Oakland Birth Injury Attorneys

Birth injuries result from physical trauma that a baby experiences during the process of labor and delivery. Some birth injuries are only temporary and dissipate within weeks of birth. Others have the potential to cause lasting health problems for the baby. 

Cerebral and Erbs Palsy

Although often linked, these two conditions are quite distinct:

• Cerebral palsy is often the result of brain damage during birth. It can occur in many ways, such as if the baby stays too long in the birth canal without receiving sufficient oxygen, or if forceps are used improperly. The effect and extent of cerebral palsy depends on how the brain damage occurred and whether it was severe.
• Erbs palsy, also known as Brachial plexus injury, results from nerve damage to the shoulder of the baby during birth. It causes paralysis or weakness of the arm. The nerve damage typically occurs when the shoulder is pushed or pulled, resulting in stretching or tearing of the nerve tissue.

Other common birth injuries

Fetal anoxia, the lack of sufficient oxygen supply, can occur during difficult births and can lead to brain damage. This is also known as hypoxic-anoxic brain injury.
Facial paralysis can be the result of pressure during birth or the improper use of forceps. Although in many cases babies recover completely within weeks of the birth, surgery may be required in severe cases.  If you suspect a birth injury suffered by your child was avoidable with proper medical care, contact an Oakland birth injury attorney to discuss your options.

Common causes of birth injuries

Although birth injuries can occur through no fault of the doctor, medical negligence is sometimes the cause, including the following errors:

• Failure to properly respond to maternal or fetal bleeding complications or to placenta previa
• Failure to recognize fetal distress
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractor
• Unreasonable delay in the delivery of a large baby, performing a cesarean section, or resuscitating a baby that is not breathing

When selecting an attorney, it is vital to choose someone who understands that ample financial resources and quality medical care can give your baby the best possible chance for a full recovery and a healthy, happy future. The Law Offices of Robert G. Schock has a successful track record achieving the favorable settlements or verdicts necessary so parents can afford to treat and care for the injuries of their babies.

Consult a knowledgeable Oakland birth injury attorney

At the Law Offices of Robert G. Schock, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to help parents of injured babies obtain the compensation they deserve after a medical malpractice incident. Through achieving a favorable settlement or verdict, parents can recover monetary damages that enable them to treat and care for the injuries of their child.

To schedule a free consultation, call today at 888-688-4791, or contact us online.