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Birth Injuries

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• $6.5 Million Settlement for Child Injured at Birth...Posted on 1/13/2009
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Birth Injuries

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Birth Injuries

The birth of a baby is one of the most joyous events in a parent's life. Unfortunately, the event can be marked by feelings of helplessness, frustration, fear and despair if the baby has suffered an injury as he or she made their way into the world.

Approximately 28,000 birth injuries occur every year in the United States - which is equivalent to one every three hours. Babies can suffer injuries during the birthing process due to factors such as prolonged labor, premature birth, breech birth (buttocks or feet first), and incorrect medical procedures.

There are a number of common malpractice mistakes that result in birth injuries. Medical malpractice occurs when the care provided by a health care professional deviates from accepted standards of care in the medical community and results in an injury or death to the patient.

Common Malpractice Mistakes

While some birth injuries can not be prevented, those due to incorrect medical procedures are often the result of negligent care by a doctor or nurse.

• Improper insertion and monitoring of IUDs
• Failure to conduct proper physical examinations
• Failure to ascertain medical history
• Improper use of Pitocin, a hormone used to induce labor
• Failure to recognize and diagnose complications during gestation
• Failure to recognize and respond to umbilical cord entrapment
• Failure to respond to fetal distress
• Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractor
• Delay of necessary caesarean section
• Poor care after birth

Common Injuries

The effects of a birth injury can be temporary and minimal, or lifelong and debilitating. Common birth injuries include:

• Caput succedaneum (severe swelling of the scalp)
• Cephalohematoma (bleeding in the head)
• Bruising/forcep marks
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage (breakage of small blood vessels in the eyes)
• Facial paralysis
• Brachial palsy (damage to nerves in the shoulders, arms, and hands)
• Fractures
• Cerebral palsy

Birth Injury Lawsuits

Children who suffer from a birth injury may require lifelong care, which can amount to millions of dollars. Parents of children who have suffered a birth injury should consult a medical malpractice attorney who specializes in birth injuries.

Every state has a statute of limitations that limits the time to file a personal injury lawsuit, so parents should contact an attorney promptly after the injury is diagnosed.

If your child was injured during birth (or soon after) you may be entitled to compensation to assist your family with medical and other expenses related to the care of your child.

The Law Office of Kiley Law Group will evaluate your case for FREE and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us toll-free 1-800-410-2769.

Massachusetts personal injury lawyer, Thomas M. Kiley, is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is a respected member of the American Association for Justice and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.

The personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Kiley Law Group are dedicated to helping the victims of:

• Car, motorcycle, truck, van or bus accident
• Single vehicle accidents such as SUV or 15-passenger van rollovers
• Pedestrian accidents such as a hit and run
• Defective products such as ineffective airbags or seatbelts, prescription drugs with unpublicized side-effects, or hazardous children's toys
• Child injury and child abuse such as negligence
• Birth injuries such as trauma during labor or cerebral palsy

We Serve Clients Across the State of Massachusetts
The firm's headquarters are in Andover, MA and serves the following cities in Massachusetts: Boston, Danvers, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Middleton, Reading, and Salem, MA and Salem, New Hampshire.