A birth injury is one of the most frightening moments a parent can face. Your baby was supposed to arrive safely, and now you are facing questions no family should have to ask. If your family is experiencing this heartache, an Allentown birth injury lawyer at Wapner Newman can help you understand what happened and pursue the support your child deserves.
We know this is one of the most frightening moments a parent can face. At Wapner Newman, we have stood beside Pennsylvania families for 40 years, and we are ready to stand beside yours. We see you, we hear you, and we are here to listen. This kind of injury is never only a medical event, because it reaches into your child's future, your daily routine, and your peace of mind.
You do not have to sort through the medical records or the hospital's explanations on your own. Our team works to find honest answers, and when a preventable mistake caused your child's injury, we work to hold the responsible parties accountable. To talk with us for free, call (215) 569-0900 today.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONHow Can an Allentown Birth Injury Lawyer Help Your Family?
An Allentown birth injury lawyer helps your family by investigating what went wrong, working with medical professionals to review the care your child received, and pursuing compensation for the treatment your child may need for years to come. That is the short answer, and the rest of this page explains how we do it.
Birth injury cases are among the most complex in personal injury law. They involve detailed medical records, fetal monitoring strips, and the testimony of doctors who can explain what should have happened during labor and delivery.
Our role is to carry that weight for you. While you focus on caring for your child, we gather the evidence, consult with qualified medical professionals, and build a clear picture of how the injury occurred. When the facts show that a provider failed your family, we advocate firmly on your behalf.
There is also no cost to get started. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing up front and owe no fee unless we recover compensation for your family.
What Is a Birth Injury?
A birth injury is harm a baby suffers before, during, or shortly after delivery, often because of a problem that could have been prevented with proper care. Some birth injuries heal on their own, while others lead to lifelong conditions that require ongoing therapy and medical support.
Not every difficult birth involves negligence. Sometimes complications happen even when doctors and nurses do everything right. The question our team asks is whether the medical staff followed accepted standards of care, and whether a different choice could have protected your child.
Many parents first sense that something is wrong when a child misses early developmental milestones. Trusting that instinct and asking questions is a healthy first step, and understanding the type of injury often points toward what caused it.
Common Types of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries take many forms, and the effects range from temporary to permanent. Families we speak with are often coping with one of the following:
- Cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that affect movement and posture, sometimes linked to a lack of oxygen during delivery. You can learn more from the CDC.
- Brachial plexus injuries, including Erb's palsy, which affect the nerves that control the arm and hand. The National Library of Medicine offers a plain-language overview.
- Oxygen deprivation, known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, which can cause lasting brain damage.
- Fractures, bruising, or nerve damage tied to difficult deliveries or improper use of forceps or a vacuum.
- Infections that were not diagnosed or treated in time.
Each of these injuries carries its own medical and emotional weight, and our team takes the time to understand exactly how yours has affected your family.
What Causes Preventable Birth Injuries?
Preventable birth injuries are usually caused by a medical mistake, such as failing to monitor the baby's oxygen levels, delaying a needed cesarean section, or misreading warning signs during labor. When a provider misses these signals, a healthy delivery can turn into a lifelong injury.
Many of these mistakes trace back to simple failures in communication or attention. A nurse may not alert the doctor quickly enough. A physician may not order the right test at the right time.
Other preventable errors include mishandling a breech position, failing to plan for a larger-than-average baby, and not treating a mother's high blood pressure. Each of these situations calls for prompt, careful attention from the delivery team.
Certain risk factors also raise the stakes during delivery. According to the CDC, low birth weight, premature birth, and infections during pregnancy can each increase a child's risk, which is exactly why careful monitoring matters so much.
When medical staff know these risks and still fail to respond, the results can be devastating for a family. In those moments, accountability is not about blame. It is about making sure your child has what they need to move forward.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATIONProving Medical Negligence in a Birth Injury Claim
Proving a birth injury claim means showing that a medical provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care, and that this failure directly caused your child's injury. This is a high bar, and it is where seasoned legal help makes a real difference.
Pennsylvania law adds specific requirements to these cases. Before a medical malpractice claim can move forward, the court requires a certificate of merit, which is a signed statement confirming that a qualified professional reviewed the records and found a reasonable basis for the claim.
Our team of birth injury attorneys in Allentown handles these steps for you. We collect the fetal monitoring records, the nursing notes, and the delivery timeline, then work with medical professionals who can explain where the care fell short.
Based on decades of handling Pennsylvania injury cases, we know how insurers and hospitals tend to respond. We prepare each case as though it will be presented to a jury, because thorough preparation protects your family's position at every stage.
We also understand how much your family is carrying right now. That is why we handle the paperwork, the phone calls, and the deadlines, keeping the process as steady and clear as we can while you focus on caring for your child.
Compensation and Support for Your Child's Future
Compensation in a birth injury case is not about money for its own sake. It is about securing the medical care, therapy, and daily support your child needs to live as full a life as possible.
A serious birth injury can bring costs that stretch across a lifetime. Families often face expenses they never planned for, and fair compensation helps carry that burden. Planning for a child's long-term needs takes real resources, and a well-built claim looks ahead to the care your child may require as they grow.
A birth injury claim may seek to recover:
- Past and future medical bills, including surgeries, medications, and hospital stays.
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
- Assistive equipment, home modifications, and long-term nursing care.
- Early intervention and special education services, which you can read about through IDEA.
- Pain, suffering, and the loss of life's ordinary joys.
No amount of money can undo what happened, but these resources can open doors to a stronger future for your child. That is the justice we pursue on your family's behalf.
How Long Do You Have to File a Birth Injury Claim in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years, but the rules for children are different and more protective. Because these deadlines can be complicated, the safest step is to speak with a lawyer as soon as you have questions.
The general two-year deadline comes from 42 Pa.C.S. Section 5524. For injuries to a child, Pennsylvania law often pauses, or tolls, that clock, though medical malpractice matters can carry added limits, so it is wise to have the exact dates reviewed.
We do not want any family to lose the chance to seek justice because of a missed date. Even if you may still have time, acting early helps us preserve records and speak with witnesses while memories are fresh. A short phone call today with our medical malpractice lawyer can protect your family's options tomorrow.
Why Families Across Allentown Choose Wapner Newman
Families across the Lehigh Valley turn to us because they want a team that treats them like people, not case numbers. From the neighborhoods near Cedar Beach Park to families closer to the PPL Center, we have earned trust one family at a time. Many births in our area take place at hospitals throughout the Lehigh Valley, and we are proud to help local families seek accountability when care goes wrong.
Here is what shapes our approach:
- Four decades of experience representing injured Pennsylvanians in medical malpractice and birth injury matters.
- A record of significant verdicts and settlements, including tens of millions recovered for injured clients and families.
- A compassionate team that keeps you informed and explains each step in plain language.
- No fee unless we recover compensation for you, so cost is never a barrier to getting help.
When you work with us, you gain a dedicated advocate who understands both the law and the heartbreak your family is living through. We treat our clients like extended family, because that is how we would want our own loved ones treated. To learn how a birth injury lawyer in Allentown at our firm can help, call (215) 569-0900 for a free consultation.
Compassionate Help for Allentown Families
You did not choose this path, but you do not have to walk it alone. An Allentown birth injury lawyer at Wapner Newman is ready to hear your story, answer your questions, and help you understand your options with honesty and care.
We know that reaching out takes courage, especially while you are caring for a child who needs you. There is no pressure and no cost to simply learn where you stand. When you are ready, we are here for you.
FAQs Answered by Our Allentown Birth Injury Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the questions Allentown families ask us most often about birth injury claims.
How do I know if my child's birth injury was caused by negligence?
You may not know right away, and that is completely normal. The clearest way to find out is to have the medical records reviewed by a legal team that works with qualified medical professionals. We can examine the delivery timeline and help you understand whether the standard of care was met.
What does it cost to hire a birth injury lawyer in Allentown, PA?
At our firm, an initial consultation is free, and we handle birth injury cases on a contingency basis. That means you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for your family. This approach lets you seek answers without adding financial strain during an already difficult time.
Can I still file a claim if my child is a few years old?
Possibly, yes. Pennsylvania provides special protections for children that can extend the time to file, though medical malpractice deadlines have their own rules. The safest move is to contact us promptly so we can review the specific dates in your situation.
Who can be held responsible for a birth injury?
Responsibility depends on the facts of your case. Depending on what the records show, a claim may involve an obstetrician, a nurse, an anesthesiologist, or the hospital itself. We work to identify every party whose actions may have contributed to your child's injury.
Will my case have to go to trial?
Not necessarily. Many birth injury claims are resolved through settlement, but we prepare every case as though it will go before a jury. That preparation often encourages insurers to offer fair compensation without the need for a trial.
How long does a birth injury case take?
Every case is different, and the timeline depends on the injury, the medical evidence, and the response of the other side. Some cases resolve in a matter of months, while others take longer to reach a fair result. We keep you informed at each stage, so you are never left wondering.
What if I already spoke with the hospital's insurance company?
It is still worth talking with us. You are not required to give a statement to another party's insurer, and doing so can sometimes affect a claim. We can take over those conversations, so you can focus on your child.
Talk With an Allentown Birth Injury Lawyer Today
Your family deserves answers, support, and a team that will fight for your child's future. When you are ready to take that first step, an Allentown birth injury lawyer at Wapner Newman is here to help you move forward with confidence and care.
Reach out today for a free, confidential consultation. Call us at (215) 569-0900 and let us help you protect what matters most.
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