Giving birth can be one of the most beautiful and vulnerable times in a mother’s life. When you choose a hospital to give birth at, you expect the best and most careful care during your birthing process. You are trusting your doctor and the hospital itself to allow you to have a safe and smooth birth with minimal complications. While many births do go as according to plan, many do not. Birth injuries that result as a consequence of the doctors’ and hospital’s negligence happen far more often than we may want to image. Birth injuries are happening at an increasingly high frequency, with some studies suggesting that up to 28,000 babies per year suffer from a birth injury. From that study, more than 75 infants per day are going to be victim of some sort of birth injury.
Birth injuries should not be taken lightly. They risk the health of your newborn and potentially your child’s health in later years. If you or someone you know believes that your child has suffered from a birth injury, it may be in your best interest to reach out to Cohen & Cohen, an experienced law firm successfully serving residents of Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, and the surrounding areas, which specializes in personal injury cases like birth injuries.
There is often a lot of confusion when it comes to birth injuries. What exactly qualifies a birth injury? Legally speaking, a birth injury is defined as an injury that your child suffers from as a result of somebody else’s negligence or misconduct, which is usually either the doctor or the hospital itself. While extreme cases of negligence can look like a doctor drinking while on the job or mixing up procedures, some of the more common examples of birth injuries are small mistakes that can cost you and your child a lifetime of suffering.
Another common question that arises when discussing birth injuries is what the difference is between a birth injury and a birth defect. A birth defect is usually a physical abnormality in the child that happens as a result of genetics. A birth injury, on the other hand, is an injury which is caused by somebody else’s actions that would otherwise not be there. It is important to know the difference because many attorneys representing doctors or hospitals may try to argue that the injury was, in fact, a defect.
Dealing with a birth injury is both emotionally-stressing and can also be costly. Medical expenses in the United States are at an all time high. You shouldn’t have to worry about the financial burden that comes with repeated doctor’s visits, long-term medical care, physical therapy, and even around-the-clock care for your child. By hiring professional legal counsel, you are hiring someone to help you deal with piling legal paperwork as well as help you fight for your fair compensation so you don’t have to stress about the economic consequence of birth injuries.
Do not hesitate to call Cohen & Cohen and we will be more than happy to set you up with a birth injury lawyer on our team.
