Bringing a child into the world should be one of the happiest moments of your life, but when a medical mistake occurs, that happiness can quickly turn into heartbreak.
If your baby has been diagnosed with a birth injury or is showing signs of developmental delays, it’s natural to want answers. You may be wondering if something went wrong during pregnancy or delivery—if a doctor, delivery room nurse, or hospital made a mistake that caused your child’s condition.
Unfortunately, medical errors during childbirth happen every day, and when they do, families often don’t know who they can trust or where to turn.
At Brown Trial Firm, we understand how overwhelming and frustrating this situation can be. The financial burden of a birth injury can be immense, with ongoing medical treatments, therapy, specialized equipment, and lifelong care costs adding up quickly.
No family should have to shoulder these expenses alone—especially if a medical mistake was to blame. That’s why it’s crucial to speak with an experienced Oklahoma City birth injury attorney who focuses exclusively on cases like yours.
Laura Brown has dedicated her entire career to fighting for families affected by preventable birth injuries. Because she only handles birth injury claims, she knows exactly what to look for, how to uncover medical negligence, and what it takes to secure the financial support your child needs.
If you suspect that a medical error played a role
in your child’s injury, you deserve answers.
Laura Brown can help you get them.
Contact Brown Trial Firm today for a free consultation to discuss your child’s case and explore your legal options.
What qualifies as a birth injury?
A birth injury is an injury sustained by a baby or a mother during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. This includes both vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections (C-sections). Many birth injuries are caused by medical errors, although some are not preventable even with the best medical care.
Oftentimes, when a baby is at risk of a birth injury, the baby sends distress signals. The medical professionals overseeing the baby’s birth are responsible for monitoring and responding to this fetal distress. When they don’t, and the child suffers an injury as a result, professionals like OB-GYNs, nurses, and midwives can be held liable through a birth injury lawsuit.
What is included in birth injury?
There are many different types of birth injuries. While some are mild and temporary, others lead to lifelong complications and struggles for the affected children. Below is a list of the most common birth injuries along with some of their potential causes:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are two different types of brain injuries that can develop when a baby’s brain doesn’t get enough oxygen and blood flow during labor. They can be caused by issues like the umbilical cord getting compressed, the placenta detaching too soon (called placental abruption), the labor lasting too long, a delayed decision to perform a C-section, and infections in the mother that impact fetal brain development.
- Erb’s palsy (brachial plexus injury) is a nerve injury that usually happens when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck during delivery, referred to as shoulder dystocia. Erb’s palsy can result from excessive pulling on the baby’s arm, improper use of forceps, or cephalopelvic disproportion (when the mother’s pelvis is too small for a safe vaginal birth).
- Bone fractures and spinal cord injuries can occur when excessive force is used during delivery. If the baby is too large to pass easily through the birth canal (a condition called fetal macrosomia), their collarbone or skull may fracture. Improper use of a vacuum extractor or forceps can also lead to fractures or nerve damage. Spinal cord injuries are more likely when there is excessive twisting or pulling on the baby’s neck, especially during a breech delivery.
- Facial paralysis (e.g., Bell’s palsy) can happen when there is too much pressure on the baby’s face, often due to forceps use or prolonged labor where the baby’s head is pressed against the mother’s pelvis for an extended period.
- Meconium aspiration syndrome occurs when a baby inhales their first stool (meconium) into the lungs. This is often due to fetal distress, prolonged labor, or low levels of amniotic fluid (often associated with pregnancies that have gone past their due dates.)
- Intracranial hemorrhage (brain bleeding) can happen when too much pressure is placed on a baby’s head during delivery. Difficult labor, fetal malposition, neonatal hypertension, and improper use of vacuum extractors can all increase the risk.
- Chronic seizures can develop if a baby experiences severe oxygen deprivation, an untreated infection, or exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy that affect brain development.
- Blindness or deafness can result from a lack of oxygen at birth, infections passed from the mother, premature birth, or untreated jaundice, which can lead to a serious condition called kernicterus.
It’s worth noting that every birth and birth injury is unique. If you have questions about what caused your child’s injury, it’s crucial to speak with an Oklahoma City birth injury lawyer who can help determine if medical negligence is to blame.
A guide to baby brain damage
Understand when brain damage might be the result of medical negligence.
What is birth trauma compensation?
Birth trauma compensation refers to financial compensation that families may be entitled to if their children suffered preventable birth injuries due to medical negligence.
Birth injuries can lead to expensive ongoing medical needs, from therapy and surgeries to specialized equipment and in-home care. That’s why it’s so important to explore your legal options. If a medical mistake caused your child’s injury, you may be able to pursue compensation to help cover these costs and secure the care your child needs.
Compensation can help pay for things like:
- Medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, and specialist visits
- Ongoing therapy, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Prescription medications and medical treatments
- Adaptive equipment, like wheelchairs, braces, and communication devices
- Home modifications for accessibility, such as ramps and widened doorways
- In-home nursing care or personal assistance
- Special education services and tutoring
- Lost wages for parents who must reduce their work hours or leave their jobs to care for their children
- Pain and suffering, both for the child and the emotional toll on the family
- Future medical and care costs to ensure long-term financial security
The types and amount of compensation you may be entitled to depend on factors like the severity of your child’s injury and its impact on their life and yours.
A knowledgeable birth injury lawyer in Oklahoma City can provide an initial estimate based on similar cases and begin gathering evidence to help you recover the full compensation your child and family deserve.
Birth injury facts every parent should know
Knowledge really is power. Get answers to common questions about birth injuries.
Can I afford to hire a birth injury attorney?
Many parents feel overwhelmed when they see the costs that come with treating serious conditions like cerebral palsy, brain damage, or nerve injuries. The expenses can quickly add up, which is why at Brown Trial Firm, our goal is to help ease that burden.
When we take your case, you pay nothing out of pocket. We use a fee structure called a “contingency fee.” Instead of billing by the hour, we’re paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict. This means we only get paid if we recover money for you, and you never pay anything unless we win.
What’s more, Laura Brown’s years of experience and sole focus on birth injury laws mean she knows exactly how to build the strongest possible case for your child.
Unlike general personal injury attorneys, she has deep knowledge of the complex medical and legal aspects of birth injury claims. She works with top medical experts and knows how to gather critical evidence and calculate the full lifetime costs of your child’s care to get maximum compensation for your family.
Laura’s specialized approach gives families the best chance at securing a higher settlement or verdict—one that truly reflects the financial and emotional toll of a birth injury.
Local birth injury resources for Oklahoma families
Below are some local organizations that may be able to help Oklahoma families obtain resources and support for their children living with birth injuries or special needs:
- Ability Connection Oklahoma. Provide temporary or permanent loans of durable medical equipment, such as bath seats, walkers, wheelchairs, feeding seats, adapted toys, etc., free of charge, regardless of disability. As funding permits, they also provide financial aid for specific needs.
- Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. The Oklahoma SSI Disabled Children’s Program assists children from birth to age 18 who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability payments in getting needed equipment and services. This includes adaptive equipment and specialty formula from birth to age 18 and diapers from age 4 to age 18.
- Oklahoma Human Services (OHS). Among other things, OHS offers aid for families with children with developmental disabilities. For a full list of resources and services, please visit their website.
- Oklahoma Family Network. Oklahoma Family Network provides emotional support, resources, and advocacy for families of children with special needs and birth injuries. They help families navigate healthcare, education, and community services by connecting them with trained peer mentors who offer guidance and share their firsthand experiences.
Where can I find an experienced Oklahoma City birth injury lawyer near me?
If you suspect that your child’s birth injury was caused by a medical mistake, you deserve answers. We understand that filing a lawsuit against a doctor or hospital you trusted with your care can feel overwhelming, even intimidating. But you owe it to yourself and your child to find out the truth about what happened.
Experienced Oklahoma City birth injury attorney Laura Brown can help you get those answers and secure the compensation you need so your child can live the best possible life. With Brown Trial Firm, you’re not just getting a lawyer; you’re getting a dedicated advocate who understands what’s at stake and won’t back down until you get the justice and support your child needs.
Learn more about how Laura Brown can help with your child’s birth injury claim by scheduling a free consultation.
