South Carolina Birth Injury Lawyers

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The birth of a child should be one of the most joyful experiences in a parent’s life. However, when medical professionals fail to provide proper medical care during labor and delivery, the results can be devastating. Families in South Carolina who face the heartbreak of a preventable birth injury often find themselves struggling with emotional pain, financial strain, and uncertainty about their child’s future.

Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers is ready to help. An experienced South Carolina birth injury lawyer can represent your family and fight back against medical negligence. Our firm has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for personal injury victims throughout South Carolina, and we are committed to fighting for justice for parents and children affected by serious birth injuries.

Our compassionate legal team understands what families go through after a traumatic birth. Get the skilled legal representation, medical insight, and emotional support you need to pursue maximum compensation for your child’s ongoing medical care, therapy, and future needs.

What Is Considered a Birth Injury Under South Carolina Law?

A birth injury is any physical or neurological harm that occurs to an infant before, during, or immediately after delivery. Under South Carolina law, a preventable birth injury is one that results from medical negligence or a failure to meet the accepted standard of care during the labor and delivery process.

Birth Injuries vs. Birth Defects

It is important to understand the difference between birth injuries and birth defects.

Birth injuries are typically caused by trauma, oxygen deprivation, or mistakes made by medical professionals during childbirth.
Birth defects, on the other hand, are usually related to genetic or developmental conditions that occur before birth and are not caused by medical errors.

Common Causes of Preventable Birth Injuries

Preventable birth trauma often happens when doctors, nurses, or other medical staff make critical mistakes, such as:

Failing to respond promptly to signs of fetal distress
Delaying a necessary C-section
Improper use of delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors
Inadequate monitoring of the baby’s oxygen levels
Mismanagement of maternal infections or umbilical cord complications

These failures can result in serious newborn brain damage, delivery injury, or lifelong complications. When an OB-GYN’s negligence causes harm, families may have the right to file a medical malpractice claim under South Carolina law.

What Are the Most Common Types of Birth Injuries in South Carolina Hospitals?

Birth injuries can range from mild and temporary to catastrophic and permanent. They generally fall into two categories: physical injuries and neurological injuries.

Physical Birth Injuries

These injuries affect the baby’s body and may include:

Brachial plexus injuries, such as Erb’s palsy, are caused by excessive force during delivery.
Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby’s shoulders get stuck in the birth canal.
Fractures, especially of the clavicle or collarbone.
Facial paralysis resulting from pressure on facial nerves during birth.

Neurological Birth Injuries

Neurological injuries are among the most severe and can have lifelong consequences:

Cerebral palsy, often caused by oxygen deprivation or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Brain damage during delivery due to a lack of oxygen or blood flow
Seizure disorders and developmental delays

Warning Signs for Parents

Parents should be alert to symptoms such as:

Unusual muscle stiffness or limpness
Seizures or breathing difficulties
Feeding problems or failure to thrive
Delays in developmental milestones

If you notice any of these signs, consult a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis can improve your child’s quality of life and strengthen your potential birth injury claim.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Birth Injury in South Carolina?

Determining who is responsible for a birth injury is one of the most important steps in any South Carolina birth injury case, as multiple parties can share liability depending on how the negligence occurred.

Medical professionals may be held accountable when diagnostic or procedural mistakes result in harm to a newborn. Nurses who fail to properly monitor the mother or baby, anesthesiologists who administer incorrect doses or fail to observe vital signs, and midwives who do not recognize complications or seek hospital intervention in time can all play a role in a preventable birth injury.

In addition to individual providers, the hospital or birthing center may be liable when institutional negligence contributes to a child’s injury. This can include:

Inadequate staff training
Unsafe or poorly maintained equipment
Staffing shortages that lead to preventable mistakes
Failure to implement and enforce essential safety procedures

Each of these factors can compound the risk of serious harm during labor and delivery. A skilled South Carolina medical malpractice attorney can thoroughly investigate your case, identify every potentially liable party, and build a strong claim to ensure your family receives the full and fair compensation you deserve for the harm caused by negligent medical professionals. Just call Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation.

What Compensation Can Families Receive for Birth Injuries in South Carolina?

When a child suffers a preventable injury, families may face decades of medical care, therapy, and adaptive needs. The purpose of a birth injury settlement is to ease that burden and provide long-term financial security. Families may recover compensation for:

Medical bills and future medical expenses
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs or mobility devices
Home modifications for accessibility
Lost wages for parents who must become caregivers
Non-economic damages such as emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life

While every case is unique, birth injury compensation in South Carolina can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars, depending on:

The severity of the child’s injury
The cost of lifelong care
The degree of medical negligence has been proven

How Can a Birth Injury Lawyer Help Your Family Recover?

Choosing the right birth injury attorney can make all the difference. Our legal team at Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers combines decades of experience, compassion, and commitment to helping families rebuild after tragedy.

The consultation process for potential birth injury cases is designed to provide compassionate guidance and experienced insight from the very beginning. When you reach out to us, you’ll first be connected with a legal nurse consultant who will take the time to listen to your story, review the medical details, and help determine whether your baby’s injury may have resulted from medical negligence or a breach of the standard of care.

If our review suggests that negligence may have played a role, your case will then be evaluated by our legal team, which includes the experienced attorneys at Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers as well as trusted co-counsel who focus exclusively on complex birth injury litigation. This collaborative approach ensures that your family receives the highest level of care, attention, and legal expertise every step of the way.

Birth injury cases are among the most complex in personal injury law, often requiring extensive medical research, expert testimony, and in-depth review of hospital and provider records. Our team works alongside nationally recognized medical experts, economists, and life care planners to fully understand the impact of your child’s injury, both now and in the future.

Your legal team will handle all communication with hospitals, insurance companies, and opposing counsel, allowing you to focus on your child’s care and recovery. Throughout the process, you’ll be informed, your questions will be answered, and you’ll have a fierce advocate fighting for your family’s right to justice and financial security. Whether through a negotiated settlement or courtroom trial, your team will be dedicated to pursuing the compensation and accountability your family deserves.