvis.
• Twins or multiple births: Twins or multiple births are more likely to experience birth injuries than single births due to increased size and weight.
• Trauma during labor: Trauma during labor, such as a difficult delivery or a breach in sterile procedures, can cause birth injuries.
• Umbilical cord entrapment: The umbilical cord can become trapped around the baby’s neck during delivery, cutting off the baby’s oxygen supply.
• Congenital abnormalities: Some congenital abnormalities, such as spina bifida, increase the risk for birth injuries.
• Maternal health conditions: Maternal health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can increase the risk for birth injuries.
• Lack of prenatal care: Prenatal care is essential for detecting potential problems that could lead to birth injuries
• Poor nutrition: Poor nutrition in the mother can lead to birth injuries.
• Diabetes: Mothers with diabetes risk giving birth to babies with birth injuries.
• Drug or alcohol use by the mother: Can increase the risk for birth injuries.
• Age of mother: Mothers over 35 are at increased risk for having babies with birth injuries.

However, fetal distress is one of the most common causes of birth injuries. Fetal distress occurs when the baby’s heart rate or oxygen levels drop unexpectedly, putting the baby at risk for many potential injuries.

If you are pregnant or know someone who is pregnant, it is important to be aware of these causes of birth injuries so that you can take steps to reduce your risk of having a child with a birth defect or injury.

Health Complications Arising from Birth Injuries 

Birth injuries can occur when something goes wrong during labor and delivery. They can range from mild to life-threatening and can cause a wide variety of health problems for the newborn. Some of the most common birth defects and health complications arising from birth injuries include:

• Cerebral Palsy: Oxygen deprivation can cause cerebral palsy, a permanent disorder that affects movement and muscle coordination.
• Premature Birth: Babies born prematurely are at risk for birth defects and injuries.
• Brachial Plexus: Avulsion occurs when the spinal cord is separated from the nerve’s root. Typically, brachial plexus injury leads to various conditions affecting the upper limbs. Many birth injury cases involving brachial plexus are irreversible.
• Fetal Distress: When a baby experiences distress in the womb, it can lead to birth injuries, including cerebral palsy.
• Brain Bleeds: Birth injuries, including brain damage and cerebral/Erb’s palsy, can be caused by brain bleeds.
• Infections: When in the mother or baby can lead to birth injuries.
• Oxygen Deprivation: A lack of oxygen can cause birth injuries, including Erb’s palsy.
• Traumatic Birth: Traumatic births can cause birth injuries, including cerebral and Erb’s palsy.
• Birth Asphyxia: A lack of oxygen to the baby during birth is known as birth asphyxia. Without air to the brain it can cause irreversible birth injuries.
• Bone Fractures: During delivery most likely will  heal within a few months.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Statistically, spinal cord injuries are among the most severe injuries during delivery involving damage to the spinal cord, nerves, or meningeal tears.
• Facial Paralysis: Usually permanent and occurs by birth trauma. Typically, newborns with facial paralysis do not have other birth defects or health issues.
• Umbilical Cord Strangulation: Typically, strangulation birth injuries occur when a tangled umbilical cord cuts off the baby’s oxygen supply and causes birth injuries, including cerebral palsy.

Indianapolis Birth Injury Lawyers Helping Surviving Family Members Following a Birth-Related Death

An estimated 28 babies die each day from birth injuries in the United States. When a loved one dies due to a birth injury, the family is left to mourn and cope with the tragedy.

For many families, dealing with the death from medical malpractice is difficult enough without worrying about how they will afford to pay for their medical bills and burial costs.

Birth injury lawyers help surviving family members following a birth-related death by providing representation and support during this difficult time. With years of experience in this area of law, our Indianapolis birth injury lawyers can help families get the answers and fair compensation they deserve.

Our lawyers are experienced in birth injury cases helping families navigate the legal system after a birth-related death. They can provide guidance and support during this difficult time, and they may be able to help families receive financial compensation for their losses.

If you have lost a child due to a birth injury, contact a birth injury lawyer to learn more about your options. They can help you overcome this difficult time and make your voice heard.

Indianapolis Birth Injury Attorneys Can Help You Recover Compensation

Was your child born with a birth injury caused by medical negligence? Indiana provides numerous legal options, including filing medical malpractice cases against the medical professional, hospital, and others responsible for causing the child or mother harm.

When you file a birth injury lawsuit, you seek compensation for your child’s injuries. This money can help cover the costs of medical care, therapy, and other expenses related to your child’s injury.

Additionally, a successful lawsuit can help hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and prevent them from harming other families in the future.

• Investigate the incident. A birth injury lawyer will work to determine what happened during the birth that led to the injury. This often includes reviewing medical records and speaking with medical professionals involved in the birth.

• File a birth injury claim on behalf of the child. A birth injury lawyer will file a claim on behalf of the child, seeking damages for their injuries to initiate the legal process for financial compensation.
• Represent the child in court. If the case goes to trial, the birth injury lawyer will represent the child in court and argue on their behalf.
• Negotiate a settlement with the opposing party. If a settlement of the child’s injuries can’t be reached, the birth injury lawyer will negotiate on behalf of the child to try and get them the best possible outcome.
• Advise parents on their legal options to benefit their child’s life. The birth injury lawyer will advise parents on their legal options and help them understand what next steps need to be taken.
• Assist with filing paperwork. The lawyer will help parents of the affected child file all necessary paperwork with the court, making the process easier.
• Collect evidence to support the case. The lawyer will collect evidence to support the case, such as medical records and witness statements.
• Cross-examine witnesses at trial. The lawyer will cross-examine witnesses who testify at trial, ensuring they are thoroughly questioned about their testimony.
• Appeal if necessary. If the court makes an unfavorable ruling, our Indianapolis birth injury attorneys will appeal the decision on behalf of the child.
• Help parents receive assistance to alleviate their financial burden during this challenging time.

The birth injury lawyer will help parents receive financial assistance during this difficult time, often through settlements or verdicts obtained in court.

If you would like to learn more about filing a birth injury lawsuit, please contact us today. We would be happy to answer any of your questions and can provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Indianapolis Birth Injury Attorneys Can Help You Resolve Your Birth Injury 

Do you suspect that medical malpractice harmed your unborn or newborn child? Do you believe that your doctors’ or other medical professionals’ failure to follow protocols led to your child’s birth defect?

Our Indianapolis birth injury attorneys specialize in medical malpractice cases. Our medical negligence legal team holds health care providers financially accountable for their negligence that negatively altered the child’s life.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your birth injury case. We accept all birth injury claims on a contingency fee agreement. This promise ensures you pay nothing until your Indiana birth injury lawyers resolve your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.