Prolapsed Umbilical Cord Injury Attorneys Serving New York City And Long Island
Last updated on July 17, 2026
A prolapsed umbilical cord is one of the most serious emergencies that can arise during labor. When physicians fail to recognize the warning signs or delay a necessary response, the consequences can be devastating and permanent. At Rich & Rich, P.C., our attorneys, Jeffrey M. Rich and Marc L. Rich, have each spent more than 35 years representing families as prolapsed umbilical cord injury attorneys.
What Is A Prolapsed Umbilical Cord?
The umbilical cord delivers oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby throughout labor. When the cord slips out of position and precedes the baby through the birth canal, it becomes prolapsed. The baby’s body presses against the cord and cuts off the blood and oxygen supply, creating a medical emergency that demands immediate physician intervention. Circumstances that may contribute to cord prolapse include:
- Premature rupture of membranes or water breaking during labor
- Premature birth, multiple births or breech delivery
- Excessive amounts of amniotic fluid or an unusually long umbilical cord
- Abnormal fetal positioning prior to or during labor
Each of these factors places a heightened duty on the delivering physician to monitor closely and respond without delay.
How Physicians Should Respond And When They Fail
Accepted medical standards require physicians to monitor fetal heart rate continuously throughout labor. A sudden drop in fetal heart rate signals cord compression and demands an immediate response. Standard protocol calls for repositioning the mother to relieve pressure on the cord. When repositioning fails to stabilize the baby’s heart rate, a prompt emergency C-section is the expected course of action.
Failure to order a timely New York City C-section is a clear departure from accepted standards and may constitute negligence. As a prolapsed umbilical cord injury attorney team, our lawyers know that delays of just a few minutes can result in irreversible brain damage. When a physician recognizes fetal distress and fails to act, that failure may support a New York City birth injury malpractice claim.
The Consequences Of A Delayed Response
When cord prolapse goes unaddressed, oxygen deprivation can cause a birth injury that could permanently alter a child’s life. Families who come to us often report outcomes that include:
- Brain damage and significant developmental delays
- Cerebral palsy, which requires lifelong therapy and care
- Cognitive and neurological impairments
- Stillbirth or newborn wrongful death
The financial burden of these outcomes can reach millions of dollars over a lifetime. Our attorneys can work with life care planners and medical professionals to build a case that captures the full scope of your child’s long-term needs and the compensation required to cover them.
How Our Team Can Assist Your Family
At Rich & Rich, P.C., our lawyers bring over 75 combined years of experience to prolapsed umbilical cord injury attorney cases across New York City and Long Island. They understand fetal monitoring protocols and know how to demonstrate that a physician’s failure to act constitutes negligence. They handle every case on a contingency basis with no upfront legal fees, and they advance litigation costs. Whether you need a Brooklyn birth injury attorney or representation elsewhere in the five boroughs, our team is prepared to fight for your family.
How Can You Know If Your Doctor’s Failure To Act Constitutes Malpractice?
When a New York City physician identifies signs of fetal distress, including a misdiagnosis of cord prolapse, and fails to order a timely emergency C-section, that failure may rise to the level of malpractice. As prolapsed umbilical cord injury attorneys, our team will review fetal monitoring strips, delivery records and hospital protocols to assess whether your provider departed from accepted medical standards
What Types Of Compensation Can Your Family Recover?
If your family is pursuing a New York City birth injury claim, you may seek compensation for many losses and expenses with the help of a prolapsed umbilical cord injury attorney. This could cover damages for:
- Past and future medical expenses and surgical costs
- Long-term therapy and specialized care needs
- Your child’s pain and suffering
- Loss of your child’s future earning capacity
- Wrongful death damages, where applicable
The value of each claim turns on the specific facts. Our attorneys will give you a direct and honest picture of what your family’s case may be worth.
Need Help From A Prolapsed Umbilical Cord Injury Attorney?
If your baby suffered a serious birth injury because a physician delayed or failed to perform a necessary C-section, contact a prolapsed umbilical cord injury attorney at Rich & Rich, P.C.. Call us at 212-407-5570 for a free consultation. We serve families throughout New York City and Long Island with no upfront legal fees.