Maryland Birth Injury Lawyers
Fighting for Families and Their Future
The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion, but when medical negligence leads to a birth injury, it can cause incredible stress and extra expenses, and even lifelong challenges for the child and family. Birth injuries often result from avoidable medical mistakes made by doctors, nurses, or hospitals during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. If your child suffered a birth injury due to medical malpractice, The Maryland birth injury lawyers at Maryland Injury Lawyers are here to help you seek justice and financial support for your child’s future.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries
Medical professionals have a duty to monitor both mother and baby carefully and act promptly in emergencies. However, negligence in prenatal care or delivery can lead to devastating birth injuries. Common causes include:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress – Ignoring signs of oxygen deprivation, abnormal heart rate, or umbilical cord complications
- Delayed or improper C-section – Failing to perform a timely C-section in emergencies
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors – Excessive force can cause skull fractures, brain damage, or nerve injuries
- Medication errors – Incorrect dosages of labor-inducing drugs like Pitocin can cause dangerous complications
- Failure to diagnose and treat infections – Undiagnosed maternal infections can harm the baby before birth
- Mismanagement of shoulder dystocia – Mishandling a baby stuck in the birth canal can cause nerve damage
Common Types of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries vary in severity, with some requiring lifelong care. Common birth injuries include:
- Cerebral Palsy (CP) – A neurological disorder often caused by oxygen deprivation during birth, leading to movement and coordination difficulties
- Brachial Plexus Injuries (Erb’s Palsy or Klumpke’s Palsy) – Nerve damage caused by excessive pulling on the baby’s head, leading to arm weakness or paralysis
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) – Brain damage due to oxygen deprivation, which can result in developmental delays or cognitive impairments
- Fractures – Clavicle (collarbone) fractures due to rough delivery techniques
- Facial Paralysis – Nerve damage from improper use of forceps, leading to temporary or permanent facial weakness
- Intracranial Hemorrhage (Brain Bleeding) – Caused by trauma or lack of oxygen during delivery
Proving a Birth Injury Case in Maryland
To succeed in a birth injury claim, you must prove that medical negligence directly caused the harm. Generally speaking, this involves establishing the existence of a doctor-patient relationship, showing that the medical provider failed to follow the standard of care, demonstrating that this failure caused the injury, and providing evidence of damages, such as medical costs and long-term care needs.
Maryland law also requires a Certificate of Merit in medical malpractice cases, which requires the plaintiff’s lawyer to review the case with a qualified medical expert who can confirm that negligence likely occurred before a lawsuit can proceed.
Compensation for Birth Injury Victims
Birth injuries can lead to lifelong medical needs, therapy, and adaptive equipment. Families may be entitled to compensation for damages such as past and future medical expenses, specialized care and rehabilitation, assistive devices (wheelchairs, communication tools, etc.), pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost earning potential for the child.
Maryland law limits non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering) in medical malpractice cases, including birth injuries. However, economic damages, including medical expenses and future care costs, are not capped and can be fully recovered. Even with the statutory caps put in place to protect doctors and hospitals, birth injury victims can still recover well over a million dollars when necessary to compensate them for their costs and the harm they have suffered.
Time Limits for Filing a Birth Injury Lawsuit in Maryland
For medical malpractice claims, parents generally have five years from the date of injury or three years from discovery, whichever is earlier. If filing on behalf of a child, the claim can typically be brought until the child’s 11th birthday, or even later in certain cases. In any event, acting quickly is essential to preserve evidence and resolve the case at the earliest opportunity.
Why Choose Maryland Injury Lawyers?
Birth injury cases require medical expertise, thorough investigation, and aggressive legal representation. Maryland Injury Lawyers has the resources and experience to take on hospitals and insurance companies to fight for your child’s future. We offer a free case evaluation so there is no cost to discuss your case, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Our record of results in medical malpractice and birth injury claims can give you confidence you’ve found a law firm with the spirit and expertise needed to succeed on your behalf.
Contact Us Today
If your child has suffered a birth injury in Maryland due to medical negligence, you deserve answers and justice. Contact Maryland Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation and let us fight for the compensation your family needs.