Brain damage in an infant can lead to long-lasting neurological and physical effects. Millions of babies suffer preventable brain damage injuries every year.

If your child has suffered from a birth injury that has led to brain damage, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

What are common causes of brain damage in an infant?

While there are many kinds of birth injuries that can cause brain damage in an infant, common causes include:

• Oxygen deprivation (birth asphyxia)
• Jaundice
• Physical trauma
• Maternal infections

What is oxygen deprivation?

Oxygen deprivation occurs in about four out of 1,000 babies in full-term pregnancies. The oxygen deprivation rate increases in premature babies. Even just a few minutes of oxygen deprivation can lead to severe brain damage in an infant, causing disorders like cerebral palsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and impaired vision.

Oxygen deprivation may occur for a number of reasons, including problems with: the umbilical cord; the mother’s blood pressure; constricted airways; the placenta; and the birth canal, among others. Diligence from the doctor or other healthcare provider can prevent or immediately treat many of these problems to avoid prolonged oxygen deprivation. Failure to address newborn lack of oxygen may be a result of negligence.

What is jaundice?

Jaundice is a relatively common condition in infants, especially in those born prematurely. Jaundice is marked by a yellowish tint to the skin and eyes and is caused by excessive bilirubin in the baby’s blood. When treated immediately, babies can recover quickly. However, high bilirubin levels, left untreated, can lead to a form of brain damage in an infant known as kernicterus.

Does physical trauma cause brain damage in babies?

Physical trauma to the head can also brain damage in an infant, such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. The birthing process can be a physically difficult process for the infant, especially for a baby born prematurely. Doctors who fail to use birth-assisting tools properly (such as forceps and vacuums) may inflict a traumatic injury that ultimately leads to brain damage.

Do maternal infections affect the baby?

If the mother is suffering from an untreated infection—such as rubella, herpes, varicella, syphilis, vaginal yeast infections, or preeclampsia—this too may lead to neonatal brain damage in the baby.

Can I file a birth injury lawsuit?

If you believe that a birth injury caused brain damage in your child in 2010 or later, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by brain damage in an infant, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs commonly associated with raising a child with special needs.

Many birth injury lawsuits have resulted in multi-million awards for parents, including $229 million in Maryland, $11 million in Pennsylvania, and $15 million in Oklahoma.

Filing a lawsuit can be overwhelming, especially when you’re also dealing with something as emotional as an injury to your child. Top Class Actions has done some of the work for you by connecting you with an experienced birth injury lawyer. An attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your compensation.