Parents spend months preparing for the birth of their baby with the hopes that they have a healthy baby after delivery. Unfortunately, if a doctor is negligent during the delivery, it is possible that something can go wrong and result in birth injuries to a baby. This can lead to significant physical, emotional, and financial damages. While financial compensation cannot fix everything, it can help cover these damages. If your child sustained a birth injury, it is important to retain the services of an experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney for assistance.
What are Common Birth Injuries?
There are a variety of different injuries that can occur as a result of negligence during birth. Two of the most common birth injuries are cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy. When a child suffers from cerebral palsy, it is usually due to a lack of oxygen to their brain. This can cause mental handicaps, speech impairment, hearing problems, sight problems, difficulty walking, seizures, muscle spasms, and more. Often times, this is preventable unless a doctor fails to detect or treat infections during pregnancy, monitor fetal heart rate, detect a prolapsed umbilical cord, or perform a cesarean when necessary. Erb’s palsy is when a baby’s arm becomes paralyzed due to injured nerves in the arm. This can happen if the doctor excessively pulls or twists the child and is forceful during childbirth.
Why Do I Need an Attorney?
When a person is facing a serious matter such as medical malpractice, it can be a very frightening time in their life. These lawsuits can be difficult and hard to win. It is because of this that it is important to not take action alone. Victims or the victims’ parents should enlist the help of an experienced and aggressive attorney to take on their case for them. A proper attorney can effectively gather and present evidence on behalf of their client to fight for the compensation they deserve.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Individuals who wish to fight for compensation after a birth injury occurs should be aware of the statute of limitations. This is a deadline that is placed on how long an injured party or their guardian has to file a personal injury claim to pursue legal action. If they do not meet this deadline, they may lose their opportunity to recover the compensation they need. In the state of Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is two years from when the injury is discovered.
Contact our Firm
If you or a loved one has been in a personal injury accident in Pennsylvania, it’s important that you contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney to help you with your case and to make sure that you are not taken advantage of. Contact Spear Greenfield to get the right attorney in your corner.
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