Birth Injuries

When a medical professional makes an error during birth, misses a critical sign of maternal or fetal distress, or handles a newborn inappropriately, the child can suffer life-altering injuries. These are known as birth injuries. At Coogan Gallagher, our Chicago birth injury lawyers are here to help you seek compensation for the damages you and your loved ones have suffered. Learn more below, and contact us today to set up a free initial consultation.

Chicago’s Birth Injury Lawyer

How Can My Child Be Injured at Birth

Birth injuries have many causes. There are also many distinct ways a newborn can be injured, including:

  • Broken bones
  • Bruises and scars
  • Cephalohematoma
  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Erb’s palsy
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Klumpke’s palsy
  • Strangulation / airway injuries

Many types of birth injuries result from the improper use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during birth. These include broken clavicle bones and brachial plexus injuries, which include Erb’s palsy and Klumpke’s palsy. Other injuries, like cerebral palsy, can result from infection passed from the mother to the child or an infection the newborn contracts from other sources. A newborn can also suffer a birth injury from rough handling by medical professionals shortly after birth or from an undiagnosed or unmonitored fetal or maternal condition.

Pursuing Compensation for Medical Damages

Sometimes, birth injuries happen because babies are born with conditions that are nobody’s fault. But if your child’s injury was due to one of the medical negligence examples discussed above, you may pursue compensation for the damages. Collectible damages include costs such as corrective and therapeutic medical care and your child’s special education needs. Serious birth injuries can result in significant financial costs for medical treatment and life-long expenses to care for a disabled person.

Supporting Evidence

In your claim, you must demonstrate how the healthcare provider was negligent to cause your child to suffer an injury. An experienced Chicago birth injury lawyer can assist you in getting the information you need to help build your case. You must prove the following:

  • A doctor-patient relationship between you and the healthcare provider existed
  • The doctor took an action that another doctor in the same situation would not reasonably have taken. Similarly, your claim could show that your doctor failed to take a specific action that another doctor would have taken when facing the same situation, like opting for an emergency cesarean section
  • Had the doctor acted in the manner that they would reasonably have been expected to act, your child would not have suffered an injury

A Birth Injury Attorney Can Help

If your child suffered an injury at birth that impacts their quality of life, you have the right to pursue compensation for related damages through a birth injury claim. Contact our Chicago birth injury lawyers today to set up a free legal consultation. We are here to help parents like you get the compensation you deserve.


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