Expecting a new child is an exciting time in most parents’ lives. When they find out that their child suffered injuries during childbirth, it can be devastating. While some birth injuries are relatively minor, others can have lifelong health implications. Some are fatal.

If your child suffered a birth injury, it’s crucial you seek experienced legal help. The Law Offices of Tim Misny has handled countless birth injury cases over the past decades. Read on to learn about birth injury causes, then call us for a consultation.

Common causes of birth injuries

Birth injuries often occur due to a baby’s size and position during childbirth, but other factors can make a difference. These include:

• Prematurity: Premature babies are those born before 37 weeks (typically, pregnancies last around 40 weeks). Because the babies are smaller and more fragile, their bodies are more easily injured during birth.
• Dystocia: Dystocia is a term for a difficult labor or childbirth. Even when a pregnancy is successful and healthy, labor can stall. There may be difficulty getting the baby out of the womb and/or birth canal, depending on delivery method. The infant may be injured during the process.
• Prolonged labor: Longer labor is linked to higher incidences of birth injuries—but take heart that not all long labors result in birth injuries.
• Abnormal position: Babies who are in a breech position (born buttocks first) are more likely to suffer from birth injuries.
• Large birth weight: Larger babies are more susceptible to birth injuries, simply due to their size.
• Maternal obesity: Finally, obese mothers who give birth have a significantly higher risk of birth injury to the nervous and skeletal systems, as well as respiratory distress, sepsis and other negative outcomes.

If your child suffered a birth injury, you may be able to recover compensation for their medical expenses, future medical expenses, your own lost wages and more. If your case meets the criteria for a birth injury lawsuit, you are entitled to file a medical malpractice suit.

Ohio has a one-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice lawsuits. The clock starts ticking when the cause of action arises (that is, when the birth injury occurred). While you’re undoubtedly caught up in caring for your injured infant, it’s crucial to talk to the Law Offices of Tim Misny as soon as possible. We will review your case, explain your options and get the ball rolling before time runs out.

Talk to Ohio medical malpractice lawyers today

Have you or your infant suffered from birth injuries due to medical malpractice? If your healthcare providers caused you harm, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call me today at (800) 556-4769 for a consultation. I’ll fight to get the compensation you deserve.