Birth Injuries

New Jersey and New York Birth Injury Lawyers

The birth of a child is an eagerly anticipated event. When things go wrong and the baby is injured or killed during birth, the grief is hard to bear. Birth injuries that result from negligence or misconduct are a form of medical malpractice. Parents may be able to file suit against the medical professionals or institutions involved in the pregnancy, labor, or delivery of their baby. Babies injured as a result of medical malpractice may need hospitalization, corrective surgery, or care for life. An experienced lawyer may be able to help obtain the funds to pay for needed treatment and other costs of the birth injury.

Act promptly

At the law firm of Koles, Burke & Bustillo, L.L.P., we have helped many parents seek the compensation they need and deserve after their child has been injured. We have filed claims against hospitals, obstetricians, doctors, anesthesiologists, midwives, nurses, and other medical professionals whose negligence or misconduct damaged the baby. If your baby was injured at birth, it is important to obtain legal advice as soon as possible after the event. This prevents the destruction of evidence and lapses in memory by witnesses that can make a difference between success and failure in a birth injury case.

Common causes of injuries at birth

Our clients include parents whose baby suffered birth trauma as a result of:

• Failure to monitor
• Failure to timely deliver
• Failure to perform a c-section
• Failure to screen child for congenital defects
• Misuse of forceps and vacuum extractors
• Misuse of labor inducing drugs such as Pitocin
• Failure to perform maneuvers to reposition baby during birth
• Failure to estimate baby’s birth weight correctly
• Failure to recognize uterine rupture

Mistakes such as these can lead to oxygen deprivation, nerve damage, and lacerations. The child may have cerebral palsy and other types of brain damage, Erb’s palsy, or shoulder dystocia.

Maternal injuries

In addition to helping parents seek compensation for injuries to their baby, we also sue when mothers are hurt. We have filed claims for mothers who were released too soon from the hospital, who contracted septicemia or another infection following delivery, and whose excessive blood loss was not treated in a timely manner. In these claims, and in claims arising from injuries to the child, we consult with medical experts who can help us identify the source of the mistake and determine the degree of negligence.

To speak with an attorney who can advise you about your rights and options following an injury to your baby during birth, contact an attorney at Koles, Burke & Bustillo, L.L.P. to discuss your rights and your options.

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