Experienced Long Island Birth Injury Lawyers

Attorneys work to hold medical providers accountable in Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County

Welcoming your baby into the world should be a joyous occasion. But if your child is injured due to the negligent actions of a doctor or other medical provider, your joy can quickly turn to despair. At Licatesi Law Group, LLP in Uniondale and Brooklyn, our determined birth injury attorneys pursue justice against healthcare practitioners throughout Long Island and New York City’s five boroughs. When we take your case, you can trust us to fight vigorously for compensation you need to care for your child and address the harm they’ve suffered.

What is a birth injury?

A birth injury is an injury that occurs during pregnancy, labor or delivery. Injuries to newborns can be caused by the improper use of forceps or other medical instruments during childbirth, delays in performing Cesarean sections, lack of monitoring during pregnancy and medication errors such as the improper use of labor-inducing drugs. If birth injuries occur, a doctor, nurse, medical facility or other involved party can be held liable for medical malpractice if professional standards were not followed. We will investigate all of the details of your case to discover what happened and determine if legal liability exists.  

Types of birth injuries

Types of birth injuries include the following:

  • Brain damage
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Brachial palsy
  • Fractures
  • Facial paralysis
  • Swelling of scalp
  • Blood under scalp
  • Bruising and soft tissue injuries
  • Death
  • Injuries to mother

Birth injuries can have severe emotional and physical effects, especially in cases of catastrophic injuries. Costs of medical treatment and long-term care can be financially ruinous. By retaining a proven New York attorney, you have the best chance of securing compensation that helps you meet your child’s needs. Our attorneys can advise you about a course of action and damages you may be able to obtain based on the type and severity of injuries suffered.

Process of resolving a birth injury claim

When we take on your birth injury case, we will seek to establish negligence by showing that the doctor violated the accepted standard of medical care. To do this we will gather evidence that may include:

  • Medical records of both mother and child
  • Witness statements from other medical personnel who assisted in the delivery
  • Employment records of the doctor, including whether there were previous complaints against him or her

We will also identify expert witnesses to give testimony regarding the level of obstetric care. After conducting a close review of the current and potential future damages, we will advise you about the possible value of your claim. Often, our firm can negotiate a fair settlement with the provider’s insurance carrier. However, should an adequate settlement offer not be forthcoming, we will aggressively pursue appropriate compensation for you in court.

Statute of limitations for birth injury claims

There are time limits to bringing birth injury lawsuits. If an adult mother is injured, she typically has 30 months to file a claim following the injury. The same statute of limitations exists for a wrongful death claim. For birth injuries to children that are not immediately identifiable, parents could have up to 10 years from the date of birth to file suit. A person who was injured during delivery and is pursuing a birth injury claim on their own behalf typically has three years to file after turning 18 years old. If you are considering a birth injury claim, you should immediately seek guidance from an attorney. You could lose your ability to file if you wait too long. Our attorneys will act promptly to protect your legal rights.

Contact a skilled New York birth injury lawyer for a free consultation

Licatesi Law Group, LLP, with offices in Brooklyn and Uniondale, Long Island, is dedicated to holding medical practitioners who cause birth injuries accountable. We serve clients in Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as the five boroughs. Call us at 516-227-2662 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with a skilled attorney.