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Did Your Newborn Suffer Cerebral
Palsy or Another Brain Injury Before
or During Labor and Delivery?

Learn More

Our Birth Brain Injury Resource Guide

the guide

Get a FREE guide of resources available throughout Ohio to children and families of children who were born with brain injuries.

Our guide can help you build a foundation of knowledge and tools that will help you help your child
now and in the future.

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Spinal Cord Injury – Legal Considerations

Caring for a child who has profound disabilities can be burdensome. It is a burden that many parents wouldn’t knowingly undertake. There are parents who feel sorrow when they discover that their baby is going to suffer a painful reality or face an early demise.

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If medical professionals failed to detect a birth defect or handled the birth of a baby in a way that could have been avoided, the parents could have grounds for a lawsuit and the right to seek compensation for medical and other expenses.

How Do Spinal Cord Injuries Happen at Birth?

If your baby is in an abnormal position, such as breech, the risk of such an injury is significantly increased. His or her spine is particularly susceptible to injury in such a situation. Further, the increased pressure and force can lead to a serious injury to the spinal cord at birth.

Fortunately, medical advances have helped to minimize these types of birth injuries, including those that happen to the infant’s spine. Often, doctors will perform a cesarean section to avoid undue risks to the baby and the mother. Sometimes there are medical professionals who fail to do what is necessary to avoid such a catastrophic occurrence.

Expenses and Spinal Injuries

Elk & Elk

Besides your child’s educational issues that you may have to deal with as a result of your infant’s injury, there is a range of other long-term costs that can be financially crippling to your family. Severe spine injuries will require surgery to prevent further damage and to reduce the likelihood of an infection. The cost of surgeries, tests, and hospitalization tend to add up quickly, leaving you wondering how you will cover the bills. A knowledgeable Ohio attorney can discuss whether or not liability may be found with a doctor or medical professional and help you seek compensation.

Furthermore, you child may struggle to get around and require assistive devices, such as crutches, braces, and a wheelchair. These are extra expenses that can be addressed through a legal claim. Also, your child may require life-long medication to deal with learning difficulties, which may be covered if you are successful with your claim.

The Long- and Short-Term Consequences of a Baby’s Birth Trauma

While some birth injuries may just be temporary and quick to heal, certain traumas, such as spinal injuries, can result in a lifetime of medical complications, developmental problems, and other medical conditions. Severe negligence, sadly, can lead to the loss of the baby.

Spinal Injuries and Legal Considerations

Other than experiencing trauma to the spine at birth, some babies are born with a condition called spina bifida which is a birth defect of the spinal column. The defect occurs when the spine fails to fuse shut completely and can result in lifelong disabilities. Depending on the severity of the defect, a child may face learning difficulties that must be addressed via special programs and services. They may experience issues with:

  • Motor skills
  • Attention
  • Memory

The long-term costs of such a defect can be compensated through a legal claim if the birth injury is found to be a result of medical negligence, where, for example, adequate testing could have detected the defect early on.

What You Need to Know as a Parent

The time period following a baby’s injury can be confusing, scary, and overwhelming. You may not know the cause of your baby’s trauma or what actions you should take. Sadly, your infant may be facing long-term medical care and even lifelong complications. Fortunately, you do not have to face this future alone. Experienced Ohio birth injury lawyers can help parents get to the bottom of the cause of the infant’s injuries and ensure you seek legal recourse. In Ohio, parents have two years from the date of the injury to bring a lawsuit. If your child has suffered an injuring during birth that you believe was caused by negligence, you should consult an attorney who will help you navigate your legal options. You may be able to recover compensation that will help you cover necessary medical, educational, and living expenses going forward.