Shoulder Dystocia Lawyer in Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky
Experienced Ohio & Kentucky Shoulder Dystocia Law Firm for Birth Injury Victims
The day of a child’s birth should be one of the best days of a family’s life, but mismanaged shoulder dystocia may change everything in seconds. When that happens, parents should contact a Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky shoulder dystocia lawyer at Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis for help.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck during delivery. A doctor who applies excessive traction may tear the brachial plexus nerves. This preventable injury can leave a child with permanent nerve damage, weakness, or loss of movement in the arm. Don’t wait to pursue compensation and justice for the harm your child has suffered. Our experienced birth injury lawyers are waiting to help you.
Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis represents families in birth injury cases across Ohio and Kentucky, holding negligent providers accountable. Call toll-free at (800) 698-4054 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer in Ohio or Kentucky.
Let’s Discuss Your Potential Case
Let’s Discuss Your Potential Case
What is Shoulder Dystocia During Birth?
Medical professionals typically notice shoulder dystocia after the baby’s head emerges. This condition happens when one or both of the baby’s shoulders (usually the anterior shoulder) get caught behind the mother’s pubic bone, and the body cannot follow. As a result, the baby will likely pull back into the mother.
Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency. The healthcare team must act quickly to free the shoulder without harming the child. If your child did not receive the accepted standard of care, our Covington and Cincinnati birth injury lawyers may be able to pursue a birth injury lawsuit.
Why Does Shoulder Dystocia Happen?
Several factors can contribute to the likelihood of shoulder dystocia during birth. Common risk factors include large babies, prolonged labor, incorrect delivery positioning, or small pelvic openings. Doctors should be able to anticipate the possibility of shoulder dystocia and take measures to prevent it.
Is Shoulder Dystocia Common?
Generally, shoulder dystocia is a rare condition. However, its frequency is also affected by factors such as birth weight. According to the Cleveland Clinic, shoulder dystocia complications occur in roughly 0.6% to 1.4% of births among babies weighing between 5 lbs, 8 oz and 8 lbs, 13 oz. That rate climbs to between 5% and 9% when a baby weighs more than 8 lbs, 13 oz.
What are Brachial Plexus Injuries?
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves located in the shoulder that controls hand and arm movement and sensation. When those nerves get stretched or torn, the arm on that side may become weak, numb, or completely unresponsive. During a shoulder dystocia delivery, a doctor who applies too much force or uses the wrong technique to free the stuck shoulder can damage these nerves. Our Ohio and Northern Kentucky brachial plexus injury attorneys are ready to provide support when doctors cause harm.
Why is Shoulder Dystocia an Emergency?
Every second counts when an infant’s shoulder becomes trapped against the mother’s pelvic bone. The wrong response can cause injuries that follow a child for the rest of their life. Nerve damage is one of the most common outcomes, leading to conditions like Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s palsy, or cerebral palsy. Broken bones may occur when the medical team applies too much force while trying to free the baby’s shoulder. Shoulder dystocia can also lead to umbilical cord compression, which cuts off oxygen and leads to brain damage.
The mother faces serious risks too. Postpartum hemorrhage is the most common maternal complication. Mothers may also suffer from vaginal lacerations or damage to the rectum, cervix, or bladder. Regardless of the resulting complications, Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis are prepared to hold medical professionals accountable. We offer representation for a wide range of birth injury claims, including maternal birth injury, infant brain damage, and cerebral palsy birth injuries in Cincinnati and Covington.
Is Shoulder Dystocia Fatal?
Any serious delay in delivery is incredibly dangerous. Being trapped in the birth canal can easily lead to oxygen deprivation, which can prove fatal for an infant. This outcome is rare, though, and usually occurs when the delivery team misses warning signs or responds too slowly.
Fatalities tied to mismanaged deliveries deserve a thorough investigation. Our Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky loss of child attorneys will give your case the full attention it deserves.
Shoulder Dystocia Wrongful Death Claims
Parents have the right to pursue legal action when mishandled shoulder dystocia results in the death of a child. Proving that a child’s death resulted from medical negligence rather than an unavoidable outcome is a difficult but necessary step to securing compensation. You will need records, expert analysis, and other evidence to demonstrate a breach of the standard of care. A Covington or Cincinnati wrongful death lawyer at Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis can investigate the delivery and gather the necessary evidence to support your claim.
Risk Factors for Shoulder Dystocia
Although shoulder dystocia can occur in almost any delivery, certain factors increase the risk. Medical experts should recognize the following risk factors and prepare accordingly:
- Birth weight of more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces
- Previous pregnancy involving shoulder dystocia
- Gestational diabetes
- Maternal obesity
- A platypelloid, also known as a flat pelvis
- Short maternal stature
- An overdue pregnancy
- Abnormally long labor
- Carrying multiple babies at once
Evidence that a medical provider knew of these conditions and still failed to anticipate or manage shoulder dystocia properly can form the foundation of a legal claim. Our experienced shoulder dystocia lawyers in Ohio and Kentucky carefully investigate medical records for such proof.
Shoulder Dystocia Long-Term Effects
When a medical professional skips the standard obstetric maneuvers and pulls a baby out with excessive force, the damage can follow that child for decades. Nerves in the neck and shoulder can stretch or snap, leading to serious complications like cerebral palsy. If a newborn suffers Erb’s palsy and doesn’t receive proper treatment, they may be unable to move their arm and shoulder normally. Reduced blood flow to the brain can cause hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, a condition that results in permanent cognitive damage.
Some babies need orthopedic or neurosurgery within the first months of life just to address what happened in the delivery room. Even after surgery, years of physical therapy, assistive devices, and ongoing medical care may still lie ahead. Parents often absorb enormous financial pressure trying to meet those needs, and that burden grows heavier with every passing year. Our Cincinnati and Covington shoulder dystocia lawyers fight to recover compensation for medical expenses, future care, and more.
Can You Prevent Shoulder Dystocia?
No screening tool can guarantee that shoulder dystocia will never happen. However, proper monitoring can flag warning signs early enough for the medical team to prepare. Adequate preparation, quick action, and proper care significantly reduce the chance of maternal injuries and serious harm to the baby.
What To Do For Shoulder Dystocia
Trained medical professionals have established techniques to address shoulder dystocia the moment it occurs. The McRoberts maneuver, which repositions the mother’s legs to widen the pelvis, is one of the first responses. Suprapubic pressure applied to the mother’s abdomen can also help free the trapped shoulder and move the baby through the birth canal. When those steps are not enough, doctors can move to more aggressive interventions. These can include a deep episiotomy, deliberate fracture of the baby’s collarbone, or an emergency C-section.
How is Shoulder Dystocia Treated?
Mild shoulder dystocia cases sometimes only require monitoring and physical therapy, but severe nerve damage often demands a much longer recovery. A baby with a brachial plexus injury may need occupational therapy, nerve surgery, or muscle transfer procedures to regain function in the affected arm. For mothers, surgical repair of lacerations and management of postpartum hemorrhage are common next steps. Our Northern Kentucky and Ohio shoulder dystocia injury team works to recover compensation that reflects the full extent of your medical costs.
Medical Malpractice Claim for Shoulder Dystocia
Every member of a delivery team carries a legal duty to protect both the baby and the mother throughout labor. That duty includes spotting warning signs early, responding to complications quickly, and following accepted medical standards for their profession. Failure to recognize risk factors, lack of proper monitoring, delayed actions, or improperly administered care can all constitute medical malpractice. For example, a failure to perform an emergency C-section when one was clearly needed is grounds for a lawsuit.
If you think you qualify for a malpractice claim, contact Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis today. We will walk your family through the legal options available and help determine whether you meet the threshold for a medical malpractice case.
Potential Compensation in a Shoulder Dystocia Medical Malpractice Claim
Families affected by a shoulder dystocia injury often face costs that pile up fast. A shoulder dystocia settlement can address many losses, including:
- Medical bills, both current and future
- Lost wages for parents who had to step away from work
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of earning potential
- Permanent disability
- Assistive technology costs
- Funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death situations
The average birth injury settlement depends on the severity of the injuries, the cost of long-term care, and how clearly negligence can be established. To ensure we recover fair compensation, our birth injury attorneys will carefully evaluate what your family has been through.
How Do You Know if You Have a Shoulder Dystocia Lawsuit?
Any time a delivery team’s negligence directly contributed to a child’s injury or death, it serves as grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. For a shoulder dystocia case specifically, you must be able to prove that medical negligence caused shoulder dystocia-related injuries.
The Kentucky and Ohio medical malpractice attorneys at Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis know how to establish duty of care, negligence, and direct causation. We review evidence and bring in outside experts when a case warrants it. It costs nothing to reach out to our team and start the process of finding out whether your family has a birth injury claim worth pursuing.
Why Trust a Shoulder Dystocia Attorney at Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis?
Birth injury cases demand attorneys who understand both medicine and the law. Our team has the necessary knowledge and experience to craft a convincing case. We are committed to protecting your child’s future and will support you at every stage of the legal process.
Families in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky trust our team to offer clear communication, keeping them informed as we pursue justice. Years of experience in medical malpractice cases have prepared us for any situation. We will build a lawsuit tailored to your experience and needs.
Call Our Covington and Cincinnati Birth Injury Law Firm for Shoulder Dystocia Legal Advice Today – FREE Consultations
When a baby suffers shoulder dystocia, you need to act fast. Lawrence, Beirne & Lewis can help you file medical malpractice claims, but you have to call us as soon as possible. A shoulder dystocia lawyer in Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky is waiting to review your case. Allow us to help you pursue compensation for serious injuries caused by medical negligence.
Set up a free consultation with our Cincinnati and Covington labor and delivery malpractice attorneys today. Call toll-free at (800) 698-4054, our Ohio office at (513) 651-4130, or our Kentucky office at (859) 578-9130. Alternatively, you can reach us by completing our online intake form.