Medical errors and oversights can turn a long-awaited birth into a medical emergency with lifelong consequences, leaving families searching for answers and accountability. For example, when healthcare providers fail to promptly identify and treat this subgaleal hemorrhage, the resulting harm can be catastrophic. If your child suffered a brain injury or other serious complications due to subgaleal hemorrhage, you have the right to seek compensation, and you should confer with an attorney as soon as possible. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Birth Injury Lawyers, our knowledgeable Syracuse birth injury attorneys understand the devastating impact families experience due to preventable harm during labor and delivery, and if we represent you, we will zealously pursue any damages available. We proudly represent families throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York.
Understanding Subgaleal Hemorrhage and the Harm It Can CauseSubgaleal hemorrhage occurs when blood accumulates in the potential space between the skull and the scalp’s connective tissue layer, allowing bleeding to spread extensively across the head. This condition is most commonly associated with vacuum-assisted deliveries but may also occur during forceps deliveries or prolonged, traumatic labor. Excessive traction, repeated vacuum attempts, or improper technique can tear the veins that traverse this space, leading to uncontrolled bleeding. Because the bleeding is internal and diffuse, early signs may be subtle and easily overlooked without vigilant monitoring.
The harm caused by subgaleal hemorrhage can be profound and irreversible. As blood loss progresses, an infant may develop hypovolemic shock, severe anemia, metabolic acidosis, and oxygen deprivation to the brain. These complications can result in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, seizures, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, or death. Even when an infant survives, the long-term consequences of subgaleal hemorrhage may include cognitive impairment, motor deficits, and the need for lifelong medical care and therapy. These outcomes are particularly tragic because timely recognition and intervention can often prevent the progression of this condition.
Proving Medical Negligence in Cases Involving Subgaleal Hemorrhage Under New York LawWhen a child is injured due to subgaleal hemorrhage caused by negligent medical care, their family may pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim. In most instances, a plaintiff in a birth injury case must establish the defendant’s negligence. Under New York law, negligence consists of four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The duty healthcare providers owe their patients is to provide care consistent with accepted medical standards.
A breach of duty occurs when medical professionals fail to act in accordance with those standards. In cases involving subgaleal hemorrhage, breaches may include excessive or improper use of vacuum extractors, failure to limit the number of vacuum attempts, delayed conversion to cesarean delivery, inadequate training or supervision of delivery personnel, or failure to recognize warning signs such as scalp swelling, pallor, tachycardia, hypotension, or declining hematocrit levels. Because these determinations involve specialized medical judgment, expert testimony is almost always required to explain what competent providers should have done and how the defendants’ actions deviated from accepted practice.
Causation requires proof that the breach was a substantial factor in causing the child’s injuries. In subgaleal hemorrhage cases, this often involves demonstrating that improper delivery techniques or delayed diagnosis allowed ongoing bleeding to continue unchecked, resulting in injuries. Medical experts may analyze delivery records, operative notes, neonatal vital signs, laboratory data, and imaging studies to establish how the injury unfolded and why timely intervention would likely have prevented or reduced the severity of the harm.
The final element is damages. Under New York law, children injured by subgaleal hemorrhage may recover economic damages, including the cost of their medical care, rehabilitation, therapy services, specialized education, assistive equipment, and long-term medical care. Given the lifelong implications of many birth injuries, future care costs are often substantial. Non-economic damages may also be awarded for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Parents may additionally recover damages associated with the extraordinary physical, emotional, and financial demands of caring for a seriously injured child.
Consult a Knowledgeable Birth Injury Attorney in Syracuse, Rochester, or Upstate New YorkWhen delivery teams misuse instruments, delay intervention, or fail to monitor newborns appropriately, the resulting injuries can alter the course of a child’s life forever. If your child suffered serious complications related to subgaleal hemorrhage and you believe medical negligence played a role, you should talk to an attorney about whether you may be able to pursue birth injury claims. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Birth Injury Lawyers, our knowledgeable Syracuse birth injury attorneys can advise you of your rights and aid you in seeking the best outcome possible. Our primary office is located in Syracuse, and we represent parties in birth injury cases throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York. You can contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation through our online form or by calling 833-200-2000.