Relentless Advocacy When You Need It Most
As your birth injury lawyer in Dayton, OH from Cowan & Hilgeman may discuss with you over a consultation, when a child has suffered from a birth injury, symptoms may be immediately present and unmistakable. Signs of birth injuries are highly variable, based on the type of the injury and the body parts or organs affected. There are some signs that you may notice soon after delivery, while others you may not notice until your child is a few years old. Each case of birth injury is different, as there are many ways that a newborn baby may suffer birth trauma.
Common Causes Of Birth Injuries
While some birth injuries are natural, many are due to negligence. If your child’s injury resulted from a doctor’s carelessness, you may have a medical malpractice case on your hands. Here are some common causes of birth injuries.
- Oxygen deprivation. Infants can be deprived of oxygen if there is a lack of blood flow to the brain during the delivery process. This can occur if the infant becomes entangled in the umbilical cord.
- Improper use of forceps. Forceps are a necessary tool for delivering babies. However, if they are used incorrectly, infants can suffer serious injuries, like brain damage, eye injuries, nerve damage and facial palsy.
- Failure to perform a C-section. If a vagina delivery is too dangerous, it is necessary to perform a C-section. It’s critical for doctors to recognize when a C-section is needed. If they fail to perform a C-section in time, the infant could suffer permanent damage.
- Medications. Doctors may administer various medications during the labor and delivery process. However, if they’re administered incorrectly or the doctor doesn’t carefully monitor the mother for side effects, birth injuries can occur.
Birth injury symptoms that may be present right after being born include:
- Breathlessness or rapid breathing
- Need for resuscitation
- Turning blue or pale
- Lethargy
- Low heart rate
- Slow breathing
- Drooling excessively
- Nausea or vomiting
- Seizures (may look like strange movements)
- Difficulty swallowing or feeding
- Crying and arched back
- High-pitched crying, grunting, irritability
- Hand curled into claw shape
- Favoring side of body
- Muscle stiffness or weakness
- Weak reflexes
Birth injuries can manifest in various ways during the first two years of a child's life. Parents and caregivers should watch for several concerning symptoms, including difficulty with grasping and holding objects, the development of hearing problems, and delayed or absent speech development. The child may also show signs of poor motor control, experiencing a loss of control over body movements or struggling with basic mobility milestones such as crawling or walking. Feeding difficulties may emerge, with the child having trouble drinking or eating properly. Other warning signs include involuntary neck movements, difficulty achieving developmental milestones like standing or sitting independently, and overall poor coordination. If any of these symptoms are observed, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
If your child has any of these symptoms after the age of two years old, then they may have sustained a birth injury and you should contact an Ohio birth injury lawyer in Dayton from our law firm now:
- Language or speech impairments
- Trouble with motor skills
- Developmental disability like epilepsy or autism
- Tremors
- Hearing or vision problems
- Lack of speech
- Difficulty with comprehension or learning
- Issues with drinking, eating, or dressing
- Rigidity of muscles
- Problems with climbing stairs or running
Without getting prompt diagnosis and treatment, the baby's birth injuries may worsen and lead to severe complications, impacting them for the rest of their life. It is the responsibility of the doctor to identify and quickly attend to any signs of birth injury. A doctor should also run appropriate tests if anything occurred during labor or delivery that may have caused injury to the baby. If you need advice about a possible medical malpractice lawsuit, contact a birth injury lawyer in Dayton, Ohio from Cowan & Hilgeman today.
If your child suffered an injury at birth, you may want to consult a birth injury lawyer in Dayton, OH. Your family may be entitled to compensation. A lawyer can help you file a timely lawsuit and protect your legal rights.
Contact Our Dayton Birth Injury Lawyers
If your child’s birth injury resulted from medical negligence, it is critical to seek experienced legal help as soon as possible. Birth injury cases are complex and often require expert review of medical records, consultation with specialists, and testimony to determine what went wrong during labor or delivery. Our team understands these medical and legal challenges and works to secure compensation for lifelong medical care, therapy, and other expenses.
We will thoroughly investigate your case, analyze your medical records, interview witnesses, and consult with trusted medical experts to establish negligence. Then, we will negotiate aggressively with the doctor’s insurance company to recover a fair settlement — and we are prepared to go to trial if necessary.
Learn more about your rights by visiting our personal injury lawyer page or contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced birth injury attorney.
Types Of Birth Injury Cases We Handle
When complications occur during pregnancy or delivery, families can face difficult challenges. Birth injuries may lead to long-term medical needs, ongoing care, and financial strain. Since 1994, Cowan & Hilgeman has helped clients with a range of birth injury cases. Our goal is to help families pursue the support they need. Read on to see what a Dayton, OH birth injury lawyer from our office can do for you, and contact us today to get started.
Cerebral Palsy Cases
Cerebral palsy can result from a lack of oxygen to the brain during labor or delivery. We review medical records and circumstances to determine how the condition developed and whether preventable mistakes played a role.
Brachial Plexus Injuries
These injuries occur when the nerves in the shoulder are stretched or torn during delivery. Your Dayton birth injury lawyer can investigate whether improper use of force or failure to act quickly may have caused lasting damage.
Erb’s Palsy Cases
Erb’s palsy is a form of brachial plexus injury that affects movement in the arm. As your neonatal injury lawyer, we can pursue cases involving improper delivery techniques that may have led to this condition.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
This condition happens when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen and blood flow during delivery. We examine whether medical professionals recognized warning signs in time to prevent long-term harm.
Shoulder Dystocia Cases
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder becomes stuck during delivery. If not managed correctly, this situation can cause serious injury. We handle claims where improper response may have caused permanent damage.
Fractures During Delivery
Bone fractures sometimes occur when too much force is used during delivery. A newborn injury lawyer from our team can represent you as you deal with the impact of these injuries.
Delayed Cesarean Section Cases
When complications arise, a timely C-section may be necessary. We handle cases where delays in decision-making or action led to harm for both mother and child.
Facial Nerve Injuries
Pressure on the baby’s face during delivery can cause nerve damage, leading to weakness or paralysis. We review cases where improper use of delivery tools may have caused these injuries.
Brain Damage From Prolonged Labor
Extended labor can increase the risk of oxygen deprivation and brain injury. We look into whether proper monitoring and timely intervention could have prevented lasting effects.
Wrongful Death Cases
In the most severe cases, mistakes during pregnancy or delivery may result in the loss of a child. We work with families to pursue justice when negligence has led to such tragic outcomes.
Contact Us Today
Birth injuries affect the entire family and often create long-term challenges. Each case requires careful review to identify what went wrong and how it could have been prevented. Our goal is to help families hold the responsible parties accountable and recover the resources needed for care and support. At Cowan & Hilgeman, we are here to listen, provide guidance, and take action on your behalf - and with a range of legal services from birth injuries to surgical errors, we’re ready to walk you through your next steps. Contact us today, and see how a Dayton birth injury lawyer from our team can make a difference.
