McAlester Birth Injury Lawyer

Experienced Advocacy for Birth Injury Cases in Oklahoma

Pregnancy should be the sweetest of times for parents. All too often, though, the birth of a new child turns to sorrow. When doctors, nurses, and others fail to provide proper care in the delivery, recovery, or nursing rooms, healthcare providers should be held accountable. Birthing problems can cause Oklahoma residents to need long-term medical care. Some children suffer birth disorders that have a lifetime of consequences. Sometimes, the mother dies. 

The McAlester birth injury lawyers at Stipe Law Firm provide families nationwide with effective representation. When hospitals and their health providers are negligent, and their unprofessional care causes your baby, your spouse, or your loved one harm – we are here to help. Stipe Law Firm has over 60 years of combined experience representing families in birth injury cases. You can lean on us. Trust our lawyers to get justice for you during this overwhelming time.   

Contact Stipe Law Firm today to meet with our birth injury lawyer in McAlester!

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

There are many kinds of injuries that can happen during the delivery of a child. Doctors should anticipate all the things that commonly go wrong so harm doesn’t come to your child or the mother. Our lawyers, including the hospital, hold everyone involved in the birthing process responsible. 

Some of the cases our McAlester birth injury attorneys handle include the following:

• Cerebral palsy is often caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain during a newborn’s childbirth. It affects movement, coordination, and the muscles. Symptoms include rigid limbs and trunks, impaired posture, involuntary movements, exaggerated reflexes, and difficulty walking. Difficulty in swallowing and reduced range of motion are also common. Complications can include blindness, deafness, and epilepsy. There are variations of cerebral palsy, depending on the amount and severity of the oxygen loss.
• Erb’s palsy is one form of brachial plexus injury. It often happens during childbirth, though it can also happen due to a hard fall. Doctors are trained to anticipate that the disorder can occur when the delivery is labored. The shoulders must pass through the birth canal properly and at the proper time. When Erb’s palsy occurs, the spinal cord doesn’t deliver the proper nerve signals to the shoulder, arm, and hand.
• Brachial plexus palsy is nerve damage to the spinal cord, shoulder, arms, and hands. The condition can be caused during a difficult child delivery – usually when the shoulders do not pass through the birth canal soon enough after the head passes. Side effects include paralysis, loss of sensation in the arm, impaired muscular development, loss of sensory perception, stunted arm growth, neurological damage, circulation problems, pain, and joint stiffness.
• Oxygen deficiency during childbirth can cause severe brain damage. If the deficiency lasts too long, the newborn may suffer cerebral palsy, epilepsy, loss of mental function, and other lifetime damages. Prolonged oxygen deficiency may cause the infant to die during delivery or shortly after that. Additional dangers include developmental delays and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Recoverable Damages in a Birth Injury Claim

Birth injuries impose significant emotional, physical, and financial burdens on affected families. Pursuing a birth injury claim with Stipe Law Firm provides avenues for recovering various types of damages, including:

• Medical Expenses: Compensation may cover current and future medical costs related to the birth injury, such as surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.
• Lost Income: If a parent cannot work due to caring for the injured child, compensation may be sought for lost wages and diminished earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: Birth injuries can lead to enduring physical and emotional pain. Compensation may be pursued for the suffering the child and the family endured.
• Rehabilitation Costs: Therapy and other rehabilitative services may be necessary for a child with birth injuries. Compensation can help cover these expenses.
• Special Education and Accommodations: Children with birth injuries often require special education and accommodations. Compensation can assist in providing the necessary resources for their educational needs.