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There is nothing more important to a parent than the health of their child. This is especially true of new parents. Along with the excitement and joy that comes with a new pregnancy and birth, there can also be anxiety and fear. While you are excited to welcome a new member of your family, you are worried about the risks associated with childbirth and know that sometimes things can go wrong. Unfortunately, for many parents, this fear is realized in the form of life-altering birth injuries.
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If a medical professional acted negligently and caused you or your child to suffer a birth injury in Alexandria, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim for compensation. At Regan Zambri Long our dedicated team of birth injury lawyers is committed to thoroughly investigating every case so that our clients can collect the maximum amount of compensation available for their claims. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a trusted Alexandria birth injury lawyer today.
A birth injury is any injury or damage that occurs to the baby during pregnancy or labor and delivery. The damage can be external injuries or internal defects, usually as the result of trauma.
It’s important to distinguish between a birth injury and a birth defect. A birth defect is inherited by the baby through genetics. Birth injuries are not inherited. They are often the result of negligence by a healthcare provider either during the mother’s pregnancy or labor and delivery.
The Alexandria, Virginia medical malpractice attorneys at Regan Zambri Long are experts in the law when it comes to birth injuries in Virginia. If you believe you have a claim due to a birth injury, please contact a personal injury lawyer in Alexandria, Virginia from Regan Zambri Long now.
Unfortunately, according to the CDC, birth injuries are more common than one would think. Approximately 1 in every 33 babies (or 3% of all babies) suffer from a birth injury or birth defect. In fact, birth injuries and birth defects are the leading cause of infant death and account for 20% of all infant mortality.
Although not every birth injury is a result of medical malpractice, there are many cases where negligence on the part of a medical professional was the direct cause. There are four things you will need to prove in a medical malpractice case:
One common form of birth injury is Cerebral Palsy, which is a form of brain damage. When the newborn is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, it means the baby’s brain is incapable of properly controlling the body’s muscles. As a result, the injured child will be limited in their movement and speech. These debilities can lead to costly medical bills and require permanent assistance to thrive.
The brain damage that leads to Cerebral Palsy is often a result of a lack of oxygen to the child’s brain. A doctor leaving the infant in the birth canal too long, improper use of forceps or vacuum, failure to detect a prolapsed cord, or failure to treat seizures can all lead to a lack of oxygen. Additional causes of cerebral Palsy can include maternal infections, premature birth, c-section delays, and head trauma.
Erby’s Palsy is a condition caused by damage to the nerves at the base of a baby’s neck that occurs during delivery. This can result in paralysis of the baby’s arm.
This type of nerve damage injury can be caused at birth. If the infant’s head and neck are pulled to the side as the shoulders pass through the birth canal, it can cause tearing to the brachial plexus nerve.
Infant brain injuries are often severe and are likely caused by trauma during pregnancy or labor and delivery. These types of serious injuries can lead to lifelong disabilities for the child and a future of extensive medical bills for the child’s parents. Some forms of infant brain damage include:
These injuries can greatly change the quality of life for the parents and the child. It can also cause suffering in siblings as well. If your child suffered a brain injury during childbirth our lawyers at Regan Zambri Long are ready to help make things easier for you. Call us for your free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Many forms of delivery complications can result in injury to the infant. Some examples of these complications include:
Birth injuries affect more than just the child who suffers from them. The fact is, having a newborn suffer a birth injury will take a toll on the family, both emotionally and financially. Different costs you will have to think about after your child suffers a birth injury are:
The cost of the medical care administered to a child and parent during a life-or-death medical emergency caused by a birth injury can be extreme. Life-saving measures taken to assist both the parent and the child can add up quickly. Bills can include:
To make a horrible situation worse, the victim’s insurance company may not cover all the expenses. If the parent doesn’t have insurance at all, the care of the child can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the child suffers a brain injury, the cost incurred by the family can be upwards of $1 million.
For children who suffer brain injuries, therapy may be a part of their everyday life. The cost of occupational therapy for a child with Cerebral Palsy is can be as expensive as $400 per hour. When you partner with a Regan Zambri Long attorney, we will make sure your damages will cover the cost of therapy for your child.
Some children who suffered a birth injury will also need specialized equipment and devices. These can include ventilators, oxygen machines, walkers, speech machines, and wheelchairs with various levels of automation. A wheelchair can cost $5,000 alone, not including the maintenance fees.
All medical equipment will break down and need to be replaced over time, costing the family thousands of dollars per year.
According to the CDC, the average cost of life-long care for a person with cerebral palsy is $921,000. Adjusted for inflation, that is approximately $1.4 million in today’s dollars. Additionally, they found the cost of life-long care of a person with a severe mental handicap to be approximately $1.5 million inflation-adjusted dollars.
These costs are significant and ones that may not be covered by your insurance company claim. We have the knowledge and experience to recover these costs for you and your family. Our compassionate lawyers are passionate about getting money for you.
Often left out of the conversation is the pain and suffering caused by a birth injury. The mental stress, along with the physical toll of having a child with a birth injury can cause anxiety and depression in parents. At Regan Zambri Long, we understand no dollar figure can be placed on a parent having to deal with knowing their child may never walk. But we can do everything in our power to make sure you don’t have to worry about your finances. You have enough on your plate. Let us carry that burden for you and help you take care of your family.
There are several ways medical professionals can cause injuries during pregnancy or to a newborn. They include, but are not limited to:
At Regan Zambri Long, we take the legal process very seriously and fiercely fight for the right of our clients. In our 30+ years of serving the communities in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, we have recovered millions for our clients in various practice areas. We are confident we can build a case around your personal injury claim that will help secure your financial future.
Our testimonials speak for themselves. Our clients know we have their best intentions at heart. We deeply understand what a scary, stressful, and even sad time our clients are going through. That’s why we work around the clock to secure a favorable settlement as quickly as possible. Many of the attorneys at Regan Zambri Long are parents ourselves. We know how scary things can be when it comes to the health of your child. Let us take control of the claims process while you focus on the health of your family. Our clients deserve justice and compensation and we work diligently to secure both.
