When a medical provider makes a mistake during delivery – or even while evaluating a pregnant mother’s health – and causes a birth injury, the parents will see a noticeable rise in initial medical costs. The price of giving birth to a newborn in a hospital or another medical clinic is already steep, but the care required to take care of a birth injury will only add to it. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) attention, treatments, and procedures will not come cheap but may be necessary to save the child’s life or ensure birth injuries do not get worse.
Yet the initial medical costs will not likely be the most intense and financially demanding. Instead, parents are often shocked to find the worst costs of a birth injury are the ones that come years later and never truly go away.
Lifetime Costs Associated with Birth Injuries
A child born with a birth injury is likely to have developmental issues and permanent disabilities. Brain damage, like cerebral palsy, can slow down a child’s mental growth, forcing the parents to find alternative means to educate and raise them. The costs of special education and caretaking as the child grows older can range well into the thousands each year. Given that a child with a serious birth injury may never develop out of the limitations caused by the complication, it is feasible such costs will be experienced for the rest of their life.
Physical harm, like a forceps injury that causes permanent paralysis of a limb, will also require the child to be given special attention or equipment as they age. Later in life, gainful employment might be impossible to hold due to the disability. There are heavy costs associated with getting the equipment and adjustments to day-to-day life, such as a wheelchair ramp installed at the front of the child’s home. Much larger costs will be experienced, though, in how the birth injury patient may be limited throughout their life.
Importantly, the financial impact of a birth injury extends beyond direct medical costs. Parents of children with birth injuries often face difficult decisions regarding their careers. The demanding nature of caring for a child with special needs may necessitate reduced work hours or even leaving the workforce entirely. This loss of income can significantly strain family finances, making it even more challenging to meet the child’s needs and maintain financial stability.
Lastly, the family of the child with a birth injury caused by a medical provider may also experience real and upsetting emotional pain throughout the years. Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering can be considered when pursuing the other economic damages in a birth injury lawsuit.
Types of Birth Injuries and Their Long-Term Financial Impact
Though birth injuries encompass a range of conditions, it’s crucial for families to understand the financial implications of their child’s specific birth injury as they plan for the future. Here’s a breakdown of some common birth injuries and the costly services they may require.
Cerebral Palsy: This neurological disorder affects muscle movement and coordination. The financial impact can be significant due to:
- Ongoing therapies (physical, occupational, speech)
- Adaptive equipment and mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers)
- Special education services
- Potential need for assisted living or specialized care later in life
Erb’s Palsy: This condition involves damage to the nerves that control arm and shoulder movement. Costs may include:
- Surgeries to repair nerve damage
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Assistive devices and adaptive equipment
- Potential loss of future earning capacity if the injury affects the dominant arm
Brain Damage (Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy or HIE): This type of brain injury occurs due to lack of oxygen during birth. The financial impact can be substantial due to:
- Long-term medical care and medications
- Therapies to address cognitive and physical impairments
- Special education and support services
- Potential need for lifelong assisted living or specialized care
Keep in mind that these are just a few examples, and the actual costs will vary depending on the severity of the injury and the child’s individual needs. However, it’s crucial to consider how medical expenses accumulate over a lifetime, adding up between:
- Regular doctor visits
- Surgeries
- Therapies and support services
- Medications
- Assistive devices and equipment
- Home modifications
- Assisted living
The potentially massive financial burden of a birth injury highlights the importance of seeking legal help to pursue compensation. Fair compensation should help families provide their child with the best possible care and opportunities after a birth injury.
Birth Injury Attorneys Helping Families Nationwide
Beam Legal Team is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois but accepts birth injury claims from clients all around the country. If your child has been born with a birth injury and you suspect a medical provider’s negligence is the source, then you should talk to our lawyers about what happened and how much compensation you require. We consider lifetime costs associated with birth injuries as well as initial medical costs, ensuring you get a fair and maximized amount if your claim is successful. It is through our attention to detail and dedication to thoroughness that we have been able to secure so many positive verdicts and settlements for our clients throughout the years.
Originally published May 21, 2021.
