In a study published in 2021, researchers found the following after analyzing 982,033 birth trauma records:[1]
**These are data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Doctors are responsible for ensuring that mothers remain healthy during pregnancy. They must also tailor a delivery plan that accounts for any diagnosed complications and identified risk factors. Failure to do so may warrant a medical malpractice claim.
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There are some apparent unusual behaviors in affected children early on. If you are seeing weird behaviors from your baby, it’d be wise to get them screened for birth injuries as soon as possible. Said unusual behaviors may include:
Injured babies often exhibit developmental delays in various aspects of their growth. Let’s study this further in the next segment.
Delays in a baby's developmental milestone can also serve as initial signs of acquired birth injuries. Here’s a summary of these developmental milestones:
| Physical Development | Cognitive Development |
| 0-3 months: Lifts head when on their stomach, follows objects with eyes 3-6 months: Rolls over, reaches for objects 6-9 months: Sits without support, starts crawling 9-12 months: Pulls to stand, may take first steps | 0-3 months: Recognizes familiar faces, tracks moving objects 3-6 months: Responds to own name, shows curiosity about objects 6-9 months: Develops object permanence, explores objects with hands and mouth 9-12 months: Understands simple words, imitates gestures |
| Language Development | Social and Emotional Development |
| 0-3 months: Coos and makes gurgling sounds 3-6 months: Babbles and laughs 6-9 months: Begins to understand "no," makes different consonant sounds 9-12 months: Says first words, understands simple instructions | 0-3 months: Smiles at people, recognizes parent 3-6 months: Enjoys social play, distinguishes emotions in others' voices 6-9 months: May show anxiety with strangers, enjoys mirror images 9-12 months: Shows preference for certain people, maybe clingy with parents |
Developmental delays in babies do not only occur in one specific area. Any delays in one area can also hinder the development of all the others. Such delays can compound and get carried over to the baby’s childhood.
To effectively avoid birth injuries, doctors must promptly screen mothers for any complications and account for all pre-existing maternal health conditions. At the same time, they must monitor the baby closely for anything unusual.
Some of the more common considerations that should be managed include:[2]
Fetal Factors
Maternal Factors
Despite sufficient planning, emergencies may still arise during deliveries. Doctors must promptly and effectively respond to any signs of distress exhibited by either mother or child.
Seeking Compensation for Medical Negligence?
We hold negligent doctors accountable. Clients do not pay anything unless we win.
All medical expenses (past and future) are considered in a medical malpractice claim. In birth injury cases, compensation ensures that an injured child is provided with all the necessary support for their growth and development. Injured mothers must also be allowed to return to their healthiest state.
Usual compensation considerations can include (but are not limited to):
Economic damages
Non-economic damages
According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, in 2023, medical malpractice cases in New York were settled at about $492,316 on average. However, based on our experience, cases involving birth injuries are compensated with much more. For actual compensation figures, please refer to our previous wins.
At the Porter Law Group, our team of proven medical malpractice lawyers delivers ideal results. We take pride in helping families rebuild after unfavorable circumstances. We operate on a contingency basis – meaning you do not need to pay us anything unless we win your case. Through this approach, we can better support families during their times of need.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, please reach out to us for a non-obligatory free case evaluation. You can also contact us at 833-PORTER9 or info@porterlawteam.com to schedule a consultation.
