Birth Injury Attorneys in Grand Rapids

Helping Those Harmed by Medical Negligence

Delivering a baby involves attentive care — doctors must take precautions to ensure an infant and mother are healthy throughout the birthing process. Although newborn babies are extremely delicate, birth injuries are not normal and are most often the result of medical negligence. A doctor or nurse’s careless mistake can cause a lifetime of distress to the victim’s family. The Grand Rapids birth injury lawyers of Goodman Acker P.C. can help your family recover the compensation you deserve following an instance of medical negligence during an infant delivery.

Send us a message or call (248) 286-8100 for a free case evaluation from our legal team.

Types of Birth Injuries

Assisting with a birth requires expert medical knowledge and delicate care. Newborn babies and their mothers are vulnerable to injury during delivery, so there is no room for negligence. Any error can cause severe injury and lifelong complications.

Many of the most common types of birth injuries are serious conditions that impact major organ systems such as the brain, nerves, and spinal cord. An injury suffered during birth has the potential to cause issues for the rest of the injured infant’s life, cause health complications for the mother, or be fatal to both a mother and her child.

The most common types of birth injuries include:

• Cerebral palsy
• Erb’s palsy
• Paralysis
• Infections
• Spinal cord damage
• Fetal distress (hypoxia)
• Shoulder dystocia
• Labor and delivery complications

Birth Injury Causes

Delivering a baby is a complex process that requires the care and expertise of an experienced medical professional. Any oversight during the birthing process can cause harm to the baby and mother. It is up to the attending doctors and nurses to not only deliver the baby carefully, but also to prepare for the procedure properly, identify and respond to any risks or complications, and utilize delivery aids (such as tools and medication) when necessary.

Birth injuries can be caused by:

• Oxygen deprivation
• Incorrect use of tools, such as forceps
• Incorrect use of drugs
• Misdiagnoses
• Infection
• High blood pressure
• Forceful birth or infant trauma

Who is at Fault for Birth Injuries?

When injuries occur during the delivery of an infant, medical negligence is a frequent cause. Birth injuries can happen because a doctor or nurse’s negligence causes harm to the baby or mother, or a negligent medical professional can cause further harm if they do not properly respond to an injury. Some births are difficult due to preexisting conditions or issues not caused by medical negligence; however, it is the delivering doctor’s responsibility to be aware of those issues and address them.

Although the tending medical staff will most often be primarily liable for birth injuries, it’s possible that a third party is also liable. For example, the hospital administrators could be responsible for causing harm by understaffing their facility, overworking their employees, or not providing the proper equipment.

Birth Injury Damages

Birth injuries often result in long-term, and even lifelong, complications. A baby who is injured during birth may sustain conditions that require extended treatment, including surgery, medical devices, medications, in-home care, and rehabilitation.

A birth injury can be fatal to the mother and her child. If your loved one passed away due to birth injury complications, our legal team can help you recover compensation for your pain and suffering.

Schedule a No-Cost Case Evaluation with Our Attorneys

At Goodman Acker P.C., we are committed to helping injury victims and their families receive the answers, care, and compensation they deserve. We understand the confusion and frustration you are feeling in this moment and want to serve as a network of support to your family.

To schedule a free consultation with our Grand Rapids birth injury attorneys, complete our contact form or call (248) 286-8100.