Burbank Birth Injury Lawyer
Having a baby should be one of the happiest times of your life. However, on occasion, due to someone else’s negligence, it can quickly change and become a nightmare. A birth injury is a traumatic event for both mother and baby to go through.
Birth injuries typically occur while the baby is in transit through the birth canal. For most babies, this is a smooth process, with no complications. In other instances, there are serious injuries as a result. A birth injury can result in high medical costs and lingering emotional pain.
If your child has suffered due to a birth injury, it is essential you get a personal injury attorney. A qualified Burbank birth injury attorney can help you pinpoint the responsible party and help you file a claim. No act of negligence by medical personnel should be excused.
Burbank Attorney for Birth Injuries, CA
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one in every 33 babies that are born in the United States, suffers from some form of birth injury. Childbirth is a complicated procedure that has no room for carelessness. A person who was negligent in their role during childbirth should be held responsible.
During birth, you are completely at the mercy of medical personnel. There is no room for recklessness during a childbirth procedure. The Burbank lawyers at Yarian & Associates, APC are compassionate for mothers and their children suffering from a birth injury. We understand the legal and ethical duties that medical professionals must follow. Our attorneys are familiar with medical malpractice cases and aggressively pursue the compensation they deserve.
Call (844)291-1911 or submit an online contact form today.
Overview for Birth Injuries in Burbank
- Common Birth Injuries
- Obstetrical Birth Injuries
- Possible Causes for Birth Injuries
- Additional Resources
Common Birth Injuries
There are two major injuries that occur at birth; brain injury due to lack of oxygen during childbirth and birth injury suffered due to trauma. Birth injuries are also likely to occur if the fetus is lying in an abnormal position in the uterus before birth.
A birth injury can occur when a fetus is too large and the birth canal is too small. It is often seen in mothers with diabetes. Larger babies require doctors to use forceps and vacuums which can contribute to the baby’s injuries. Birth injuries can result in life-long medical and emotional costs.
According to Medscape, some of the most common types of birth injuries include:
- Broken Bones and bruising, common in the collarbone, skull, or arm
- Cerebral palsy
- C-section Delay or Mistakes
- Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section (VBAC) Complications
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
- Umbilical Cord Problems
- Injury from Improper Use of Forceps or Vacuum Suction
- Shoulder Dystocia Complications
- Brachial Plexus Injury
- Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injuries (BPI)
- Intracranial Hemorrhage/Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Spinal Cord and Cranial Nerve Injuries
- Facial Paralysis
- Caput Succedaneum
- Cephalhematoma
Additionally, prolonged labor can also be a factor leading to long-term injury. It is up to the doctor’s or mother’s discretion to deliver the baby via caesarian delivery based on ultrasonography and prenatal assessment findings.
Birth injuries are not limited only to the child. Negligence in a childbirth procedure can also lead to complications with the mother. Some common birth injuries that can happen to the mother include:
- Injuries from Anesthesia
- Failure to Diagnose and Treat Preeclampsia
- Incontinence of Bladder or Bowel
- Improper Use of Pitocin
- Sheehan’s Syndrome
- Pregnancy Induced Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
- Stroke, Hypoxia or Anoxia
- Amniotic Fluid Embolism
- Delay or Failure to Perform Cesarean Sections
- Injuries from Improperly Performed Episiotomy
- Impaired Sexual Function
- Massive Hemorrhage
- Death
Obstetrical Cesarean Injuries
There are many situations during childbirth that require an emergency obstetrical cesarean section. If proper steps are not taken by medical professionals, the fetus can suffer from severe hypoxia or asphyxia, or other significant brain injuries.
An obstetrical emergency requires delivery within 15-20 minutes or less in order to prevent serious brain and birth injuries to the baby. Some common obstetrical emergencies include:
- Umbilical cord compression during labor and/or delivery
- Prolapse of the umbilical cord during delivery
- Uterus Rupture
- Separation of the placenta before delivery
Possible Causes of Birth Injuries
It’s estimated that almost half of all birth injuries are avoidable. Medical professionals are required to find a proper diagnosis of all the fetal and maternal risk factors. This information will assist the hospital personnel to successfully deliver the baby without complications.
Some common negligent actions to cause a birth injury include:
- Pitocin Dosing Errors
- Failure to Detect or Respond to Signs of Fetal Distress
- Failure to Treat Umbilical Cord Problems or Placental Abruption
- Failure to Detect or Treat Maternal Infections
- Failure to Regularly Monitor Fetal Heart Rate
- Delayed Cesarean Section Delivery
- Improper Management of Shoulder Dystocia
- Excessive Force when using Forceps or Vacuum
Additional Birth Injury Resources
Infant Health – Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and see their research and data regarding child and birth injury mortality rates. Find resources for infant mortality rates in different areas, birth injury stats compared between Europe and the U.S, and trends in circumcision for male newborns in the U.S.
Birth Injury Types – Visit the Birth Injury Guide’s website, a site staffed by a birth injury advocacy group to produce the most comprehensive birth injury information source available. Read about different types of birth injuries including brachial plexus, Erb’s palsy, shoulder dystocia, Klumpke’s palsy and others.
Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice – Visit the BirthInjuryJustice.org, a site dedicated to giving information about birth injuries, medical malpractice, and families affected by birth injuries. See a list of birth injuries and statistics for medical malpractice with childbirth.
Find a Burbank Attorney for Birth Injuries
Nothing is more difficult than knowing that your child has suffered due to the negligence of a doctor or hospital. A birth injury results in a lifetime of care and medical expenses for the families involved. If your child has been injured in a birth injury, it is best that you contact a personal injury attorney.
Compensation can never completely fix or repair the damage caused by a birth injury. However, financial recovery may help pay medical and emotional costs that are triggered by the incident. The attorneys at Yarian & Associates, APC have handled many medical malpractice cases and have gained settlements in the millions. Yarian & Associates, APC approaches every client with caring and understanding. We want to help you recover and be your partner in this legal process. Our attorneys have handled cases throughout the greater Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area and surrounding cities including Los Angeles, Burbank, Visalia, Long Beach, Pasadena, Irvine, Riverside, Fresno, San Bernardino, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills.
Our firm has the experience, resources, and knowledge necessary to successfully litigate your birth injury claim. Call our office today at (844)291-1911 to schedule a free consultation.
Yarian Accident & Injury Lawyers Burbank Office
700 N Central Ave Suite 470
Burbank, CA 91203
(818) 459-4999
