Birth Injuries Lawyers
Preventable harm to a baby or mother during pregnancy or delivery.
Birth Injuries claims in Pennsylvania
Most births go well. When something goes wrong, families are often told very little about why, and the records that explain it are held by the hospital.
A birth injury review examines fetal monitoring strips, the timing of decisions and how the delivery team responded to warning signs.
Free case review — tell us what happened and we'll take it from there.Why families bring these cases to Munley Law
Munley Law has represented injured people and their families from its Scranton base since 1959. The attorneys listed below handle this type of case, and the results shown are published matters the firm has reported.
$5 Million
Settlement
Settlement for medical malpractice case.
$4.35 Million
Settlement
Medical malpractice settlement.
$3.5 Million
Settlement
Settlement for medical malpractice case.
$3.2 Million
Settlement
Settlement for medical malpractice case.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
“She and everyone I came into contact with in her firm handled my case with the utmost professionalism, as well as true empathy for my situation, while not missing a detail about the facts of the case… She is a great person and an awesome attorney! She will fight for you!”
How birth injuries happen
Failure to monitor fetal distress
Abnormal heart-rate patterns that are not recognized or acted on.
Delayed cesarean delivery
Waiting too long when the monitoring strip indicates the baby is in trouble.
Improper use of instruments
Forceps or vacuum extraction beyond safe limits.
Untreated maternal conditions
Preeclampsia, infection or gestational diabetes left unmanaged.
Shoulder dystocia mismanagement
Excessive traction causing nerve injury.
Injuries frequently seen in these cases
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and cerebral palsy
- Brachial plexus injury, including Erb's palsy
- Skull fracture and intracranial bleeding
- Seizure disorders and developmental delay
- Serious maternal injury, including hemorrhage
Who may be responsible
Responsibility depends entirely on the facts, and no one can determine it from a web page. These are the parties whose conduct is typically examined.
The obstetrician or midwife
Delivery decisions and response to monitoring.
Nursing staff
Monitoring, documentation and escalation to a physician.
The hospital
Staffing levels, protocols and credentialing.
Damages that may be recoverable
What a claim may include depends on the injuries, the available insurance and the evidence. Nothing here is a prediction of value.
- Medical treatment already received, from the emergency room through rehabilitation
- Future medical care and therapy a physician expects will be needed
- Wages lost while unable to work, and reduced earning capacity in longer-term cases
- Property damage, out-of-pocket costs and travel to treatment
- Pain, suffering and loss of life's pleasures where the law allows it
Steps that protect a claim
- Get medical attention, even if the injuries seem minor at first
- Report what happened and ask how to obtain a copy of the official report
- Photograph the scene, the vehicles or the hazard, and your visible injuries
- Collect names and phone numbers for anyone who saw what happened
- Keep every bill, record and piece of correspondence in one place
- Be careful giving a recorded statement before you understand your own injuries
Frequently asked questions
How soon must a birth injury claim be filed?
Pennsylvania allows a minor's claim to be brought until two years after their eighteenth birthday in many circumstances, but a parent's own claim is subject to the ordinary two-year period. Confirm the deadlines early.
Is cerebral palsy always caused by negligence?
No. Cerebral palsy has many causes, including ones no one could prevent. Records review is how the question is answered.
What records should we request?
The complete labor and delivery chart, continuous fetal monitoring strips, nursing notes, and the newborn's records including cord blood gases and imaging.
Question not answered here? Ask Robert — Munley's virtual intake assistant answers common birth injuries questions 24/7.
Related guides, tools and pages
Related practice areas
Where we serve
Munley Law represents clients across Pennsylvania. See the areas we serve for local courts, hospitals and roads, or browse the free tools.
This page is general information about this type of case. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Last reviewed 2026-09-01.
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