Philadelphia Birth Injury Attorney

Fighting for a Fair Recovery for You & Your Child

The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion but, when something goes wrong, parents find themselves facing an incredibly stressful and uncertain future. When a child dies because of a doctor or nurse’s negligence, the resulting grief is unimaginable. Almost 28,000 infants are born with a birth injury every year. Many times, these injuries are entirely avoidable. Understanding how these injuries develop and what legal steps you should take are essential if you or your child has suffered a birth injury.

At The Villari Firm, PLLC, we firmly believe that no family should have to suffer the impact of a medical professional’s negligence. When these devastating events do occur, we fight tirelessly for mothers, fathers, and children who have had their lives permanently altered as a result of circumstances entirely out of their control. With over two decades of trial experience and more than $110 million recovered for her clients, our Philadelphia birth injury lawyer can help you fight for the justice you and your family are owed.

While no amount of compensation can ever make up for what you have gone through, a fair recovery can allow you to obtain critical medical treatment, provide a better life for your child, and heal.

If you believe your child’s injuries, condition, or death was caused by medical negligence, contact The Villari Firm, PLLC for a free consultation. Call (215) 372-8889.

What Is a Birth Injury?

A birth injury results from any damage or trauma either before, during, or immediately after an infant’s birth. The severity of a birth injury can range from mild to life-threatening. Birth injuries are not the same as birth defects; a birth injury is often the result of a medical provider's mistake or failure to act. A birth defect is caused by a genetic predisposition, or in some cases, is a side-effect of certain medications.

Medical malpractice and birth injuries are correlated. When a doctor, nurse, or other medical staff do not respond to events in the delivery room appropriately, the infant and mother may suffer serious harm. The bottom line is, many birth injuries happen at the hands of medical providers who should have known better. Therefore, it’s important for you to stay informed of your rights if you or your child was injured.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

While not every birth injury results from medical malpractice, a vast majority of them do. Examples of medical malpractice in the delivery room include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Failure to monitor the infant for signs of fetal distress
• Failure to order an emergency C-section when necessary
• Improper use of birth-assistance devices
• Pulling or twisting the infant too hard

In order to prove that your child’s birth injury could have been prevented with proper care – in other words, that the injury was caused by medical negligence – you will need to show that:

• The medical practitioner had a duty to provide an acceptable standard of care;
• The medical practitioner failed in this duty;
• You (or your child) suffered an injury; and
• The injury occurred as a result of the medical provider's negligence.

Types of Birth Injuries

Our firm has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of birth injury cases, including those that involved temporary or permanent injuries, substantial damages, and death. In every instance, we provide our clients with compassionate legal counsel tailored to their unique situations, needs, and concerns.

The Villari Firm handles a wide variety of birth injury claims with a particular emphasis on:

• Cerebral palsy
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (oxygen deprivation-related brain damage)
• Kernicterus (jaundice-related brain damage)
• Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries
• Injuries caused by the misuse of forceps and vacuum extractors

Additionally, we provide legal counsel and representation for mothers who suffered injuries such as hemorrhaging or placental abruption (rupture), as well as the surviving family members of mothers who died due to medical malpractice/negligence during labor or delivery.

No matter how complex your case may be, our firm is here for you. Call our Philadelphia birth injury attorney today.

Signs & Symptoms of a Birth Injury

Some birth injuries present symptoms immediately while others may not be noticeable for days, weeks, or months. Keep an eye out for the following warning signs if you suspect a birth injury:

• Soft bulges in the baby’s head
• The inability to suck
• An arched back while crying
• Spastic motions or seizures

Additionally, missed developmental milestones are a red flag. If your child does not meet the following milestones by two months of age, a birth injury may be causing a delay in their development:

• Begins to smile at people
• Tries to look at parent
• Coos and makes gurgling sounds
• Begins to follow things with eyes
• Can hold head up and begins to push when lying on stomach

While some birth injuries may resolve with proper treatment, others may last the remainder of a child’s life. Permanent or long-lasting birth injuries often amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages. These injuries can also have a severe emotional toll on the child and their family.

The most egregious injustice in this situation is that, most of the time, birth injuries are entirely preventable when healthcare providers act with the professionalism and care that they should. This is why you should not hesitate to seek justice and fair compensation if your child has suffered preventable harm.

What to Do if You or Your Child Has a Birth Injury

Depending on the birth injury, there are several ways that they can be treated. A healthcare provider will be able to inform you of which option will be the best treatment.

In some cases, birth injuries can be treated with:

• Surgery
• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Neonatal therapeutic hypothermia
• Occupational therapy

These injuries can result in long-term effects that require consistent medical care for the baby’s whole life. Treatment is often costly, time-consuming, and can last for several years in many cases.

Call The Villari Firm, PLLC for the Help You Need

Our Philadelphia birth injury lawyer, Heidi G. Villari, has experience on both sides of medical malpractice. This experience has provided her with in-depth insight into the lengths doctors and hospitals will go to in order to protect those accused of negligence. This invaluable understanding of how the other side works—and, therefore, what it takes to fight back—is something many other law firms do not have.

Additionally, we work with a team of leading experts, including doctors and legal authorities, to investigate and prepare cases for our clients. At The Villari Firm, PLLC, we spare no expense and go to great lengths in order to help our clients secure the recoveries they deserve. We are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and fight for you throughout every stage of the legal process. Call now to learn more.

There are no fees unless/until we recover compensation for you. Call (215) 372-8889 or contact us online to get started with a free case review today.