Detroit Birth Injury Lawyer

Welcoming a child into the world should be one of the happiest moments in a parent’s life. However, when medical negligence leads to a birth injury, families feel fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak. If your baby suffered an injury due to errors made during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or shortly after birth, you are not alone. Our attorneys may be able to help you recover money to make sure your child has everything they need to thrive.

Our birth injury lawyers understand the challenges you’re facing, and we’re here to help. We focus exclusively on birth injury cases to help families like yours. Our team works tirelessly to hold medical professionals accountable for their negligence.

Contact a Detroit birth injury lawyer from ABC Law Centers to discuss your case. Call us for a free and confidential consultation. Your child deserves the best care possible, now and in the future.

Choosing the right legal team after a birth injury can make all the difference in your family’s future. At ABC Law Centers, we’ve spent over 25 years advocating exclusively for families affected by preventable birth injuries. We deeply understand the medical and legal complexities of these cases. Our team uses our experience to fight for the compensation your child needs for the rest of their life.

Our dedicated in-house registered nurses bring essential medical knowledge to our team. Together, our attorneys and in-house medical staff pinpoint acts of negligence and build a strong case. We also work with leading medical specialists and life care planners, ensuring every aspect of your child’s needs is addressed.

We’re based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, but our practice extends nationwide. We are one of the few law firms that only focuses on birth injury cases. Families that work with us have our undivided attention and resources.

We’re proud of our proven track record. Our team has recovered millions of dollars for families coping with the challenges of birth injuries. At ABC Law Centers, our attorneys bring compassion and personalized advocacy to your family every step of the way.
You’re not just another case—you’re a family we’re honored to support.

A birth injury refers to harm or trauma suffered by a baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. These injuries can affect a child’s physical, cognitive, or neurological development. Some birth injuries may be manageable with treatment or therapy, but cause permanent disabilities. These children require a lifetime of care and support.

Birth injuries are particularly devastating, because they are often preventable. When healthcare providers fail to uphold the standard of care, they can cause lasting harm to vulnerable newborns. This constitutes medical negligence and forms the basis for pursuing legal action.

Seeking justice through legal channels is not just about holding negligent medical professionals accountable. It’s about ensuring your child has access to the medical care, therapies, and specialized equipment they need to reach their fullest potential.

Birth injuries caused by medical malpractice occur when healthcare professionals fail to provide adequate or timely care. Many factors can lead to these injuries, including:

• Failure to Monitor: Obstetricians and nurses are responsible for monitoring both the baby’s and the mother’s health during labor and delivery. Failing to recognize fetal distress, maternal complications, or other warning signs can lead to serious harm.
• Improper Use of Delivery Tools: Devices like forceps and vacuum extractors can cause significant trauma if not used correctly. Misuse of these tools can result in skull fractures, brain injuries and nerve damage.
• Delayed C-Sections: When complications arise during labor, prompt delivery via C-section may be necessary to prevent harm. Failing to act quickly in these situations can deprive the baby of oxygen.
• Labor Drugs:  Misusing labor drugs like Pitocin and Cytotec can have dangerous effects, such as overstimulating contractions, which can harm the baby.
• Neglecting to Address Known Risks: If a baby is at higher risk of complications due to a known factor (e.g., a breech position or large size), medical professionals must take appropriate precautions. Failing to do so can increase the likelihood of injury.

Every birth injury case is unique, but one common thread unites them: the injury could have been prevented if proper care had been provided. 

Birth injuries resulting from medical negligence can take many forms, with some of the most common including:

• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): HIE occurs when a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen during or shortly after birth. This condition can lead to severe brain damage and long-term disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
• Cerebral Palsy: Often linked to HIE, cerebral palsy affects muscle control, motor skills, and coordination. It may require extensive therapy, medical intervention, and assistive devices.
• Brachial Plexus Injuries: These injuries occur when the network of nerves controlling the arm and hand is stretched or torn during delivery. Severe cases can result in permanent paralysis.
• Newborn Seizures: Seizures in newborns are often a sign of underlying brain injuries and may require specialized care and monitoring.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Improper handling during delivery can lead to damage to a baby’s spinal cord, resulting in lifelong mobility issues.
• Fetal Fractures: Mismanagement during delivery, especially when forceps or vacuum extractors are used improperly, can lead to broken bones.

These injuries often require immediate medical attention, followed by ongoing care, rehabilitation, and support. The financial burden of this care can be overwhelming, but legal action may provide the resources your family needs to meet these challenges.

Determining who is responsible for your child’s birth injury is a critical part of the legal process. Our team first conducts a thorough investigation to identify all parties whose negligence may have contributed to the injury. Depending on the circumstances, liability may fall on:

• Obstetricians and Gynecologists: These doctors are responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of your baby. If they fail to recognize complications, make poor decisions, or take unnecessary risks, they may be held accountable.
• Labor and Delivery Nurses: Nurses play a vital role in monitoring the baby and mother during labor. Neglecting warning signs, delays in calling for assistance, or miscommunication can lead to injuries.
• Hospitals: The facility where you gave birth may bear responsibility if insufficient staff were present, poorly maintained equipment was used, or systemic failures occurred.
• Neonatologists or Pediatricians: If these specialists fail to provide adequate care for a baby immediately after birth, they may contribute to injuries or worsening conditions.
• Anesthesiologists: Administration of anesthesia requires precision and vigilance. Errors, such as improper dosing, can harm both the mother and baby.

Medical negligence cases often involve multiple parties, which is why it’s crucial to have an experienced legal team by your side to untangle these complex relationships. 

Proving negligence in a birth injury claim involves demonstrating two things: 

1. The healthcare provider or facility failed to meet the standard of care
2. That failure directly caused your child’s injuries.

At ABC Law Centers, we guide families through this process, which typically includes:

• Establishing the Standard of Care: This refers to the level of care any reasonable healthcare professional would have provided under similar circumstances. For example, timely recognition of fetal distress is a standard expectation.
• Identifying Breaches: A breach occurs when actions (or inactions) fall short of the standard of care. This could include failing to order a necessary C-section or misusing delivery tools.
• Proving Causation: It must be shown that the healthcare professional’s actions directly caused your child’s birth injury. This often requires medical records, expert testimony, and other evidence.
• Documenting Damages: Finally, it’s critical to document how the injury has affected your child’s life and your family. This can include medical expenses, long-term care needs, or emotional trauma.

Our experienced legal team works closely with medical experts to build a strong, evidence-based case. With our help, you can hold those responsible accountable and secure the resources your child needs.

When negligence causes a birth injury, legal action can help families recover compensation. This money is set aside to cover the lifelong challenges their child may face. This compensation often includes:

• Medical Expenses: Past, present, and future medical costs related to the injury.
• Therapy and Rehabilitation: Coverage for physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
• Assistive Equipment: Funds for mobility aids, communication devices, or in-home modifications.
• Special Education Costs: Resources to cover educational support or adaptive programs.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the emotional toll on your child and family.
• Loss of Earning Potential: Reimbursement for lost income opportunities if your child’s injury limits their ability to work in the future.

Our goal is to ensure your family receives the full compensation necessary to care for your child.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding birth injuries and birth injury claims:

What’s the difference between a birth injury and a birth defect?

A birth injury occurs due to trauma or medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. Birth defects are typically caused by genetic factors or issues during fetal development and are not related to care provided by medical professionals. If your child suffered harm due to a preventable error, you may have a case for negligence.

How much time do I have to file a birth injury claim in Detroit?

In Michigan, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim involving medical malpractice is generally two years from the date of the injury. In cases involving a birth injury, the statute of limitations does not expire until the injured child’s 10th birthday. Contact our team as soon as possible to discuss your specific timeline.

What if I’m unsure whether medical negligence caused my child’s injury?

You don’t need all the answers before reaching out. Our team offers free consultations and will work closely with medical experts to review your case. If there is evidence of negligence, we will guide you on the next steps toward justice.

Will filing a birth injury lawsuit create financial risk for my family?

No. At ABC Law Centers, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay if we successfully recover compensation for your family. There are no upfront costs, so your focus can remain on your child’s well-being.

When your family is facing the overwhelming challenges of a birth injury, you need a team of advocates who truly understand your situation. At ABC Law Centers, we are committed to supporting families like yours with compassion, dedication, and legal advice.

Here’s how a lawyer from ABC Law Centers can help you:

• Conduct a thorough investigation to identify negligence.
• Collaborate with leading medical experts to assess your child’s injuries.
• Fight tirelessly to secure the resources your family needs for long-term care.
• Guide you through every step of the legal process with transparency and care.
• Provide peace of mind knowing your child’s future needs are prioritized.

Time is critical in birth injury cases, so don’t delay. Contact ABC Law Centers today for a free, confidential consultation with our trusted Detroit birth injury lawyers. Together, we can take the first step toward justice, accountability, and a brighter future for your child. 

Other cities our Michigan birth injury lawyers serve:

Dearborn ▪️ Lansing ▪️ Southfield ▪️ Grand Rapids ▪️ Ann Arbor