Birth Injury Lawyers Baltimore MD: Fighting For Your Child’s Future
Are you struggling with mounting medical bills and emotional trauma after your child suffered a birth injury during delivery in Baltimore? When medical professionals fail to provide proper care during childbirth, families face devastating consequences and uncertain futures. Our experienced birth injury lawyers in Baltimore, MD, have helped families recover millions in compensation while holding negligent healthcare providers accountable for their actions.
At The Snyder Law Group, we understand the challenges you’re facing right now. The mix of worry about your child’s health, anger at those responsible, and anxiety about how you’ll pay for everything can be overwhelming. That’s why our dedicated birth injury attorneys in Baltimore, MD, handle every aspect of your case with care and determination so you can focus on what matters most – your child’s recovery and your family’s well-being.
What Are Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyers, And What Do They Do?
A Baltimore birth injury lawyer is an attorney based in Baltimore, Maryland, who specializes in representing clients whose infants have suffered injuries during childbirth due to negligence, malpractice, or other wrongful acts by medical professionals.
Baltimore birth injury attorneys are experienced in both medical malpractice law and the complex issues related to birth injuries. They can:
- Advise you on your legal rights and possible legal remedies for your birth injury case.
- Gather evidence, consult with medical experts, and build a strong case to prove medical negligence or malpractice.
- Represent you in negotiations, settlements, or at trial in Maryland courts.
- Seek maximum compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your child’s birth injury..
What Are Common Mistakes And Errors Leading To Birth Injuries?
Some common mistakes and errors by healthcare providers that can lead to serious birth injuries include:
- Delayed C-section: If a doctor delays performing a necessary cesarean section, the baby may suffer from oxygen deprivation or other birth complications.
- Improper Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extractors: If used incorrectly during delivery, these medical tools can cause serious birth injuries to the infant, such as bruises, fractures, or brain injuries.
- Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress: If medical professionals fail to properly monitor the baby’s vital signs during labor, they may miss critical signs of fetal distress that require immediate intervention.
- Administering Incorrect Medication or Dosage: Giving the wrong medication or incorrect dosage to the mother during labor can injure both the mother and the baby, potentially resulting in a birth injury lawsuit.
- Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose a Condition: This medical negligence can lead to inappropriate treatment or lack of necessary medical interventions during the birthing process.
- Improper Handling or Care Post-delivery: This can include not properly caring for the umbilical cord or not quickly addressing immediate medical needs of the newborn infant.
How Common Are Birth Injuries In Baltimore, MD?
The exact frequency of birth injuries in Baltimore, MD is difficult to determine precisely. In the United States, it’s estimated that birth injuries occur in roughly 6-8 out of every 1,000 live births, but not all of these are due to medical malpractice or negligence. Some birth injuries are unavoidable and can happen even with the best medical care from healthcare providers.
The Maryland Vital Statistics Infant Mortality Report 2020 provides data on live births, infant mortality, fetal mortality, and birth defects in Maryland. According to this report, the leading causes of neonatal mortality in 2020 were low birth weight (27%), maternal complications of pregnancy (17%), and congenital abnormalities (14%). The leading causes of postneonatal mortality were Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (35%), congenital abnormalities (14%), and respiratory system disorders (8%). Birth injuries resulting from medical negligence were not specifically listed among the leading causes of infant death in Baltimore or throughout Maryland.
What Are Common Birth Injuries?
There are many different types of birth injuries that may result from medical negligence. Some that our Baltimore birth injury attorneys at The Snyder Law Group focus on include:
- Cerebral Palsy – Often caused by oxygen deprivation during delivery
- Birth Asphyxia – Occurs when a baby doesn’t receive enough oxygen
- Erb’s Palsy – Results from nerve damage during difficult deliveries
- Jaundice-Induced Kernicterus – Caused by untreated severe jaundice
- Spinal Cord Damage – Can result from improper delivery techniques
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) – Brain damage from oxygen deprivation
- Epidural Injury – Complications from improperly administered epidurals
- Pitocin Errors – Complications from misuse of labor-inducing drugs
- Intracranial Hemorrhages – Bleeding in or around the brain during birth
- Placental Abruption – When the placenta separates from the uterus prematurely
What Are The Signs Of Medical Negligence During Childbirth?
Childbirth is a potentially dangerous medical event requiring the highest level of care from healthcare professionals in Baltimore hospitals. However, sometimes mistakes happen that constitute medical negligence. Signs of medical negligence during childbirth can include:
- Delayed C-section: Waiting too long to perform a necessary cesarean section, leading to birth complications such as fetal macrosomia or oxygen deprivation.
- Improper Use of Medical Instruments: Incorrectly using tools like forceps or vacuum extractors that result in preventable birth injuries to the infant.
- Failure to Monitor: Not properly tracking the baby’s or mother’s vital signs, missing critical signs of fetal distress that require immediate medical intervention.
- Administering Incorrect Medication: Giving wrong medications or improper dosages during labor that harm the mother or baby.
- Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose: Not identifying or incorrectly identifying a medical condition in the baby or mother that leads to birth injuries.
- Post-delivery Negligence: Not providing proper medical care after birth, leading to complications or harm to the newborn infant.
How Long Do I Have To File A Birth Injury Case In Maryland?
Generally, there are two main types of legal claims that can arise from a birth injury in Maryland: medical malpractice claims and wrongful death claims.
For medical malpractice claims in Maryland, state law requires that you file your lawsuit within three years of discovering the birth injury or within five years of the date the birth injury occurred, whichever is shorter. However, there is an important exception for minors who are injured as a result of medical negligence, such as infants who suffer a birth injury. In those cases, the minor has up to three years after turning 18 to file a lawsuit in Maryland courts. This means that a child who was injured at birth could potentially have until their 21st birthday to pursue a birth injury claim.
For wrongful death claims related to birth injuries, Maryland law states that you must file your lawsuit within three years of the date of death of the victim. This applies regardless of the age of the victim or the date of discovery of the injury.
What Compensation Can I Expect In A Birth Injury Lawsuit In Maryland?
Compensation in birth injury cases in Maryland can include:
- Medical expenses (past and future) related to the birth injury treatment
- Pain and suffering experienced by the child and family
- Loss of earning potential for the child’s future
- Cost of therapy and rehabilitation services
- Emotional distress damages for family members
- Lifelong care costs, if the child needs ongoing medical care due to the birth injury
A skilled Baltimore birth injury lawyer can help you calculate the full value of your claim and pursue maximum compensation from negligent healthcare providers.
Can I Afford To Hire A Birth Injury Lawyer In Baltimore?
Most birth injury lawyers in Baltimore and throughout Maryland operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay any attorney’s fees upfront to hire your birth injury attorney. Instead, the lawyer takes a percentage of any settlement or compensation you receive. If you don’t win your birth injury case, you typically owe nothing in attorney’s fees.
This contingency fee arrangement makes legal representation accessible to all families affected by birth injuries in Baltimore, MD, regardless of their financial situation. The Snyder Law Group is committed to removing financial barriers to justice for families dealing with the aftermath of a birth injury caused by medical negligence.
What Role Do Medical Experts Play in A Birth Injury Case?
Medical experts play a crucial role in birth injury cases in Maryland. They help establish the standard of care that should have been provided by healthcare professionals, whether there was a breach of this standard, and how this breach directly caused harm to the child or mother.
These medical experts, often experienced obstetricians, neonatologists, or other specialized medical professionals, can provide detailed testimony about the specifics of the medical procedures, decisions made by the healthcare providers, and the likely outcomes of those decisions. Their expert insights help the court or jury in determining negligence in a birth injury lawsuit and connecting that negligence to the resulting birth injuries.
Can I Still Pursue A Birth Injury Case In Baltimore If It’s Been Several Years?
Yes. In Maryland, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims, which includes birth injuries, is generally five years from the date of the injury or three years from the date the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier. There are special provisions for minors: a child has until their 21st birthday to file a claim for an injury that occurred at or before their birth. However, the specific circumstances of each case can impact these general rules, so it’s best to consult with a legal professional to understand your rights and the potential for pursuing a claim.
How Do I Find The Right Birth Injury Lawyer In Baltimore, Maryland?
Finding the right birth injury lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland, involves research, recommendations, and consultations. Start by asking for referrals from friends, family, or other people you trust who may have experience with birth injury cases. You can also look into online directories, reviews, and Maryland bar association listings to find qualified birth injury attorneys in the Baltimore area.
Once you’ve found a few potential lawyers with experience in birth injury cases, schedule initial consultations with them. During these meetings, you can evaluate their experience in handling similar birth injury claims and their track record of successful settlements and verdicts against negligent healthcare providers.
What Can I Expect During The Initial Consultation with A Birth Injury Attorney?
During an initial consultation with a Baltimore birth injury attorney, you can expect several important discussions:
- Review of Case Facts: The attorney will want to hear the entire story from you — what happened before, during, and after the birth that led to the suspected birth injury.
- Review of Medical Records: If you have them available, the birth injury lawyer might want to review medical records or any other relevant documents related to the birth and subsequent medical care.
- Case Assessment: The attorney will evaluate the merits of your potential birth injury claim based on the information you provide and their knowledge of Maryland birth injury law.
- Explanation of Legal Rights and Options: The attorney will explain your legal rights, potential next steps, and what you can expect if you decide to pursue a birth injury lawsuit against negligent healthcare providers.
- Discussion of Fee Structure: Most birth injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. The lawyer will explain this fee structure and any potential costs associated with pursuing the birth injury case.
- Questions and Answers: The initial consultation is not just for the attorney to gather information but also for you to ask questions about birth injury cases. You can ask about their experience with similar cases, their success rate, and any other concerns you might have about your birth injury claim.
- Confidentiality Assurance: Anything you discuss with the birth injury attorney will be kept confidential, ensuring your privacy throughout the legal process.
What Steps Should I Take If I Believe My Child Has Suffered A Birth Injury Due To Medical Negligence?
Discovering that your child may have suffered a birth injury is a deeply unsettling and distressing experience. If you suspect that this injury resulted from medical negligence by healthcare providers in Baltimore, here are the steps you should take:
- Seek Medical Attention: Prioritize the health and safety of your child. Consult with a pediatrician or medical specialist immediately to understand the extent of the birth injury and determine the necessary treatments or interventions.
- Document Everything: As soon as possible, write down everything you remember about the birth process. Note communications with medical staff, unusual events, and medical procedures performed during labor and delivery.
- Gather Medical Records: Collect all relevant medical records connected to your pregnancy, the birth itself, and any subsequent treatments for the birth injury. These can offer evidence about what happened and the medical decisions that were made by healthcare providers.
- Avoid Signing Anything: Be wary of any attempt by medical institutions to get you to sign documents that might absolve them of responsibility or limit their liability for the birth injury. Don’t sign anything without first consulting with a birth injury attorney.
- Consult a Baltimore Birth Injury Attorney: If medical negligence is a concern, make an appointment for an initial consultation with an experienced medical mistakes attorney. They can provide guidance on the next steps in pursuing a birth injury case against negligent healthcare providers.
Contact A Baltimore Birth Injury Lawyer
Has your child suffered a birth injury in Baltimore due to medical negligence? Don’t face this challenging situation alone. Contact a qualified Baltimore birth injury lawyer to protect your legal rights and get the justice and compensation your family deserves. The Snyder Law Group has extensive experience handling complex birth injury cases throughout Maryland.
Call 410-THE-FIRM (843-3476) For a Free Case Evaluation
The Snyder Law Group, LLC proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced birth injury attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior that caused a birth injury. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced birth injury lawyers ready to work for you and your child’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are birth injury settlements?
Birth injury settlements vary widely depending on the severity of the injury, long-term care needs, and impact on the child’s life. In Maryland, settlements can range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Factors affecting compensation include medical expenses (both current and future), rehabilitation costs, special education needs, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering. Each case is unique, and we work with medical and economic experts to determine the full value of your claim.
What qualifies as a birth injury?
A birth injury is any harm to a baby that occurs during labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. These injuries can range from mild bruising that heals quickly to severe brain damage causing lifelong disability. For a legal claim, the injury must typically result from a medical professional’s negligence or failure to follow the standard of care. Common qualifying birth injuries include cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brain damage from oxygen deprivation, spinal cord injuries, and fractures.
What is the difference between a birth injury and a birth defect?
The key difference lies in timing and cause. Birth injuries occur during the birthing process and are often preventable with proper medical care. They result from something that happened during labor or delivery. Birth defects, however, develop while the baby is still in the womb and typically stem from genetic factors, environmental influences, or maternal health issues. Birth defects form during pregnancy, usually in the first trimester, while birth injuries happen during or immediately after delivery.
Call 410-THE-FIRM (843-3476) For a Free Case Evaluation
The Snyder Law Group, LLC proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you.