A $2.3 million dollar verdict for a birth injury case was awarded to a Virginia attorney and his client. In 2006, the negligence of a midwife hired by a woman’s obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) caused permanent nerve damage to her baby boy’s arm. The attorney for the boy showed that the negligence that occurred during delivery occurred during the birth due to shoulder dystocia.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind a mother’s pubic bone. In order to avoid injury, certain changes must be made during delivery. Birth injuries arising from the improper delivery of a baby with shoulder dystocia can be permanent. In the case of the Virginia boy, it was shown that the nerve damage caused him permanent disablement of his right arm. He may need assistance for simple tasks for the rest of life, and may not be able to do many of the typical activities of childhood due to the birth injury he received.
The verdict the attorney gained for the boy will help him receive the special assistance and training he needs due to the negligent birth injury he received at birth. The jury also awarded an additional $60,000 to reimburse medical expenses that the mother as acquired. Such birth injuries can be compared to injuries caused by auto accidents, they cause life changing challenges for the baby, just as he or she is entering into the world.
Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If your child was injured at birth and you now have questions regarding your legal rights, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the experienced medical malpractice and birth injury attorneys answer any questions you may have.