Your child’s birth was undoubtedly one of the most wonderful moments in your life. Everything seemed perfect at the time, but now, months later, you aren’t so certain. Your child just doesn’t seem to be developing as quickly as expected, or they may have unexpected medical complications, which means you’ve got concerns and questions, like “What are the signs and symptoms of birth injuries?” Thankfully, we have answers, and our compassionate attorneys can help you file a birth injury lawsuit if your child is affected.
If you believe your child is showing signs of a birth injury, don’t wait another day to act. Contact Wapner Newman right away at (215) 569-0900 to learn more about your legal options in Philadelphia.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Birth Injuries?
Recognize the Signs to Protect Your Child
Detecting a birth injury can be tricky, even if you have already had children before. Every child — especially every newborn baby — is different. One may sleep 20 hours daily, and another may be wakeful and extremely active, making it incredibly tricky to identify behavioral abnormalities.
Similarly, physical symptoms may not be obvious. Most babies will likely exhibit a few birth injury symptoms, even when completely healthy. You should try to identify as many as possible and consider their severity before consulting with an attorney.
Common symptoms that appear immediately after birth include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Sensitivity to light
- Breathing difficulties
- Bruises, abrasions, or indentations on the head
- Seizures
- Weak muscles
- Difficulty eating or suckling
- Muscle stiffness or an arched back (especially while crying).
These are all potential warning signs and symptoms of birth injuries that have caused brain or nerve damage. If you detect any of these signs (especially several of them at once), consult with a pediatrician and a birth injury attorney right away.
Later Signs of a Birth Injury
Even though the term “birth injury” implies that the damage was done at birth, the signs of said damage often do not show for months or even years. Just because you couldn’t identify any birth injury symptoms immediately after your child’s birth doesn’t mean you should stop looking. Often, signs of cerebral palsy and similar conditions start to show between 12 and 24 months of age. During that time frame, you should look for the following symptoms:
- A lack of speech development
- Difficulty crawling or transitioning to walking
- Poor memory retention
- Muscle spasms
- Hearing or vision problems
- Subdued responses to intense stimuli (like loud noises).
These signs may indicate that your child suffered a previously undiagnosed birth injury that has caused brain or nerve damage.
Common Birth Injuries
There are several types of injuries that your child may suffer during birth, with the chances of their occurrence depending entirely on the mistakes that doctors or nurses make during the delivery process. Some injuries are relatively superficial, whereas others can cause a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Wapner Newman can help you determine the severity of any harm inflicted on your child and evaluate how much compensation will be necessary to support your child in their battle against those injuries and conditions.
Clavicle Fractures
One of the most common types of orthopedic birth injuries, damage to the clavicle occurs when too much pressure is placed on the collarbone during birth, which may make it difficult for your child to breathe or move their arms. Thankfully, these fractures should heal naturally if treated appropriately, but they can limit development if left untreated.
Cerebral Palsy
Doctors and nurses are supposed to monitor the oxygen intake of your child during birth. If they allow those levels to fall too low, your child can suffer brain damage, one common consequence of which is cerebral palsy. If your baby contracts the condition, they will need assistance with everyday activities for the rest of their life.
Nerve Injuries
When any type of pressure is placed on a baby’s major nerve during childbirth, it can cause serious damage. While permanent total paralysis is uncommon, temporary paralysis or permanent partial paralysis is common. If your child has been harmed in such a way, you can receive money for the medical treatments and equipment that they will need to compensate for their disability.
Extracranial Head Injuries
The least concerning extracranial head injuries are abrasions that heal after a few days, but the most frightening are skull fractures that can go on to place pressure on the brain, the latter of which is often caused when a doctor uses forceps to deliver a baby.
That pressure can affect vision, slow down brain development, or cause internal bleeding. If your child doesn’t get immediate medical treatment, they may die, and even with treatment, these injuries can permanently affect the development of your child.
Treatment for birth injuries is often quite expensive. If said injuries were inflicted due to the negligence of a medical professional, you shouldn’t have to pay for them yourself. Contact Wapner Newman today at (215) 569-0900 for help getting the compensation you deserve.
When to File a Birth Injury Lawsuit in Philadelphia
When you identify that your child is exhibiting birth injury symptoms, you should consult with a birth injury law firm like Wapner Newman immediately. Our injury lawyers will help you find a trustworthy doctor to evaluate your child to determine whether they suffered a birth injury.
We will also investigate the circumstances of your child’s birth, asking questions that include the following: Did the doctors and nurses give you the appropriate amount of attention? Were they carefully monitoring your child during labor and appropriately responding to abnormalities? Were they following hospital policy?
These are all important questions that need to be answered; and if we identify any signs that lean toward medical personnel being negligent during your child’s birth, that is precisely when to file a birth injury lawsuit. Nevertheless, the sooner you come to us, the better, as Pennsylvania law limits the time parents have to act after discovering their child suffered a birth injury.
It will not be valid if you wait more than two years to file your claim. Your child can still file a claim until they turn 20, but that may be a lot more difficult, given developmental difficulties.
Why Choose Us?
Experience Matters in Birth Injury Cases
At Wapner Newman, we have an excellent record of success in getting substantial settlements for our clients, because we understand what is necessary to win birth injury cases. While other law firms may be willing to settle for lesser compensation, we always work to maximize your compensation. We will continue to dig for evidence until no stone is left unturned, ultimately resulting in higher settlements and favorable jury verdicts.
The key to winning any birth injury lawsuit is proving that medical negligence led directly to your child’s injuries, and we are experienced enough to identify signs of negligence. In addition, we bring in other medical professionals as witnesses to support our case.
We also provide compassionate support for clients in your position, directing you to resources to help mitigate the harm your child is suffering. If you need any help, ask, and we will do everything we can to ease your pain.
Birth Injury Law Firm in Philadelphia
Birth injuries are a terrifying reality for thousands of parents across the country. Thankfully, Wapner Newman has a long history of helping scared parents get the money and resources they need to support a child who has suffered a birth injury.
If your child has suffered a birth injury in Philadelphia, contact Wapner Newman immediately at (215) 569-0900 to get a free consultation and learn about your legal options.
FAQs about Birth Injury
If your child has been hurt due to negligence during childbirth, you likely have lots of questions. We have the answers you need.
Can I get compensation for facial scarring?
Yes. Scarring may not arrest the development of your child, but it will create lifelong difficulties and potentially limit their companionship, and you can receive non-economic compensation for that kind of suffering.
Should I sue the doctor or the hospital for a birth injury?
That depends on the circumstances of the injury. Wapner Newman will investigate your claim and determine who is most liable. In some situations, we may file a birth injury lawsuit against both parties.
How long will a birth injury lawsuit take?
Typically, a birth injury lawsuit will take a few months to complete. Most of that time is spent collecting evidence, after which most lawsuits end with a settlement. However, if the insurance company won’t settle, a trial could take years to complete.
Can I get a free consultation?
Yes, we give every client a free consultation, whether or not they choose to retain our law firm.
How much will Wapner Newman cost?
We charge a contingency fee, which means we take a percentage of your winnings and nothing more.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Our doors are always open for clients.