Birth Injuries

Representing Victims of Birth Injuries

Obstetrical malpractice that causes permanent injury or death to an infant or mother devastates the entire family. At Woomer & Hall in Pittsburgh, our attorneys represent victims of unnecessary birth injuries, helping them recover compensation for their losses. In doing so, we work to hold OB-GYNs and other medical professionals accountable for their actions.

If you suspect that your child's birth injury, or injury to the mother during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or post-partum, may have been the result of obstetric negligence, it is important for you to find out what really happened. If you would like to speak with an attorney from our firm, please contact our office and arrange a free consultation. Our lawyers will evaluate your case and, based on medical records, explain your situation.

The Result Matters: As personal injury lawyers, we focus on results—verdicts and settlements. We have successfully recovered millions for our clients, compensation they have used to rebuild their lives after tragedies.

A birth injury can stem from a doctor's failure to recognize a high-risk situation during pregnancy, an error made in the delivery room, or negligence during the neonatal period or post-partum period:

• Fetal monitoring makes it possible to identify dangerous situations throughout the pregnancy and labor. If the baby is too large to pass through the birth canal or is suffering fetal distress, a cesarean delivery (C-section) should be performed before the baby suffers an injury.
• Failure to perform a caesarian deliver in a timely manner can lead to a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) during delivery. This fetal asphyxia can cause brain damage (cerebral palsy) or death.
• Failure to identify infant respiratory distress (RDS) can result in avoidable death or brain injury to a pre-term infant.
• Untreated pre-eclampsia, can lead to eclampsia (a seizure) and extremely high blood pressure. In the United States, the most common cause of maternal death during pregnancy is eclampsia or a stroke from pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• Birth trauma due to the inappropriate use of suction or a forceps injury during an assisted vaginal deliver or breech delivery can cause shoulder dystocia, leading to a permanent paralysis called Erb’s Palsy.
• Forcing a mother who previously had a cesarean delivery to go through labor may result in a ruptured uterus.

Consult with a lawyer before making any decisions about your claim: If you suspect an obstetrical error caused injury to mother or child, it is extremely important that you seek advice from an attorney with experience in birth injuries and medical malpractice before making a statement to an insurance company representative or signing a settlement form.

If you would like to speak with a member of Woomer & Hall, please contact our Pittsburgh law office and arrange a free consultation and case evaluation. Our lawyer will visit you in your home or hospital and provide a frank assessment of your legal position. We charge no attorneys' fees or costs of any kind unless we recover compensation on your behalf.