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New York Birth Injury Attorney Representing Clients in Troy

You should be able to expect that your obstetrician and the other members of your medical team will provide a high quality of care throughout your pregnancy, and during labor and delivery. However, any kind of mistake or error can result in a serious birth injury that can leave your newborn with serious and life-altering injuries. In some situations, birth injuries can be fatal. If you recently gave birth and your child sustained a birth injury, it is critical to seek advice from a Troy birth injury lawyer as soon as possible. Our firm can help you to hold your healthcare provider accountable and to seek the compensation you will need to cover your baby’s medical care and treatments.

What is a Birth Injury in Troy, NY?

Birth injuries can vary widely in type and severity. According to Stanford Children’s Health and the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, a birth injury is a term that is used to describe any kind of physical injury that occurs in the process of being born. In some cases, you may hear a birth injury described as birth trauma. Sometimes birth injuries are relatively minor and will heal in a short time, while other birth injuries result in life-long disabilities for the child.

Troy, New York Types of Birth Injuries

Birth injuries take many forms, and some do not have immediate symptoms although they can result in significant disabilities and may be life-threatening to the infant. The following are some of the most common types of birth injuries:

Photograph of doctor talking to a patient

Head injuries

Head injuries

Head injuries are the most common form of birth injury, and they can take many forms. Minor head injuries can include scalp scratches or bruising of the scalp, which do not tend to be serious injuries and likely will heal in a matter of days. However, serious brain and head injuries can include a skull fracture, a subgaleal hemorrhage (which is bleeding underneath the baby’s scalp), or a cephalhematoma (which is bleeding below the baby’s periosteum). Skull fractures and subgaleal hemorrhages are particularly dangerous, and they can result in rapid blood loss.

Brain bleeding

This type of injury is related to head injuries, but it is important to understand that there are various types of brain bleeding that can vary in terms of severity, as well as locations around the brain. Brain bleeding can take the form of a hemorrhage or a hematoma. Brain bleeds are more common in premature births, but they can affect full-term infants, as well. The most common type of brain bleed is a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which involves bleeding below the membranes that cover an infant’s brain. This kind of hemorrhage can coincide with apnea and seizures.

Nerve injuries

There are various types of nerve injuries that can occur in labor and delivery. Facial nerve injuries usually will resolve themselves, but injuries to the brachial plexus and spinal cord can result in life-long disabilities for a child. A brachial plexus injury is an injury to the bunch of nerves between an infant’s neck and shoulder. Brachial plexus injuries can result in Erb palsy or Klumpke palsy, which can result in weakness from the shoulder down to the hand and wrist. Spinal cord injuries are infrequent, but they do occur and can result in paralysis. In most cases, spinal cord birth injuries result in permanent harm.

Fractures and bone injuries

Fractures and bone injuries

Clavicle fractures, humerus fractures, and femur fractures are among the most common types of bone injuries that occur as birth injuries. Clavicle injuries in particular—or fractures to the collarbone—can occur in as many as one to two percent of all newborn babies, and it can take several days for clear signs to appear.

Soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries

Swelling and bruising are the most common types of soft tissue injuries, and they typically result from the use of instruments used during the labor and delivery process. Most soft tissue injuries do heal within weeks or months of birth, but some may require significant treatment.

Liability for Troy Birth Injuries

Who is liable for birth injuries that occur in and around Troy, New York? Depending upon the particular facts of your case, one or more healthcare providers may be responsible for your infant’s birth injuries. Examples of parties who may be at fault can include but are not limited to:

Obstetrician-gynecologist (Ob-gyn) who provided care for the mother during the pregnancy, or who delivered the baby;
Nurse practitioner who provided care for the mother during the pregnancy, or who delivered the baby;
Midwife who delivered the baby;
Physician’s assistant who assisted in labor and delivery;
Nurse who assisted in labor and delivery; or
Hospital or other medical facility where the birth occurred.

Contact Our Troy Birth Injury Attorneys

Do you need assistance filing a birth injury claim? Our Troy, NY birth injury lawyers are here to help. Contact Powers & Santola, LLP today for more information about our services.

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Changing Lives for the Better

When someone injures you, your life gets turned upside down. Suddenly, you may face a ton of medical bills. You may be unable to work or help out around the home. Others may need to care for you around the clock. Nothing is the same.

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