Advocating for Families Affected by Medical Negligence in Pennsylvania

When a joyous moment like childbirth turns into tragedy, the impact can last a lifetime. If your child suffered a preventable birth injury due to medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. At Latona Law, our Wilkes-Barre birth injury attorneys have spent decades fighting for families across Northeastern Pennsylvania who’ve been harmed by medical mistakes before, during, or after delivery.

Birth injury cases are among the most complex types of medical malpractice claims. They often involve multiple providers, OB-GYNs, nurses, anesthesiologists, and hospital staff, and require extensive medical and legal expertise to uncover what went wrong. Our firm brings both. We work with top medical experts to prove when a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and hold them accountable for the harm caused.

Our mission is simple: to help your family secure justice, financial relief, and the resources your child will need for lifelong care.

Pregnant woman in white top having blood pressure measured by healthcare professional.

Why Families in Wilkes-Barre Trust Latona Law

Wilkes-Barre is home to some of the region’s largest hospitals and maternity centers, including Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Geisinger Wyoming Valley, and several local clinics. While most births go smoothly, medical errors can, and do, occur. When doctors fail to respond quickly to signs of distress, delay a necessary C-section, or misuse delivery tools, the consequences can be devastating.

Latona Law has earned a reputation throughout Luzerne County and beyond for our deep medical knowledge, personalized representation, and record of results. Families turn to us because:

We Focus on Medical Negligence Cases: Our firm’s founder, Attorney Ralph Latona, built his career representing victims of malpractice. We know how to analyze hospital records, identify mistakes, and confront powerful insurers.
We Treat Every Case Personally: You’ll work directly with an experienced attorney, not a case manager. We take the time to understand your family’s story and goals.
We Work With Renowned Experts: Our team collaborates with physicians, life-care planners, and economists to build strong, evidence-based claims.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win: We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs.

From your first consultation to the final resolution, we’ll be by your side every step of the way.

Understanding Birth Injury Cases in Pennsylvania

A birth injury is any physical or neurological harm sustained by a newborn (or the mother) during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or immediately after birth. While some injuries are unavoidable, many result from preventable medical errors, such as delayed intervention, improper monitoring, or failure to diagnose maternal or fetal complications.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries

Our Wilkes-Barre birth injury attorneys have handled cases involving:

Failure to Monitor Fetal Distress: Ignoring or misreading fetal heart rate patterns can deprive a baby of oxygen, leading to brain damage.
Delayed Cesarean Section (C-Section): When complications arise, every minute counts. A delay in performing a C-section can cause irreversible harm.
Improper Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extractors: These tools, when misused, can cause skull fractures, nerve damage, and brain injuries.
Medication Errors: Incorrect doses or contraindicated drugs can endanger both mother and child.
Failure to Diagnose Infections or Maternal Conditions: Conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or infections must be recognized and treated promptly.
Anesthesia or Delivery Room Negligence: Mistakes by anesthesiologists or nurses can complicate delivery and recovery.

Every case begins with a thorough review of medical records and hospital procedures. Our legal and medical teams work together to uncover where and how negligence occurred.

Common Types of Birth Injuries

Some injuries heal with time. Others require a lifetime of medical care, rehabilitation, and financial support. Our firm routinely handles claims involving:

Cerebral Palsy: Often caused by oxygen deprivation during delivery, leading to lifelong movement and developmental disabilities.

Erb’s Palsy (Brachial Plexus Injury): Nerve damage in the shoulder or arm resulting from excessive pulling during birth.

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): Brain injury caused by insufficient oxygen or blood flow to the brain.

Fractures and Dislocations: Broken bones or shoulder injuries due to improper delivery techniques.

Facial or Nerve Damage: Caused by excessive pressure or the use of forceps.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Rare but severe injuries that may result in paralysis.

Maternal Injuries: Including uncontrolled bleeding, uterine rupture, or infection due to negligent care.

If your child has been diagnosed with one of these conditions, or if you suspect a preventable error occurred during delivery, contact our Wilkes-Barre birth injury lawyers immediately.

How Pennsylvania Birth Injury Claims Work

Birth injury claims in Pennsylvania fall under the broader category of medical malpractice law. These cases require proving that a healthcare provider’s negligence directly caused injury to the mother or child.

Establishing Medical Negligence

To succeed, your attorney must show:

Duty of Care: The provider owed a professional duty to the mother and child.
Breach of Duty: The provider failed to meet the accepted medical standard of care.
Causation: That breach directly caused the injury.
Damages: The injury led to measurable harm, medical expenses, pain, disability, or financial loss.

Because hospitals and insurers vigorously defend these claims, success depends on meticulous preparation and expert testimony.

Compensation Available in Birth Injury Cases

Families coping with a birth injury often face immense financial strain. The costs of medical treatment, specialized equipment, and long-term care can reach hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of dollars. A successful claim can provide compensation for:

Past and Future Medical Expenses
Rehabilitation and Therapy Costs
Home Modifications and Assistive Equipment
Loss of Future Earnings or Earning Capacity
Pain and Suffering
Emotional Distress
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
In cases of egregious misconduct, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the negligent provider and deter future harm.

Statute of Limitations for Birth Injury Claims in Pennsylvania

Under Pennsylvania law, medical malpractice claims must generally be filed within two years of discovering the injury. However, for minors, the clock typically does not start until the child’s 18th birthday, meaning they may have until age 20 to file.

Because exceptions exist, it’s crucial to consult a Wilkes-Barre birth injury attorney as soon as possible. Delaying action can make it harder to gather evidence, obtain medical records, and locate key witnesses.

How Latona Law Builds Strong Birth Injury Cases

Our firm’s approach is both compassionate and aggressive. We know the emotional toll these cases take, and we handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on your family.

1

Comprehensive Case Evaluation
We begin by reviewing all relevant medical records, delivery notes, and fetal monitoring data to identify potential breaches in care.

2

Expert Collaboration
We partner with obstetricians, neonatologists, and nursing experts to determine whether your providers acted appropriately and when the standard of care was violated.

3

Calculating Long-Term Costs
Our team works with life-care planners to estimate future expenses, including therapy, medical equipment, and lifelong care, so your settlement or verdict reflects true financial needs.

4

Negotiation and Litigation
We aggressively negotiate with hospitals and insurance carriers. If they refuse to offer fair compensation, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial.

Throughout the process, you’ll receive regular updates and honest guidance from our attorneys.

Hospitals and Facilities in Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County

We’ve represented families affected by negligence at major hospitals and birthing centers across the region, including:

Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital
Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center
Moses Taylor Hospital (Scranton)
Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hazleton
Regional birthing centers and OB-GYN practices throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania
Emotional Distress
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Regardless of where the negligence occurred, our team has the experience to hold responsible parties accountable.

Why Experience Matters in Birth Injury Litigation

Birth injury litigation requires both legal acumen and medical insight. Latona Law’s deep experience allows us to:

Interpret complex fetal monitoring data and medical jargon.
Identify deviations from hospital protocols.
Cross-examine defense experts effectively.
Present clear, compelling evidence to judges and juries.

Our results reflect this expertise, recovering millions in verdicts and settlements for families throughout Pennsylvania.

Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Injury Cases

Not every birth complication is preventable, but many injuries result from failure to act quickly or correctly. Our attorneys can have independent experts review your records to determine if negligence occurred.

Yes. Even if staff expressed sympathy or admitted fault, you still need to file a formal claim to recover compensation. Apologies alone don’t guarantee accountability or financial support.

Because of their complexity, birth injury claims often take 18–36 months to resolve. We work efficiently to gather evidence and push for a timely resolution without compromising results.

Many cases settle before trial, but Latona Law prepares every case as if it will go to court, ensuring you’re positioned for the best possible outcome.

The Latona Law Difference

At Latona Law, we believe your family deserves answers and justice. We are proud to serve Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, and surrounding communities with integrity and compassion.

When you choose our firm, you’re not just hiring lawyers; you’re partnering with advocates who genuinely care about your child’s future. We understand the sleepless nights, the medical bills, and the uncertainty. That’s why we fight tirelessly to lift that burden and help you move forward.

Contact Our Wilkes-Barre Birth Injury Attorneys Today

If you believe your child’s injury could have been prevented, don’t wait. Contact Latona Law today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.

You owe no fees unless we win your case. Let our Wilkes-Barre birth injury attorneys fight for the justice and financial security your family deserves.

400 Third Ave., Suite 318, Kingston, PA 18704

Phone: (570) 825-9000

Email: freereview@latonalaw.com