The Hazleton birth injury lawyers at Munley Law have been fighting for the rights of injury victims since 1959. With more than 250 years of combined experience and multiple board-certified attorneys on staff, Munley Law has handled all types of birth injury cases that were the result of negligence by a medical professional.
Our Hazleton birth injury attorneys know that the entire family suffers when a child sustains a birth injury. We also know that no amount of money will ever alleviate that pain. However, holding responsible parties accountable and ensuring you can afford the care your child needs can alleviate some of the stress. That’s why our birth injury lawyers are here to take on the hospital and insurance corporations.
We’ll fight for the funds your child needs while you focus on your baby’s care and healing. We have won millions of dollars in medical malpractice and birth injury cases, and we won’t charge you a penny if we don’t win.
To learn more about what it means to have a Hazleton personal injury lawyer from Munley Law in your corner, schedule a free consultation today.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 What Is a Birth Injury and How Can It Affect Your Child?
A birth injury is harm a baby suffers during labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. These injuries are different from birth defects, which develop during pregnancy and are often caused by genetic or environmental factors rather than medical care.
Not every birth injury is preventable. Sometimes, complications occur even when providers act appropriately. However, when doctors or nurses fail to monitor the baby, respond to distress, or follow accepted medical standards, those mistakes can lead to serious and lasting injuries. Nationally, birth injuries are often linked to problems during labor and delivery, not unavoidable conditions.
The impact can range from temporary injuries that heal over time to permanent conditions requiring lifelong care. When negligence is involved, the law allows families to seek compensation to help cover medical needs, therapies, and long-term support.
According to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, which analyzed 315,418 patient incident reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) in 2024, Pennsylvanian healthcare facilities reported 3,199 cases of maternal complications that year alone, as well as 2,318 instances of neonatal complications, indicating that thousands of mothers and infants are impacted by high-risk complications in the state each year.
The Birth Injury Center further notes that more than 300,000 infants born in the U.S. each year suffer some type of birth injury, with an average of 6 to 8 injuries per 1,000 live births reported annually across the country.
What are The Most Common Birth Injuries?
Birth injuries can affect many aspects of a child’s development and quality of life. Our personal injury attorneys help families in Hazleton and across Luzerne County pursue claims involving:
- Cerebral palsy – Often caused by oxygen deprivation or trauma during delivery, affecting movement and muscle control. According to the Centers for Disease Control, cerebral palsy is the most common childhood motor disability, with around 1 in 345 children in the United States affected.
- Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) – A serious brain injury linked to a lack of oxygen before or during birth, which affects roughly 2 in every 1,000 births in developed countries such as the U.S, according to the Cerebral Palsy Guide.
- Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus injuries – Nerve damage that can limit arm and shoulder movement. The Cerebral Palsy Guide notes that Erb’s palsy affects around 1 in every 1,000 live births and is often associated with traumatic or difficult births.
- Fractures – Broken bones that may occur during difficult or improperly managed deliveries. Stanford Children’s Health notes that collarbone fractures are the most common birth injuries among newborns, affecting as many as 15 in 1,000 births.
- Spinal cord injuries – Rare but severe injuries that can result in permanent disability. Thankfully, these injuries in babies only account for 5% of all spinal cord injuries in the U.S., according to the Birth Injury Center.
- Facial paralysis – Nerve damage that may affect feeding, speech, and facial movement. As per the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the most recent rate of congenital facial palsy nationwide stands at roughly 2.1 per 1,000 births.
What Causes Birth Injuries During Labor and Delivery in Hazleton?
Many birth injury cases involve situations where proper care could have prevented harm. Common causes include:
Failure to Monitor Mother and Baby
Medical teams should closely track fetal heart rate, oxygen levels, and maternal vital signs. Warning signs of distress must be recognized and addressed promptly.
Delayed or Improper Response to Complications
When labor stalls or the baby shows signs of distress, providers must act quickly. Delays in ordering a C-section or escalating care can lead to serious injuries.
Improper Use of Forceps or Vacuum Devices
These tools require skill and judgment. Incorrect use can cause nerve damage, fractures, or head injuries.
Medication Errors
Incorrect dosages or failure to manage labor-inducing drugs safely can put both mother and baby at risk.
Untreated Maternal Infections
Infections that go undiagnosed or untreated can lead to serious complications for newborns.
If you think you experienced any of these situations during pregnancy or labor and your child suffered an injury, we invite you to discuss it further during a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Hazleton medical malpractice lawyers.
“At Munley Law, our mission is simple: to provide all injury victims equal access to justice, even against the most powerful entities. For almost 70 years, we have been the voice for the injured, the forgotten, and those who need someone to stand beside them in their darkest hour.”
Marion Munley
How Does Munley Law Prove Medical Negligence in Hazleton Birth Injury Cases?
Every medical provider owes patients a duty of care—the obligation to provide treatment that meets accepted medical standards. A birth injury claim shows that:
- A standard of care existed
- That standard was breached
- The breach caused your child’s injury
- Your family suffered damages as a result
We investigate medical records, consult qualified medical experts, and carefully examine what should have happened versus what went wrong. Expert insight is essential to explain how negligence caused harm and why that proof matters when seeking compensation.
Pennsylvania law, including the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act, sets the framework for medical malpractice claims and standards of care. Claims must also be supported by a professional certification confirming that negligence is reasonably believed to have occurred.
How Long Do You Have to File a Birth Injury Claim in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, medical malpractice claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524. However, when the injured person is a minor, the law allows extra time. Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 5533(b), the statute of limitations is typically paused until the child turns 18.
Parents may still file a claim on behalf of their child before that time, and doing so early can make a meaningful difference. Medical records, witness recollections, and expert evaluations are often easier to obtain sooner rather than later.
Why Choose Our Hazleton Birth Injury Attorneys?
The Hazleton birth injury lawyer you choose to represent your family makes all the difference. Time and time again, our clients choose Munley Law because experience and credibility matter in medical malpractice cases. With nearly 70 years of service to Pennsylvania families, our attorneys understand how to protect families facing powerful hospitals and insurance companies.
Our board-certified trial attorneys have earned leadership recognition in medical malpractice law and secured multimillion-dollar recoveries for injured clients. We have consistently been named to the Best Lawyers in America, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, and Best Law Firms. These credentials are not about awards; they are about having the strength, resources, and knowledge to advocate effectively for your child.
What Compensation Can You Recover for a Birth Injury in Hazleton?
Birth injuries can come with a lifetime of unfair costs. A successful birth injury claim can help families recover compensation for:
- Current and future medical care
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Adaptive equipment and home modifications
- Lost income and long-term caregiving costs
- Pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life
For many Luzerne County families, compensation also supports long-term care planning, coordination with specialists, and travel to pediatric experts not available locally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Injury Lawsuits in Hazleton
When Should I Contact a Hazleton Birth Injury Lawyer?
You can reach out as soon as you have concerns about your child’s injury. Early conversations help preserve records and give you clarity about your options. There is no obligation to move forward.
How Can I Tell if My Child’s Injury was Caused by Negligence?
Medical records and expert review are often needed to determine this. Signs may include delayed responses, lack of monitoring, or unexpected complications during delivery.
What Evidence Should I Provide My Birth Injury Lawyer With?
Your birth injury attorney can use prenatal and NICU medical records, fetal monitoring strips, and labor and delivery logs to identify medical negligence and errors. The more of these documents you can provide them with, the stronger your case may be. Your lawyer may also seek out expert testimonies from you and your child’s doctors, including OB/GYNs and neurologists, to assess whether they acted negligently or breached their duty of care.
What’s the Difference Between a Birth Injury and a Birth Defect?
A birth injury happens during labor or delivery, often due to medical care. A birth defect develops during pregnancy and can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, medication, or medical errors. A birth injury lawyer will review medical records to determine the cause of your child’s injury or condition.
Our Hazleton Birth Injury Lawyer is Here to Help
At Munley Law, we are proud to be a family-owned firm with deep roots in northeastern Pennsylvania. For almost 70 years, our Hazleton birth injury lawyers have stood by parents who are battling their worst fears imaginable. Munley Law’s promise is simple: we treat our clients as part of our own family.
Our partners have been selected as some of the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, with Caroline Munley further featured as one of the Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers in the state. Marion Munley has also achieved the title of Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law for her outstanding work in complex cases in Hazleton and beyond, and Caroline Munley, Marion Munley, and Robert Munley III are all recognized by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for their significant settlements achieved on behalf of our clients.
If your child suffered a birth injury in Hazleton, PA, contact Munley Law today to schedule a free consultation.
Marion Munley
Marion Munley has been practicing personal injury law for nearly 40 years. She is triple board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy for Truck Accident Law, Civil Trial Law, and Civil Practice Advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Justice, an organization dedicated to safeguarding victims’ rights. Marion has won many multimillion-dollar recoveries for her clients, including one of the largest trucking accident settlements in history. She has been named a Top 10 Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania since 2023, a Best Lawyer in America, and was recently inducted to the Lawdragon Hall of Fame.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on May 28, 2026.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
197 N Cedar St.
Hazleton, PA 18201
(570) 536-9498
