Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Have Been Recovered for Injured Babies and Children
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At The Child and Birth Injury Firm, we’ve spent decades helping children and families when medical malpractice injuries happen. Today, we’re talking about birth injuries right here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. You’ll learn real facts, surprising stats, and practical ways to stay safe—all in an easy-to-understand way. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and a sense of readiness. When you’re informed, you can advocate for your baby with confidence. Medical providers play a crucial role in monitoring for birth complications and ensuring proper care during delivery, which can make a significant difference in outcomes. This isn’t just about statistics; it’s about the well-being of our community, our neighbors, and our future. We believe that an informed parent is the best advocate a child can have.
Bethlehem is a vibrant part of the Lehigh Valley, nestled within both Lehigh and Northampton counties. Bethlehem is a community that values family and health. In Lehigh County alone, there were about 4,086 births in 2020. That’s a helpful starting point to understand the scale of what we’re discussing. Each of those births represents a new life and a new family.
Across Pennsylvania, about 1 in 10 babies (9.7%) are born early (preterm), and 1 in 12 babies (8.4%) are born with low weight. When babies are born early or are small, they are more likely to have trouble during birth. This can make birth injuries more likely to happen. These numbers are a good reminder that while most births are smooth, there are many factors that can create challenges. Low birth weight and preterm birth can also result in ongoing medical needs for affected children, including long-term care and therapy. Low birth weight and preterm birth can also increase the risk of disrupted blood flow to the baby’s brain during delivery, which may lead to serious birth injuries.
Here are a few eye-openers we bet you didn’t know, and they’re crucial for any family expecting a new baby in the Bethlehem area:
When babies are born too soon, too small, or with delayed care, the chance for injuries during delivery goes up—like bruising, nerve damage, or pressure-related incidents. The good news? Knowing these numbers helps families stay alert and speak up early. Being prepared isn’t about worrying; it’s about being empowered. It’s about taking control of what you can and being an active partner in your healthcare.
We want every parent to feel in charge of their baby’s health. Here’s what you can do to be your own best advocate and ensure a safe and healthy start:
The arrival of a new baby is a moment of pure joy and hope. For families in Bethlehem and everywhere, this journey should be as safe and positive as possible. While we’ve shared some serious medical malpractice facts and statistics today, our goal is not to create fear but to build confidence. By understanding the local landscape—from birth weight statistics to the importance of early prenatal care—you are already taking the first and most crucial step toward protecting your child.
At The Child and Birth Injury Firm, we are here as a resource for you and your family. We are more than just a law firm; we are a part of your community, dedicated to helping Bethlehem families navigate the unexpected challenges that can arise. If a birth injury does occur, our compassionate and experienced team is ready to listen, offer guidance, and fight for the justice and support your family deserves. We hope this information has been helpful, and we wish you and your little one a future filled with health, happiness, and peace of mind.
When a family welcomes a new baby, the last thing they expect is for something to go wrong during childbirth. Unfortunately, birth injuries caused by medical negligence or preventable mistakes can have lifelong consequences for both the child and their loved ones. Understanding the different types of birth injuries is the first step in recognizing when something may have gone wrong—and in knowing when to seek help from a birth injury lawyer or experienced birth injury attorney.
Some of the most serious birth injuries include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, brachial plexus palsy (including Erb’s palsy), brain damage, and birth asphyxia. Brachial plexus injury refers to nerve damage caused by complications during delivery, such as shoulder dystocia or excessive force. Erb’s palsy is a specific type of brachial plexus injury that often results from excessive force or improper handling during difficult deliveries, and can lead to permanent disability if not properly managed. These injuries can result from a range of factors, such as fetal distress that goes unrecognized, improper handling by medical professionals, or medical errors during delivery. For example, excessive force during delivery or a failure to respond to signs of oxygen deprivation can lead to devastating outcomes like brain injury or permanent nerve damage.
It’s important to remember that not all birth injuries are immediately apparent. Some may only become noticeable as your child grows, through developmental delays or difficulties with movement and coordination. If you notice anything unusual, it’s crucial to seek medical attention right away and consider consulting with a medical malpractice lawyer or birth injury attorney to review your options.
Medical negligence can take many forms, from failing to monitor the baby’s heart rate for signs of fetal distress to improper use of delivery tools or not treating maternal infections that could harm the baby. In some cases, healthcare providers may delay necessary interventions, such as a C-section, or fail to recognize complications that require immediate action. When a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care, and an injury occurs as a result, families have the right to hold healthcare providers accountable through a birth injury claim.
If you suspect your child has suffered a birth injury, gathering evidence is essential. This includes obtaining all relevant medical records, documenting your child’s symptoms, and keeping track of medical expenses and lost wages related to your child’s care. An experienced birth injury lawyer or Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys can help you understand your rights, investigate the circumstances of the injury, and determine whether you have grounds for a birth injury lawsuit.
In Pennsylvania, there is a limited window of time—known as the statute of limitations—to file a medical malpractice birth injury claim. The standard deadline is typically two years from when the injury is discovered. However, Pennsylvania law offers a crucial protection for children called tolling, which essentially pauses that two-year clock until the child reaches the age of 18. This means that for the child’s claim, the deadline is generally extended until their 20th birthday. Because the timing of when the injury occurred or was discovered—and the application of tolling—can dramatically impact the final deadline, it is critical to act promptly. That’s why it’s important to consult with a law firm that has experience handling birth injury cases in the Lehigh Valley and across the state. Many firms, including ours, offer a free consultation to help families understand their options without any upfront cost..
A successful birth injury lawsuit can help families secure compensation to cover ongoing medical treatment, therapy, adaptive equipment, and other costs associated with caring for an injured child. It can also provide for lost wages if a parent must leave work to care for their child, and help ensure that your child receives the best possible care for years to come. Compensation can help cover the costs of ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term support for affected children. In tragic cases where medical negligence leads to wrongful death, families may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Most importantly, taking legal action can help prevent future injuries by holding healthcare providers accountable for their actions.
If your child was born at a major hospital in Pennsylvania, such as Temple University Hospital, or any other medical center in the region, and you suspect medical negligence caused their injury, don’t hesitate to reach out to a birth injury attorney. Personal injury lawyers with experience in birth injury and medical malpractice cases can help families seek compensation and justice. Pennsylvania birth injury lawyers are familiar with state laws and can guide families through the process of filing a claim or lawsuit. With the right legal team by your side, you can navigate the complexities of a medical malpractice case and seek the fair compensation your family deserves.
Remember, you are not alone. The impact of a birth injury can be overwhelming, but with the support of experienced lawyers and advocates, you can take steps to protect your child’s future and hold negligent healthcare professionals accountable. If you have questions or need guidance, our Bethlehem birth injury lawyers are here to help—starting with a free consultation to discuss your unique situation.
When a birth injury occurs, families are often left searching for answers—how did this happen, and could it have been prevented? In Bethlehem, understanding the causes of birth injuries is essential for both prevention and for seeking justice if your child has been harmed. Many birth injuries are the direct result of medical negligence, where medical professionals fail to provide the standard of care required during pregnancy, labor, or delivery.
Medical malpractice can take many forms, from not recognizing signs of fetal distress to making critical medical errors or using excessive force during delivery. For example, if a healthcare provider fails to monitor the baby’s heart rate or does not respond quickly to complications, the consequences can be severe—leading to conditions like cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, brachial plexus palsy, or even permanent brain damage. Sometimes, these injuries are not immediately apparent and only become noticeable as your child grows and developmental delays emerge.
A key part of holding healthcare providers accountable is understanding that birth injuries are often preventable. Medical professionals are trained to recognize and respond to complications, but when they fall short, families have the right to seek justice. Consulting with a Bethlehem birth injury lawyer or experienced birth injury attorney can help you determine whether your child’s injury was caused by medical negligence and if you have grounds for a birth injury lawsuit.
Gathering evidence is crucial. This includes obtaining all relevant medical records, documenting your child’s symptoms, and keeping track of medical expenses and lost wages. Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys are skilled in handling these complex cases and can guide you through the process of building a strong birth injury claim. Most reputable law firms, including those serving Bethlehem, work on a contingency fee basis—meaning you pay nothing upfront, and the law firm only gets paid if they secure compensation for your family.
It’s important to act quickly. Pennsylvania law sets strict time limits for filing medical malpractice claims, so reaching out for a free consultation as soon as you suspect a birth injury can make all the difference. An experienced injury lawyer will help you gather evidence, navigate the legal process, and fight for fair compensation to cover medical expenses, ongoing medical needs, and other damages.
This local center in Bethlehem offers a variety of support services, including groups where new parents can connect. They provide emotional wellness support and lactation services for parents struggling with the postpartum period.
Located in nearby Allentown, Easterseals is a leading organization that provides life-changing services for individuals with disabilities and their families. They offer guidance on early intervention, therapy, and family support, all of which are critical for a child with a birth injury.
Website: https://www.easterseals.com/esep/
LVHN provides a range of community outreach and support groups. While they may not have a group specifically for birth injuries, their programs for women’s health, mental wellness, and families can be incredibly beneficial for navigating the emotional challenges that come with a birth trauma. You can search for their latest offerings on their events page
Website: https://www.lvhn.org/events
This is a community-wide effort dedicated to creating a trauma-informed community, which is highly relevant for families dealing with a birth injury. They offer resources and training for parents and caregivers to help them understand and address the impact of trauma on their family’s well-being.
Website: https://resilientlehighvalley.org/
Based in the Lehigh Valley, this non-profit provides resources and hope to families with premature babies. Since many birth injuries are related to premature birth, their “Packages of Hope” and other programs can be a great source of immediate aid and support for families with a baby in the NICU.
Website: https://www.lilyshopefoundation.org/
This national organization offers a variety of free, online support groups, including a “Birth Trauma Support” group that is accessible to parents in Bethlehem. This virtual group provides a safe space to connect with others who have experienced physical or mental trauma during childbirth.
What's the difference between a birth injury and a birth defect?
This is one of the most important distinctions to make. Birth defects are conditions that develop while the baby is in the womb, typically due to genetic factors or environmental exposures, and are generally not caused by medical negligence. In contrast, a medical malpractice birth injury refers to harm sustained by the baby just before, during, or just after the birthing process. These injuries are often the result of improper medical care, such as a doctor failing to monitor a baby in distress, misusing delivery tools like forceps, or delaying a necessary C-section. Our birth injury lawyers can help determine if the injury resulted from a medical mistake.
How do I know if my child's medical malpractice birth injury was caused by medical negligence?
This is the central question in any potential birth injury lawsuit. It’s not enough to simply have an injury; you must be able to prove that a healthcare provider acted negligently and that this negligence directly caused your child’s harm. The actions or omissions of a healthcare professional are central to determining whether negligence occurred. Examples of negligence may include a doctor failing to recognize signs of fetal distress, improper use of a vacuum extractor, or errors in medication. Because medical malpractice cases are medically and legally complex, and require strong evidence and expert testimony, our birth injury lawyers will work with medical experts to review all of your family’s records to establish a clear link between the medical provider’s actions and the injury. Timely medical malpractice claims are crucial to ensure your right to pursue legal action and secure compensation.
Who can be held responsible for a birth injury?
Liability in a birth injury case can be complex. While the delivering doctor is often the focus, other parties may also be held responsible. This can include:
Our experienced lawyers will investigate all parties involved to determine who may share responsibility for the injury. Injury attorneys can help families identify all responsible parties and pursue legal action to secure the compensation they deserve.
What kind of compensation can my family receive?
The compensation in a birth injury case is meant to cover both the past and future costs of your child’s injury. Birth injury claims are a type of personal injury case, which means you may be entitled to compensation for damages caused by medical negligence or other forms of negligence. This can include:
Personal injury cases involving birth injuries often require careful consideration of ongoing medical needs, as these can affect your child’s quality of life and the long-term financial impact on your family.
The total amount of compensation will depend on the severity of the injury and the specific needs of your child.
How much does it cost to hire a birth injury lawyer on a contingency fee?
For most families, a birth injury lawsuit would be financially impossible without a specific fee arrangement known as a “contingency fee.” Most birth injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay any upfront costs or legal fees unless our lawyer wins your case. If our lawyers are successful, they will then take a pre-agreed-upon percentage of the final settlement or court award. This percentage of the total recovery can vary. This fee structure allows families to pursue justice without the added burden of financial risk, as the law firm absorbs the costs of the case, including expert fees, court costs, and investigation expenses. If the case is unsuccessful, you owe your lawyer nothing.
Bethlehem medical malpractice lawyers and birth injury attorneys offer this contingency fee basis to make legal representation accessible for families affected by medical negligence or birth injuries.
Catastrophic child and birth injuries can shatter the lives of not just the babies and children, but also their families. Families are left to navigate a complex maze of medical challenges, financial burdens, and emotional turmoil. But, this is where Jeffrey Killino and his team of dedicated lawyers can provide the support and guidance families need most.
For over 2 decades, Jeffrey Killino and his team have secured life-changing results for babies and children facing catastrophic injuries. Our clients gain access to the best medical care, financial security, and peace of mind, knowing their futures are protected.
Jeffrey Killino and his team of child and birth injury lawyers are committed to go beyond securing multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. We measure our success by our positive impact on our clients’ lives. We’re dedicated to supporting them throughout their journey, even after their case is resolved.
Jeffrey Killino and his team of child and birth injury lawyers are committed to more than just securing multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. We measure our success by our positive impact on our clients’ lives, helping them access the best medical care, achieve financial security, and find peace of mind. We also actively work to prevent injuries and promote safety for everyone.
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