Canton Birth Injury Lawyers

The birth of your child should be a wonderful time. Parents trust doctors and medical staff to ensure that the infant is delivered into the world as healthy as possible; unfortunately, oversights do happen, resulting in birth injuries. Any harm that happens to your newborn during the delivery process is classified as a birth injury in Canton, OH. And while some birth injuries are temporary, others last a lifetime with severe mental or physical handicaps.

Birth injury cases in Canton can be complicated because some injuries may not be noticed for weeks or even months. If you suspect your child has suffered a birth injury or you have been the victim of medical malpractice or negligence, the Canton birth injury lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick have experience in assisting Ohio’s families to navigate the legal process and seek compensation.

Call a Canton injury lawyer today at (330) 488-1234 for a free, no-risk consultation. There’s no fee unless you win. 

Common Birth Injuries in Canton, OH

Birth injuries can result in lifelong complications and extensive medical care. At KNR, we represent families in Canton and across Stark County facing the devastating effects of preventable delivery room errors. Common birth injuries include:

The most common preventable injuries are:

• Brain injuries – (including Cerebral Palsy):Oxygen deprivation, trauma during delivery, or delayed intervention can lead to permanent neurological damage.
• Subdural Hematoma: Bleeding between the brain and its outer membrane can compress brain tissue, causing seizures, developmental delays, or death if untreated.
• Brachial Plexus Injuries (Erb’s Palsy): Nerve damage from shoulder trauma during birth may cause weakness or paralysis in the infant’s arm, which may be temporary or permanent.
• Paralysis: Severe spinal or nerve injuries sustained during a difficult labor can lead to partial or complete loss of movement in limbs or the torso.
• Fractures: Broken bones, including the clavicle or skull, often result from improper use of forceps or excessive traction during delivery.
• Shoulder Dystocia: A high-risk delivery complication where the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone, often leading to nerve or bone injuries.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: These rare but serious injuries can cause permanent disability, often due to excessive pulling or twisting during a breech birth.
• Internal Organ or Soft Tissue Injuries: Blunt trauma or misuse of delivery tools may result in organ damage or internal bleeding.
• Stillbirth or Neonatal Death: In tragic cases, medical negligence may lead to fetal demise or death shortly after birth due to undiagnosed complications or delayed emergency care.

What Causes Birth Injuries?

Delayed Birth

One of the main causes of birth injury. When labors last over 18 hours they are considered difficult and the compression on the brain can become too much for the baby. Signs of fetal distress may start to appear and the baby’s blood pressure may start to rise.

Oxygen Deprivation

It can happen due to the baby having underdeveloped lungs or low birth weight, and can also occur from a bent or prolapsed umbilical cord. Most brain-related injuries are due to oxygen deprivation and can be mild or severe and last for only a few days or, in some cases, the baby’s entire life.

Medical Malpractice

This can result in delayed birth, blunt force trauma, or oxygen deprivation. These mistakes can occur for a variety of reasons, including inattention, exhaustion, forgetfulness, or inexperience. Causes of birth injuries are:

• Twisting or pulling the infant in an incorrect way
• Using birth-assisting tools, forceps or vacuum extraction improperly
• Failure to check for a heartbeat, or breathing
• Failure to pick up on the signs of distress
• Failure to administer medication or administering the wrong amount or wrong type of medication to the mother
• Failure to perform an emergency cesarean surgery

Common Treatments for Canton Birth Injuries

• Head Molding – The head can elongate as it is pushed through the birth canal. This does not affect the brain so it does not require treatment. It takes a few days for the head shape to return.
• Swelling Scalp – Very common and not serious. This typically resolves itself in two to three days.
• Hemorrhages – Bleeding under or around the scalp that can cause significant blood loss. Depending on where this is taking place, it can resolve itself. However, in severe situations, this may require a blood transfusion and a stay in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), such as in the Aultman Birth Center in Canton. In some cases, bleeding on the brain can lead to various life-long conditions, including cerebral palsy.
• Fractures – Most fractures actually take a few weeks to heal themselves. In the case of an upper arm fracture, a loose splint may be placed to limit movement.
• Nerve Injuries – Occur when the group of nerves located between the neck and shoulder is damaged. Milder cases will resolve themselves in a few days. If the damage is severe it can take much longer.

Compensation after a Birth Injury in Canton, OH

Birth injuries are among the most heartbreaking and life-altering events a family can face. Sadly, even in respected hospitals throughout Canton and Stark County, medical errors during pregnancy, labor, or delivery can lead to serious harm or even fatal outcomes.

If your child suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Whether a physician failed to monitor fetal distress, improperly used delivery tools, or delayed a necessary C-section, Ohio law gives families the right to pursue justice through a birth injury lawsuit.

What Compensation May Include

• • Medical expenses (past, current, and future)
  • Costs of physical therapy, in-home care, and assistive equipment
  • Loss of future earning capacity for your child
  • Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Emotional distress for parents or guardians

<li”>In wrongful death cases, funeral expenses and loss of companionship

The value of a birth injury case depends on the severity of the injury, how it will affect your child’s life long-term, and the economic and non-economic losses you and your family face. A skilled Canton birth injury lawyer can help calculate damages and pursue the full compensation you’re owed.