Birth Injuries in New Jersey
Average Settlement: $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 | Statute: 2 years from the date the malpractice occurred or from the date of reasonable discovery
About Birth Injuries
Birth injury malpractice occurs when negligent medical care during pregnancy, labor, or delivery causes harm to the mother or newborn. These cases often involve catastrophic, lifelong injuries such as cerebral palsy or brain damage resulting from oxygen deprivation. Birth injury claims are among the most high-value malpractice cases because they frequently involve permanent disabilities requiring a lifetime of medical care, therapy, and support.
New Jersey Medical Malpractice Laws
Statute of Limitations
2 years from the date the malpractice occurred or from the date of reasonable discovery
Damage Cap
No cap on damages
Discovery Rule
New Jersey applies the discovery rule broadly — the statute begins when the patient discovers or reasonably should discover the injury and its connection to the treatment.
Pre-Filing Requirements
Plaintiffs must file an affidavit of merit from a qualified medical professional within 60 days of the defendant's answer.
Common Examples of Birth Injuries
- •Failure to monitor fetal heart rate and respond to signs of fetal distress
- •Delayed or improperly performed emergency cesarean section
- •Excessive use of force with vacuum extractors or forceps during delivery
- •Failure to diagnose and treat maternal infections during pregnancy
- •Improper administration of labor-inducing drugs such as Pitocin
- •Failure to identify and manage umbilical cord complications
- •Missed diagnosis of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia
Key Facts
- ✓Cerebral palsy caused by birth asphyxia is one of the most frequently litigated and highest-value medical malpractice claims in the United States
- ✓Fetal monitoring strips are among the most important pieces of evidence in birth injury cases, as they document the baby's heart rate and the timing of medical interventions
- ✓Birth injury cases often involve life care plans prepared by specialists that project the total cost of care over the child's expected lifetime, which can exceed tens of millions of dollars
- ✓Many states have extended statutes of limitations for birth injury claims, allowing minors to file suit until several years after they reach the age of majority
- ✓Both the obstetrician and the hospital can be held liable, particularly when hospital staffing levels or policies contributed to delayed intervention
- ✓Expert neonatologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists are typically required to testify about the standard of care during labor and delivery
- ✓New Jersey requires an affidavit of merit from an appropriately licensed expert within 60 days of the defendant's answer.
- ✓The state follows a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar.
- ✓There are no caps on economic, non-economic, or punitive damages in medical malpractice cases.
- ✓Punitive damages are capped at five times compensatory damages or $350,000, whichever is greater, under the Punitive Damages Act (applies to all torts, not just malpractice).
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Other Malpractice Types in New Jersey
This information is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed medical malpractice attorney in New Jersey.