Forceps Delivery Complications Lawyer

Fact-Checked and Medically Reviewed by:
Katie Lavender, RN Registered Nurse
Quick Answer

Forceps are sometimes used in vaginal delivery when labor stalls to guide the baby out of the birth canal. However, if improperly used, forceps can cause serious injuries, including skull fractures, brain bleeding, facial lacerations, and nerve damage. These can lead to long-term disabilities like Erb's palsy and brain damage. A forceps complications lawyer can help your family seek compensation for lifelong care.

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What Is a Forceps Delivery Complications Lawyer?

A forceps delivery complications lawyer is a personal injury attorney who represents families of children injured during forceps delivery.

A forceps birth injury can cause severe medical conditions and even permanent damage. Lifelong disabilities can mean physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges for the child.

Close-up of obstetrical forceps, medical tools used in assisted delivery, against a sterile background.The costs of ongoing care and treatment for these types of birth injuries can be substantial. Further, they may not be fully covered by insurance, leading to financial and emotional strain on families.

Forceps delivery complications lawyers specialize in medical malpractice lawsuits related to these birth injuries. They aim to help families secure financial compensation to cover the extensive costs of care for a child affected by these injuries.

The birth injury lawyers in our network have helped families across the country recover over $962 million from birth injury lawsuits, including injuries from forceps delivery. Find out if they can help you get the justice and financial compensation your family deserves.

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A free case review is the first step in pursuing compensation for you and your family.

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Forceps Injury and Medical Malpractice

Complications from forceps use during delivery can lead to severe harm to newborns, such as brain trauma, nerve damage, and facial injuries.

Obstetricians and other medical professionals are responsible for ensuring safe delivery practices, including the appropriate use of forceps. For example, they must be able to decide when performing a cesarean section (C-section) is safer than forceps or vacuum extraction.

Additionally, forceps should not be used to speed up a delivery when the position of the baby is unknown or if there is a risk the baby might be too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis. The physician should have experience using the tool and be knowledgeable on the correct pressure to apply.

Failure to uphold the standard of care in forceps deliveries could mean you have a birth injury medical malpractice claim.

Common types of forceps injuries include:

  • Cephalohematoma and intracranial hemorrhage: Exerting too much pressure can cause bleeding in the brain or under the scalp
  • Nerve damage: Improper use of forceps can damage delicate nerves, leading to conditions like brachial plexus injury, Erb’s palsy, and facial palsy
  • Skull and facial fractures: Excessive force or incorrect placement of forceps on the baby’s head can lead to fractures and brain injury

If you believe medical negligence was the cause of forceps delivery complications, consulting with an experienced birth injury attorney can provide clarity and potentially a path to financial security for your child’s future.

Find out if we can connect you by calling (800) 914-1562 or live chat right now.

How Can a Forceps Delivery Complications Lawyer Help?

An experienced forceps delivery complications lawyer can handle your medical malpractice case on your behalf. They can simplify the lawsuit process for you, taking care of all the necessary legal work.

Here's how a skilled forceps delivery complications lawyer can help:
  1. Provide a free consultation: Top medical malpractice lawyers offer a free case review to see if you may have a valid birth injury claim.
  2. Investigate the birth injury: Your lawyer carefully evaluates the details of your child’s birth to determine the cause of forceps delivery complications.
  3. Collect evidence: Your forceps injury lawyer gathers birth records, medical bills, opinions from medical experts, and other relevant evidence to build a strong case.
  4. File the lawsuit: They file your lawsuit correctly, in the appropriate court system, and within your case’s specific deadlines.
  5. Negotiate on your behalf: They skillfully communicate with the other side to try to secure the highest birth injury settlement out of court.
  6. Represent you in court: If a fair birth injury settlement isn’t reached, they take your case to trial to continue fighting for your family in front of a judge or jury.

By hiring an experienced forceps delivery complications lawyer, you can concentrate on caring for your child while your legal team tirelessly pursues the financial compensation and justice your family deserves.

Forceps Delivery Complications Settlements and Verdicts

Forceps injury settlements and verdicts provide the financial aid needed to care for children harmed at birth. Many birth injury settlements have awarded millions of dollars to families.

Reported lawsuit payouts involving forceps delivery injuries include:
  • $97.4 million verdict in Iowa for a newborn’s brain damage due to mismanaged delivery in fetal distress
  • $11.35 million verdict in Ohio for a newborn’s brain injury during a prolonged and traumatic delivery
  • $7.6 million verdict in Missouri for hemiplegia, developmental and speech delays, and vision problems
  • $1 million settlement in Pennsylvania for Erb’s palsy and other injuries

Many families have found that hiring an experienced forceps delivery complications lawyer significantly increased the compensation they received in their birth injury lawsuit.

Get a free case review right now to see if you qualify to work with a forceps injury lawyer near you.

Get a Free Case Review

A free case review is the first step in pursuing compensation for you and your family.

Get a Free Case Review

When Should I Hire a Forceps Delivery Complications Lawyer?

Consider hiring a forceps complications lawyer as soon as you suspect medical providers may have made mistakes that caused your child’s condition.

It’s essential to act quickly because there’s a strict window of time allowed to file lawsuits, known as the statute of limitations. Once this deadline passes, you won’t be able to pursue compensation through legal action.

Each state has a specific deadline for birth injury cases, making it necessary to consult a lawyer who understands the laws in your area. A forceps complications lawyer can advise you on how much time you have to file your lawsuit.

This can be crucial in cases involving newborn injuries because often, these injuries aren’t easy to spot right away. Many families may not realize their child has been hurt until they get older and start missing developmental milestones.

By working with an experienced birth injury lawyer, you can ensure your case is filed before your deadline, even if you don’t have an official diagnosis yet.

Don’t wait to find out what legal options you may have. Call our team at (800) 914-1562 or get a free case review right now.

How to Find the Best Forceps Injury Lawyer

Finding the right forceps delivery complications lawyer for your case is essential to increase your chances of a successful outcome. Birth injury cases are complex and challenging to prove, but experienced attorneys can help.

Below are some qualities to look for in a forceps delivery complications lawyer.

No Upfront Costs

Choose a forceps injury lawyer who works on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs, and you only pay legal fees if your case is successful. They will receive a percentage of your payout if they negotiate a settlement or win a trial verdict for you.

Track Record in Successful Birth Injury Payouts

Your lawyer should have a proven track record in successful birth injury claims. Attorneys with a history of obtaining large birth injury settlements and verdicts have a higher chance of getting the compensation you deserve.

The Birth Injury Justice Center partners with law firms that have recovered over $962 million for families of children who were harmed at birth. Additionally, our extensive network of top birth injury lawyers can help families in all 50 states.

Registered Nurses on Staff

Our legal partners have labor and delivery nurses on staff with decades of combined expertise. They are available to listen to your story and answer any questions you have. Talking with a caring nurse can help you understand what could have gone wrong to cause your child’s injury.

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Experience With Forceps Injury Cases

Seek attorneys with a history of handling forceps delivery complications and other birth injury cases. Top forceps injury lawyers know how to gather the evidence needed to build a strong case. This means they can establish a link between your child’s injury and medical negligence.

Connection to a Reputable Birth Injury Law Firm

Your attorney should also work at a trusted birth injury law firm. This allows them to partner with other birth injury lawyers on a case to get the best results for families. They also have access to extensive resources such as expert witnesses, paralegals, and other legal professionals.

Find a Forceps Delivery Complications Lawyer Near You

The Birth Injury Justice Center team understands that your child’s future is your top concern. And all your efforts are directed toward ensuring their well-being and happiness.

We believe that having the right forceps complications lawyer can significantly improve the outcome of your case and your child’s future.

Forceps delivery complications cases can be challenging, requiring a lawyer who possesses both legal expertise and a commitment to advocating for your family’s unique needs.

Lawyers experienced in forceps complications can provide clear guidance throughout the legal process, tirelessly fighting for your rights and pursuing the compensation your family deserves.

Contact us right now at (800) 914-1562 or get a free case review to find out how we can help you secure a better future for your child.

Forceps Delivery Complications Lawyer FAQs

Can you sue for forceps injury?

Yes, you can sue for forceps injury if it resulted from medical negligence during childbirth. An experienced attorney can help determine if you have a case and guide you through the legal process to seek compensation for the injury.

The Birth Injury Justice Center partners with some of the country’s best forceps complications lawyers. Find out if we can connect you right now with a free case review.

What are the damages caused by forceps delivery?

Forceps delivery can cause various injuries in fragile newborns, including skull fractures, nerve damage, and facial trauma. These injuries may result in long-term complications like Erb’s palsy and developmental delays, requiring ongoing medical care.

How much can you get from a forceps delivery complications settlement?

The average birth injury settlement is estimated at $1 million. However, many families have received multimillion-dollar settlements in forceps delivery complications cases.

That said, the value of a forceps delivery complications settlement is affected by factors such as the severity of the injury, the child’s expected medical needs, and anticipated long-term consequences.

An experienced forceps injury lawyer can assess the specifics of your case to provide an estimate. We can connect you right now if you qualify — call our team at (800) 914-1562.

Birth Injury Support Team
Reviewed by:Katie Lavender, RN

Registered Nurse

  • Fact-Checked
  • Editor

Katie Lavender has over 8 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in postpartum mother/baby care. With hands-on experience in Labor and Delivery and a role as a Community Educator for newborn care, Katie is a staunch advocate for patient rights and education. As a Medical Reviewer, she is committed to ensuring accurate and trustworthy patient information.

The Birth Injury Justice Center was founded in 2003 by a team of legal professionals to educate and empower victims and families affected by birth injuries. Our team is devoted to providing you with the best resources and legal information for all types of birth injuries.

View Sources
  1. Cleveland Clinic. (2022, June 12). Forceps delivery. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23260-forceps-delivery
  2. Evanson, S.M. & Riggs, J. (2023, July 10). Forceps delivery. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538220/
  3. NHS. (2023, March 14). Forceps or vacuum delivery. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/forceps-or-vacuum-delivery/
  4. National Library of Medicine. Forceps delivery. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538220/