Cincinnati Birth Injury Lawyer

As a parent-to-be, you have spent the last nine months anxiously awaiting the arrival of your child. You have prepared the home, readied their nursery, and are eager to grow your family. When the time to give birth comes, however, a birth injury can occur due to the negligence of the doctor, nurse, or the hospital system. These cases are traumatic and heartbreaking. You deserve the support of a Cincinnati birth injury lawyer who can protect your rights.

When complications occur during pregnancy, labor, or the birth of the child because of your medical team’s negligence, the consequences can be life-changing and even fatal for either the child or the mother. Whether you and your family have suffered at Mercy Health-Anderson Hospital or The Christ Hospital on Auburn Avenue, the team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is here to help you seek both the compensation and justice you deserve.

Spangenberg Shibley & Liber: Protecting Victims of Childbirth Negligence

For over 80 years, the team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber has stood as a beacon of hope for families who have experienced one of the worst tragedies imaginable. We understand the financial and emotional toll these injuries can cause, and that is why we are here to serve you. We are dedicated to standing by you and your family, protecting your rights, and pursuing the full and fair amount of compensation you deserve to look ahead toward a brighter future.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, our attorneys have secured 25% of all seven-figure verdicts in Ohio over the last two years. We know how to get results and how to make our experience work for you. In recent years, we have recovered $3 million on behalf of a single birth injury case and $70 million for a case of death due to childcare negligence. * We recognize the value of your life and that of your child, which is why we go the distance to recover the damages you’ve suffered.

Types of Birth Injuries in Cincinnati

In the United States, 20% of mothers have reported experiencing some kind of mistreatment during their pregnancy and delivery care, and in 2021, a study found that around 29 birth injuries take place for every 1,000 live births.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we have represented hundreds of families across Ohio who have been forced to deal with a wide range of birth injuries. Some of the most common injuries we have seen over our 80 years of legal experience include:

• Cerebral palsy. This birth injury is typically caused by oxygen deprivation and can cause lifelong damage that will affect the victim’s ability to move and their muscle control.
• Erb’s palsy. This is a nerve injury that can happen due to excessive pulling on an infant’s shoulders during the delivery process.
• Skull fractures. These fractures often occur when delivery instruments are improperly or incorrectly used. Other fractures are likewise possible, including fractures to the baby’s collarbone.
• Brachial plexus injuries. These injuries happen when a large amount of force is used to pull the child’s shoulders and head, and typically happen in difficult deliveries. These injuries can cause weakness or even paralysis in the arm, which may improve on its own given time or will need to be corrected by surgery in the most severe cases.
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. This defines any kind of brain damage that has been suffered and caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain.
• Facial nerve damage. Injuries to a child’s facial nerves can occur when too much pressure is applied to the face during delivery, especially with the delivery instrument known as forceps. This can cause temporary facial weakness and potential drooping and will typically get better with time.
• Cephalohematoma. This occurs when there is a collection of blood between the periosteum and the baby’s skull. It is usually caused by pressure exerted during delivery and will present as a swelling on the baby’s head. Generally, cephalohematoma will resolve on its own in a matter of a few weeks.
• Intracranial hemorrhage. While these injuries are rare, they can occur when birth complications or trauma cause bleeding in the child’s brain. Depending on the severity, it can lead to lifelong neurological problems and will often require immediate medical attention.
• Caput succedaneum. This birth injury can occur when the soft tissues of the child’s head swell because of the pressure caused by passing through the birth canal. Thankfully, this injury tends to resolve on its own in a matter of a few days without any lasting damage.
• Spinal cord injuries. Though these injuries are rare in childbirth, they can happen in cases of a particularly difficult or breech delivery when excessive force is used by medical professionals. These injuries can result in a range of motor deficits and even paralysis in the most severe of cases.
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage. This injury occurs when the small blood vessels of the baby’s eyes burst during the delivery process. This is often due to pressure. Often, this injury will present itself as a red patch on the eye of the baby that typically results naturally within a few weeks after birth.

For families in Cincinnati who have experienced birth injuries, understanding the full scope of these injuries can help in your search for accountability and justice. If you suspect that an act of medical negligence has caused your baby’s birth injuries or any related injuries suffered by the mother, consulting with an experienced and knowledgeable Cincinnati medical malpractice lawyer is essential.

Common Cases of Birth Injuries

There are many potential complications that can arise and cause a birth injury to be suffered. At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we can investigate the delivery process, as well as any prenatal or post care the mother and baby received, to determine whether the injury was due to the negligence of a single doctor, nurse, or other member of hospital staff, or the hospital system as a whole. The most common causes of birth injuries include:

• Prolonged labor. If a mother is forced to deliver a baby for too long, this can lead to devastating consequences, such as fetal distress, infection, and asphyxia. All healthcare professionals have a duty to necessarily progress labor, and any kind of errors or delays can cause significant injuries to both the baby and the mother.
• Oxygen deprivation. To properly function, the brain needs a continuous supply of oxygen. When an error in labor or delivery occurs, it could potentially deprive the baby’s brain of necessary oxygen, which could lead to serious brain damage. There are many things that can cause oxygen deprivation during birth, including issues with the baby’s own umbilical cord and delayed delivery.
• Failure to recognize fetal distress. There are several signs that a baby may be in distress. These signs can include an abnormal heart rhythm, the presence of meconium or the baby’s first stool in the amniotic fluid, and reduced movement. All doctors and nurses should be able to recognize these signs and take the necessary steps. When they fail to do so, any damage done could be considered the result of medical negligence.
• Improper use of tools. When certain labor and delivery tools are incorrectly used, it can cause damage to the nerves or skull of the baby. The two most common tools that have this effect include forceps and vacuum extractors.
• Medication errors. When a medication is administered improperly, or the wrong medication altogether is given, it can bring harm to both the mother and the child.
• Delayed intervention. When a doctor fails to perform a needed and timely C-section, it can deprive the baby of required oxygen, which can lead to brain damage.

The reality is, every delivery room can be a stressful and rather chaotic environment. This can especially be true when complications or emergency situations happen. However, you should still be able to trust your medical team to provide you with competent and safe care. When this trust is betrayed, Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is here to stand up and seek the compensation and justice you deserve.

Compensation You May Be Entitled to Recover

When you or your child suffers a birth or delivery injury because of medical negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing, the attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber are here to protect your rights to compensation. Not only does this compensation help stabilize your current situation, but it can also make certain your child has access to the resources they need to continue to thrive in their future.

At Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, we have recovered tens of millions of dollars in birth injury compensation for clients who have sustained the following damages:

• Medical costs, including all current and future costs of any required medications, medical devices, surgeries, hospital stays, and continuing therapies.
• Pain and suffering, which includes compensation for the reduced quality of life and emotional distress that is suffered by both the parents and the infant when a birth injury occurs.
• Caregiving costs, or any expenses related to in-home care, necessary adaptive equipment, or special education.
• Lost income, or any wages you have lost due to having to take extra time off work to care for your child, or because you, as the mother, are unable to work due to injuries.
• Future needs, which can cover anything your child might need to support them throughout the rest of their life.

FAQs

Q: Will My Birth Injury Case Go to Court?

A: While many birth injury cases can be settled outside of the courtroom, nearly eight in every 10 medical malpractice cases do end up going to trial. For this reason, the team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber prepares every case for trial to make certain our clients’ rights are fully protected, no matter what circumstances might arise.

Q: What Are My Options if I Believe My Child Suffered a Birth Injury?

A: If you believe that your child has suffered a birth injury in Cincinnati, there are certain steps that can prove essential to take. First, it is important that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible. You will also want to collect documentation related to the injury, such as all medical records regarding prenatal care and delivery. Finally, it is essential that you consult a birth injury lawyer who can protect you.

Q: How Can a Birth Injury Lawyer Help Me?

A: A birth injury lawyer can help you in several ways. First, they are there to listen to your side of the story and protect your rights. Allow them to handle all of the legalities while you focus on you and your family’s recovery and well-being. Your attorney can gather all of the necessary medical records, speak with expert witnesses, establish the duty of care, and link the injury to a specific act of negligence.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations on Birth Injuries in Ohio?

A: In Ohio, the statute of limitations on birth injuries is the same as that imposed on all cases of medical malpractice: one year. In certain cases, additional time may be allowed if the injury is not discovered within the first year of the medical error taking place. However, because of these strict timelines, it is essential that you hire an attorney as soon as possible once you suspect a birth injury has occurred.

Hire a Birth Injury Lawyer with Over 80 years of Experience

No parent wants to think about the possibility of their child getting injured. The sad reality is that thousands of babies are born each year and suffer substantial, life-altering injuries. Not only is taking legal action crucial for securing the compensation you deserve, but it can also possibly help save future families from a similar fate.

The team at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber is well-equipped to handle a range of medical malpractice cases, including those involving birth injuries to both the child and the mother. While we understand that no amount of money can ever undo the damage you and your baby have suffered, it can make it possible to receive any necessary treatment and lay the groundwork for a secure and comfortable future.

When you hire a birth injury lawyer from Spangenberg Shibley & Liber, you gain the confidence that comes from knowing you have the right team on your side. Contact our offices to learn more about our medical malpractice legal team and schedule a consultation today.

*Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.