Stillbirth Injury in Long Island

Facing a stillbirth can be one of the most devastating experiences for parents—particularly when a mother still has contractions and gives birth to the child that has died in the uterus. Stillbirth is a complex situation, since it can be caused by a wide range of factors, and a cause of death is rarely identified through autopsy. However, when there are clear causes for stillbirth including neglect and poor care during pregnancy, legal action may be taken to seek compensation for medical costs and emotional damages. Below you can explore the possible courses of action following a stillbirth caused by medical negligence.

Stillbirth Statistics
About one in 160 births in the United States are stillbirths, and numbers are much higher in countries where medical care is unavailable or of lower quality. A confirmed cause of death is only found in about 40% of autopsied cases, and many stillbirths occur in healthy mothers following a full-term pregnancy.

Finding Support
Regardless of the cause of stillbirth, you should find support to cope with the emotional challenges of the loss of a child. By seeking the right support with psychological care, you can make sound decisions in your legal case.

Seeking Legal Action
If you do feel that a stillbirth is the result of medical neglect, Pegalis & Erickson, LLC can help you seek compensation. Here’s a look at some answers to questions you may have about seeking legal representation for your case.

• What can be done? – There is often a sense that nothing could be done in cases of stillbirth and birth injury, but there may be someone to hold accountable for your loss.
• Who should you talk to? – Speaking with a medical malpractice lawyer is the best way to determine whether or not you should take action with your case. Pegalis & Erickson can let you speak directly with a partner in our firm for no cost to discuss your potential case.
• What is the likely outcome of the case? – Because there are so many possible causes of stillbirth, and so many cases will have an unclear cause, the outcome of these wrongful death cases can vary. That’s why you will want to have an experienced lawyer on your side to decide if you should pursue legal action.

To schedule your initial consultation with Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at our Long Island practice, call us at (516) 684-2900. Our practice has had significant success in birth injury cases over the past four decades, and most of our medical malpractice cases settle outside of court.