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Baltimore, Maryland Birth Injury Lawyer
Skilled Attorney Handling Birth Injury Claims in Baltimore
Attorney Spotlight A.J. Serafini
- Elite Lawyer, 2024 - Present
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2021 - Present
- The National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40
- Herald-Mail Readers' Choice Award for Best Attorney, 2018
- Herald-Mail Media's "Best of the Tri-state", 2019 and 2020
The birth of a child is one of the most sensitive medical events you may ever experience, demanding close attention from doctors, nurses, and other professionals. When medical staff are negligent, the health of the mother and the baby may be jeopardized, carrying the potential for serious injury or even death. A Baltimore, MD birth injury attorney can help you take legal action for preventable injuries sustained in labor, seeking full compensation for your damages.
Attorney Andrew Serafini of Serafini Law has made a career out of protecting the rights of personal injury victims in a wide variety of cases, with successful case results to show for it. Our firm will fight for a just result on your behalf, whether through settlement negotiations or litigation.
GET JUSTICE FOR YOUR INJURIES –– CALL 240-744-1600
Birth Injuries to Infants
Complications during labor or delivery can result in injuries that affect an infant's health at birth and potentially long after. These injuries may range from mild conditions that resolve quickly to more severe impairments that require long-term medical care. Birth injuries can affect a child's muscles, nerves, or brain, and symptoms may appear immediately or gradually as developmental milestones emerge.
Although some complications arise even with appropriate medical care, others occur when providers do not respond to signs of distress or do not follow accepted medical procedures. Because infants are especially vulnerable during the birthing process, even small errors can lead to significant and lasting consequences.
Birth Injuries to Mothers
Mothers can also experience injuries during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. These injuries may involve excessive bleeding, untreated infections, nerve damage, or complications arising from surgical procedures such as cesarean sections. The physical and emotional effects can be substantial, sometimes requiring extended recovery or ongoing treatment.
Medical providers play a central role in monitoring a mother's health before and during childbirth, including recognizing potential risks and responding promptly to complications. When warning signs are missed or procedures are not performed with appropriate care, injuries to mothers can be more severe than they otherwise might have been.
Common Causes Behind Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can result from a variety of conditions, but negligence by medical providers is a recurring concern in many cases. Negligence in this context generally refers to actions or omissions that fall below the standard of care that reasonably competent providers are expected to follow. When this occurs during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, the consequences can be significant.
Examples of conduct that may contribute to birth injuries include:
- Improper fetal monitoring: Failing to observe or respond to signs of distress can allow preventable complications to worsen.
- Delayed interventions: Waiting too long to recommend a cesarean section or respond to stalled labor may increase the risk of oxygen deprivation or physical trauma.
- Incorrect use of delivery tools: Forceps or vacuum extractors must be used with precision, and improper application can cause nerve injury or skull fractures.
- Medication errors: Administering the wrong medication or incorrect dosage during labor may affect both mother and child.
- Failure to diagnose maternal conditions: Conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or infections require close monitoring, and missed diagnoses can lead to complications during delivery.
In Maryland, determining whether negligence occurred generally involves examining what actions a reasonably competent medical provider would have taken under similar circumstances. This process often requires reviewing medical records and consulting individuals who are familiar with medical standards.
What Is My
Case Worth? Let's Find Out
The value of a personal injury case depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, the impact on your ability to work, and medical expenses. At Serafini Law, we evaluate each case to determine the potential compensation, including:
- Medical Expenses Coverage for past and future medical bills related to your injury.
- Lost Wages Compensation for the income you have lost due to your inability to work.
- Pain & Suffering Financial compensation for physical and emotional distress.
- Property Damage Reimbursement for damage to your vehicle or other property.
- Punitive Damages In cases of extreme negligence, additional compensation may be awarded as a form of punishment.
Think you
have a case?
Mr. Serafini was great about keeping us informed every step of the process of our case. He was always available to answer our emails or phone calls with concerns or questions. Mr. Serafini's Paralegal, Joanne, was also ex-tremely helpful and responded quickly to our concerns. Serifini Law shows their clients compassionate understanding.
What Compensation Can I Get for a Birth Injury in Baltimore?
Compensation in birth injury cases typically seeks to address the financial, physical, and emotional impact of the injury. The categories of compensation that may be available depend on Maryland law and the specific circumstances of the case. Awards may reflect the long-term nature of many birth injuries, especially when ongoing care or support is required. A birth injury claim can account for multiple damages, including:
- Medical expenses: This may cover costs for treatment already received as well as anticipated future care.
- Therapy and support services: Infants with developmental or physical challenges may require physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other specialized care.
- Lost income: If a parent must reduce work hours or leave employment to care for the child, compensation may account for that loss.
- Pain and suffering: Maryland places limits on non-economic damages, but compensation may still be available for the emotional and physical impact of the injury.
- Assistive devices or accommodations: Some injuries require special equipment or home modifications to ensure safety and mobility.
Our attorney can help interpret how Maryland law applies in an individual situation, including which categories of compensation may be available. We will review your situation carefully to maximize the value of your claim, making sure no critical details are overlooked.
Injured? Call 240-744-1600 Now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maryland's time limits for filing birth injury claims depend on several factors, including whether the claim is on behalf of the mother, the child, or both. The time period for children is often longer than for adults because Maryland allows additional time for minors to bring certain claims. These rules contain exceptions and can be complex, as some deadlines may begin when an injury is discovered rather than when it occurred. An attorney can help explain which deadlines apply to a particular case.
Proving negligence in a birth injury case generally involves showing that a medical provider did not meet the accepted standard of care. This usually requires reviewing medical records, evaluating the actions taken during labor and delivery, and obtaining insight from individuals who can explain what a reasonably competent provider would have done under similar circumstances. These evaluations help determine whether the provider's conduct contributed to the injury.
Many birth injury claims are resolved through settlement rather than trial. Settlement negotiations allow both sides to discuss the facts of the case and explore a resolution that addresses the harm caused without the uncertainty of a court verdict. However, not all cases settle, and some proceed to litigation if the parties cannot reach an agreement. Whether a case settles or goes to trial depends on the circumstances and the willingness of both sides to compromise.
Fault may be attributed to a range of individuals or entities involved in prenatal care, labor, and delivery. These may include obstetricians, nurses, midwives, anesthesiologists, or the hospital itself. Determining fault involves evaluating the role each provider played and whether any actions or omissions contributed to the injury. In some cases, multiple parties may share responsibility.
The length of a birth injury claim varies widely. Cases may take months or several years depending on the complexity of the injury, the amount of investigation required, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Claims involving long-term medical needs often take more time because the full extent of the injury must be understood before compensation can be assessed. Attorneys can help explain what to expect based on the circumstances of a particular situation.
Contact a Baltimore, MD Birth Injury Attorney
At Serafini Law, we have the resources to fully investigate a birth injury claim. To schedule a free consultation with our firm, call us at 240-744-1600 or contact our Baltimore birth injury lawyer today.
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