Typical Causes of Mother & Child Birth Injuries in Pennsylvania

December 17, 2025 | Personal Injury

Typical Causes of Mother & Child Birth Injuries in Pennsylvania

The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion, yet for some Pennsylvania families, it becomes a traumatic experience. Birth injuries can affect a baby, a mother, or both, and the impact can last for years. Some complications happen even with good care, but others occur because someone failed to act safely or follow basic rules.

When a preventable injury happens, families often have questions about what went wrong and whether they have legal options. Birth injury cases are often discussed in a medical setting, but many also fall under personal injury law because they involve negligence, unsafe conditions, or defective products. Understanding common causes can help families spot red flags and seek help sooner.

Birth Injuries and Personal Injury Claims

A personal injury claim is usually based on negligence. In simple terms, negligence means someone had a duty to act safely, failed to do so, and that failure caused harm. In birth injury cases, the responsible party might be a person, a hospital, a business, or a product manufacturer.

This matters because birth injuries do not always come from one mistake in the delivery room. Some begin during pregnancy, some happen during labor, and others happen right after birth. Looking at the full timeline can help show whether the harm was truly unavoidable or could have been prevented.

Not all birth injuries happen during delivery. Accidents and unsafe conditions during pregnancy can cause emergency complications that affect both the mother and the baby. 

Common examples include:

  • Car crashes that trigger placental abruption, preterm labor, or reduced oxygen to the baby
  • Slips and falls caused by unsafe walkways, wet floors, or poor lighting
  • Workplace exposures to dangerous chemicals or unsafe equipment
  • Assaults or violent incidents that lead to trauma or early delivery

If another party’s carelessness caused the accident, it may support a personal injury claim. That is true even if the most serious harm is discovered during labor or after the baby is born.

Problems During Prenatal Care and Planning

Good prenatal care helps identify risks early and plan for a safer delivery. When warning signs are missed, families can lose valuable time to prevent serious harm. For example, untreated infections can threaten a newborn’s health, and uncontrolled gestational diabetes can lead to an unusually large baby and a harder delivery. 

Planning matters too. If a pregnancy is high-risk, a safer plan may include extra monitoring, specialist referrals, or a timely decision to deliver by C-section. When providers fail to respond to known risks, the chance of a preventable injury increases.

Delivery Room Complications Linked to Preventable Harm

Labor and delivery can change quickly, so the care team must respond to problems without delay. 

Some situations can cause serious injury when they are mishandled, including:

  • Failing to recognize fetal distress or respond quickly to changes in heart rate
  • Delaying an urgent C-section when the baby is not getting enough oxygen
  • Using excessive force during delivery, leading to nerve damage or fractures
  • Medication mistakes involving labor-inducing drugs or pain management
  • Poor communication during shift changes or emergencies

These issues may involve individual errors or system failures, such as missing information or lack of coordination. A legal review can help identify what went wrong and who may be responsible.

What Families Can Do After a Suspected Birth Injury

If you believe a birth injury was preventable, focus first on medical care and answers. Ask questions, request clear explanations, and follow through with specialist visits and therapy plans. It can also help to request medical records and keep a timeline of symptoms, diagnoses, and expenses.

You do not need to have everything figured out to seek legal guidance. A personal injury lawyer can review records, identify possible responsible parties, and explain what compensation may cover. Acting sooner can also help preserve evidence that may be harder to obtain later.

Contact the Carbondale Personal Injury Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for Help Today

If you suspect that a birth injury resulted from negligence in Carbondale, PA, Marzzacco Niven & Associates is here to help. Our Carbondale personal injury attorneys understand the medical and legal complexities involved and are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation:

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Harrisburg
945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640

Marzzacco Niven & Associates York
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Wyomissing
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Chambersburg
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carlisle
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carbondale
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lancaster
2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster Pa 17603
(717) 616-2954

Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lebanon
937 Willow Street, Suite D Lebanon, PA 17042-1140
(717) 995-8963