Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Have Been Recovered for Injured Babies and Children
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Becoming a parent is one of the most incredible, life-changing experiences a person can have. It’s a journey filled with hopes, dreams, and a fierce desire to protect your little one. In our decades of experience supporting children and families in Harrisburg and across Central Pennsylvania, we have seen the full spectrum of this journey.
We want to talk about a topic that is often difficult for parents to discuss: birth injury. Our goal isn’t to create fear. Instead, it’s to provide you with honest, clear, and caring information so you can be a better advocate for your child. We’ll take a close, caring look at what a birth injury is, how often it happens here in Harrisburg, PA, and what you can do to protect your baby. The journey to a healthy future begins with knowledge.
First, let’s define what a birth injury actually is. It’s a type of injury that happens to a baby during or immediately after the labor and delivery process. It’s different from a birth defect, which is a condition that a baby is born with due to genetic or developmental issues. A birth injury, in contrast, is often caused by some form of pressure, stress, or medical error during the delivery itself.
These injuries can range from minor issues like bruising or nerve pressure that heal quickly to more serious, life-altering conditions like cerebral palsy or brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen. What’s most important to understand is that many birth injuries are preventable. They often happen when a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional fails to take the proper steps to ensure a safe delivery, like:
Failing to monitor the baby's vital signs: A baby's heart rate can signal distress. If this isn't monitored closely, a baby could be deprived of oxygen.
Improper use of delivery tools: Instruments like forceps or vacuum extractors, while sometimes necessary, can cause skull fractures or nerve damage if used with too much force.
Not performing a timely C-section: When a baby is in distress and a vaginal delivery is too risky, a Cesarean section is needed to save the baby's life. A delay can cause severe, permanent injuries.
We understand that thinking about these possibilities can be unsettling. But by understanding the risks and the signs, you empower yourself to have informed conversations with your medical team and to seek help if something goes wrong
When you’re pregnant, you’re often focused on the exciting milestones—seeing the first ultrasound, feeling the first kick, and counting down the days. It’s easy to assume everything will go perfectly. And for many families, it does. But it’s important to be aware of some of the local statistics that are often overlooked so that you can be better prepared.
Let’s start with the numbers. Our city—including Harrisburg, Cumberland, and Dauphin counties combined—sees about 1,400 new babies welcomed into the world each year. That’s a lot of growing families! Among those many births, some are early (preterm) or have a low weight. These babies, even when otherwise healthy, are at a higher risk for birth injuries—even when everything else seems to be going well.
Here are some local numbers that you may not have heard before, but are crucial for understanding the risks in our community:
Low birth weight: In Harrisburg, about 8% of babies are born weighing under 5½ pounds. This is a significant number of children who are more vulnerable during delivery. A baby's small size can increase the risk of injury from pressure or the use of delivery tools.
Preterm births: In our area, nearly 10% of babies are born before 37 weeks. That's about 1 in every 10 babies arriving too early. Preterm babies are often not as developed and can have more fragile bodies, making them more susceptible to injury during delivery.
Infant mortality rate: In Pennsylvania, the infant mortality rate is around 5.6 for every 1,000 births. While this may feel small on a state level, every single one of those numbers represents a profound tragedy for a family. Even though this isn't a direct statistic on birth injury, it's a sobering reminder of the serious risks involved in childbirth.
The Quiet Risks You Don’t Hear About
Beyond the typical medical statistics, not many people talk about how Harrisburg’s local environment can impact a pregnancy. Regional air quality and extreme heat days can make things harder for babies and moms during pregnancy. These environmental risks can quietly increase the chances of complications, such as a baby being born early or with a low birth weight, which in turn increases the risk of birth injury. It’s another reason why being proactive and talking to your doctor is so important.
Even if these percentages seem small, they represent a harsh reality for many families in our area. A number like 8% or 10% might not seem like a lot, but when you apply it to the thousands of babies born in the Harrisburg area, it means dozens of families every year face the challenges of a birth injury. These injuries—whether bruising, nerve pressure, or long-term effects like cerebral palsy—can be life-altering.
Seeing these numbers helps families stay alert, ask better questions, and get help sooner. The best tool you have is knowledge, and understanding your child’s specific risk factors can empower you to have a proactive and engaged role in your child’s care.
Feeling prepared is the best way to handle the journey of pregnancy and delivery. Here’s how you can be ready and proactive, turning knowledge into action.
At The Child and Birth Injury Firm, our medical malpractice teams bring decades of local experience with families in Harrisburg and throughout Central Pennsylvania. We’re here to listen, explain your options, and support you—always with caring, clear guidance, and without any pressure. We are more than just a legal team; we are a resource for our community.
Birth injuries are more common than you might think: With nearly 10% of babies born early and 8% with low birth weight in Harrisburg, there is a real risk for injury.
Local factors matter: Environmental and health factors—like heat, air quality, and access to care—quietly add to the risks.
You have power: You can be proactive by asking questions, monitoring signs, and calling for help if something feels wrong.
Helpful terms get you better support: Searching for "best prenatal care near me" or "pediatric specialists near me" can help you find excellent support sooner.
Our caring, experienced team is here to help: When you’re ready, we are here to guide you, answer your questions, and provide the support you need.
We hope this information helps you feel more informed, empowered, and supported. The birth of a child is a time of hope, and every family deserves to feel confident and secure. We’re your local team, with genuine care and real answers.
As a leading medical center in the region, they offer specialized care for complex pediatric conditions, including those resulting from birth injuries.
These county-run programs in Dauphin and Cumberland counties provide crucial, no-cost or low-cost therapy and support for children from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays.
Website for Dauphin County: https://www.dauphincounty.gov/government/departments/drug-and-alcohol-services/early-intervention
Website for Cumberland County: https://www.cumberlandcountypa.gov/160/Early-Intervention
Though located in nearby Lancaster, this center is a key resource offering comprehensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy for children with a wide range of developmental needs.
Website: https://www.schreiberpediatric.org
PSI provides a variety of free, online support groups, including a “Birth Trauma Support” group that is an invaluable resource for parents needing a safe, confidential space to talk about their experiences.
This organization offers a wealth of information and resources for families, focusing on baby and maternal health. They can connect you with local support networks and provide education on various conditions.
Website: https://www.marchofdimes.org
This is often the first question a parent has. A birth defect is a condition that a baby is born with, often due to genetic or developmental factors that occurred in the womb. For example, a baby with spina bifida or a congenital heart defect has a birth defect.
A birth injury, on the other hand, is an injury that happens to a baby just before, during, or just after the birthing process. These injuries are often caused by some form of physical trauma or a lack of oxygen due to a medical mistake. This could include a doctor improperly using forceps, a nurse failing to monitor a baby in distress, or a delayed C-section. Our birth injury lawyer’s crucial role is to work with medical experts to review your entire case, including medical records and fetal monitoring strips, to determine if your child’s injury was a preventable birth injury caused by negligence.
Yes, absolutely. A birth injury lawsuit is not just about paying for medical bills. While compensation for past and future medical expenses, therapy, and specialized equipment is a major part of the claim, it also seeks to cover "non-economic damages." These damages are meant to compensate your family for the immense emotional and psychological toll a birth injury can take. This includes money for your child's pain and suffering, as well as the emotional distress and diminished quality of life for the entire family. Our medical malpractice birth injury teams of lawyers will help you document these often-immeasurable losses to ensure you receive full and fair compensation.
Pennsylvania has a statute of limitations, which sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. For birth injury cases, this can be complex. In general, the statute of limitations for a birth injury claim is two years from the date the injury occurred. However, Pennsylvania law makes a special exception for minors. The clock on the statute of limitations for a child's claim generally does not begin until they turn 18. This means you typically have until your child's 20th birthday to file a lawsuit on their behalf.
Despite this extended timeline, it's crucial not to wait. The sooner you contact our medical malpractice lawyers, the better. Evidence can be lost, and witness memories can fade. Our lawyers need time to investigate your case, gather medical records, and consult with medical experts to build the strongest possible case for your child's future.
This is a great question, as liability is often a shared responsibility. While the delivering doctor is a primary focus, other parties can also be held accountable. This may include:
Our experienced team of birth injury lawyers will investigate all of the medical providers and staff involved to determine who may share responsibility for the negligence that caused your child’s injury.
For most families, hiring a birth injury lawyer in Harrisburg would be financially impossible without a specific fee arrangement. This is why the vast majority of these lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
A contingency fee means that you do not pay any legal fees or upfront costs unless and until your medical malpractice lawyer wins your case. If your lawyer is successful, they will then take a pre-agreed-upon percentage of the final settlement or court award. This percentage can vary. The law firm covers all the expenses of the case, including expert fees, court costs, and investigation expenses. If the case is unsuccessful, you owe them nothing. This arrangement allows families to pursue justice without the added burden of financial risk.
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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