Grand Rapids Birth Injury Lawyers

Welcoming a new baby into the world should be a time of excitement. But for some families, this joy is overshadowed by the heartbreak of a preventable birth injury. The pain and confusion that follow can feel overwhelming, leaving parents unsure of how to care for their child’s complex needs or hold the responsible parties accountable.

At ABC Law Centers, we understand the profound impact that a birth injury can have on your family. Our legal team is here to help parents in Grand Rapids seek justice when medical negligence has caused harm. With over 25 years of dedicated experience in birth injury law, we have the knowledge and resources to guide your family through every step of this challenging process.

If your child’s injury was caused by medical malpractice, you deserve answers—and more importantly, you deserve the resources to ensure your child has the best possible future. Contact a Grand Rapids birth injury lawyer at ABC Law Centers today for a free, confidential, and compassionate consultation.

ABC Law Centers: Birth Injury Lawyers is one of the few law firms in the U.S. that focuses only on birth injury. Our firm consults with leading medical experts, life care planning professionals, and other specialists to help determine what kind of care your child will need throughout their life. Our attorneys handle cases in Grand Rapids and all across the country.

Birth injury cases are uniquely difficult, requiring not only legal support but also a deep understanding of medical care. At ABC Law Centers, birth injury law is all we do. For decades, we’ve focused exclusively on birth injury claims, helping families in Michigan and across the U.S. secure settlements and verdicts that provide for their children’s lifelong care. What sets us apart includes:

Based in Michigan, our attorneys handle birth injury cases nationwide. From Grand Rapids to metro Detroit, we’ve secured millions in compensation for Michigan families facing lifelong care needs.

Our in-house registered nursing staff works hand-in-hand with our attorneys to review medical records, identify possible mistakes, and build compelling legal cases. This unique partnership allows us to pinpoint how medical negligence occurred and how it directly impacts your family.

Unlike other firms that dabble in various legal areas, ABC Law Centers is committed solely to birth injury cases. This laser-sharp focus ensures we understand the complexities of these cases and the specific steps required to bring success.

Birth injury lawsuits are about more than securing financial compensation. For many families, it’s about justice, accountability, and ensuring your child has access to the care and resources they need to thrive. By choosing ABC Law Centers, you’re choosing a compassionate team dedicated to making that future possible.

A birth injury is any harm to a baby caused during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Birth injuries can have lifelong consequences, impacting a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

Sadly, many birth injuries are preventable. They occur due to medical malpractice—when healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or neonatal care. If your child was injured, you may have legal rights to hold the negligent parties accountable.

Birth injuries caused by medical malpractice happen when healthcare professionals make critical errors that permanently injure a baby. Common examples of medical malpractice include the following situations:

• Failure to monitor fetal distress: Monitoring the baby for distress via the fetal heart monitor is crucial. For example, if a baby is not receiving enough oxygen, immediate medical intervention is necessary. Delays in recognizing or responding to signs of distress can cause injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
• Improper use of delivery tools: When instruments like forceps or vacuum extractors are improperly handled, they can cause skull fractures, brain damage, or other serious injuries.
• Delayed C-sections: If a cesarean delivery is needed but delayed, the baby can suffer a brain injury from not getting enough oxygen or other traumas during labor.
• Mismanagement of maternal health conditions: Conditions such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia require careful monitoring and management. Failure to address these health issues puts both the mother and baby at risk.
• Pitocin and Cytotec Errors: Mistakes in administering Misusing these risky medications during labor and delivery can harm both the baby and the mother.

Not all adverse outcomes during childbirth result from malpractice. However, if medical mistakes have harmed your child, ABC Law Centers can conduct a thorough review to determine if negligence was a factor.

Birth injuries caused by malpractice

require lifelong care. At ABC Law Centers, we have extensive experience representing families in cases involving injuries like these and more:

• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE): HIE occurs when a baby experiences a lack of oxygen during birth, leading to brain damage. It may result in conditions like cerebral palsy or epilepsy.
• Cerebral Palsy: Often caused by brain damage during labor or delivery, this condition affects movement, coordination, and posture.
• Neonatal Seizures: Seizures in newborns can stem from brain trauma or insufficient oxygen during birth. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent further damagereduce long-term impacts.
• Brachial Plexus Injuries: Damage to the nerves in a baby’s shoulder during delivery may result in conditions like Erb’s palsy, affecting arm movement and strength.
• Skull Fractures and Head Trauma: Improper use of delivery tools or mishandled deliveries can lead to fractures or brain injuries.

When preventable birth injuries occur, determining who is responsible is a vital step in seeking justice. Liability often rests with the healthcare providers involved in your care. This can include individuals, such as doctors and nurses, as well as institutions like hospitals or clinics. Here are some examples of potentially liable parties in birth injury cases caused by negligence:

• Doctors/Obstetricians: If an obstetrician failed to properly manage complications, ignored signs of fetal distress, or made other critical mistakes during delivery, they could be held accountable for the injury.
• Nurses and Midwives: Nurses often play a crucial role in monitoring fetal and maternal health. Errors in observation, medication administration, or assistance during delivery could result in negligence claims.
• Hospitals and Medical Facilities: Sometimes, hospitals or birthing centers are legally responsible for injuries when they fail to provide adequate training, hire qualified staff, or enforce proper procedures.
• Anesthesiologists or Other Specialists: Errors related to epidurals or other specialized care during labor may also lead to severe complications.

Our team will carefully examine all medical records, consult with experienced specialists, and analyze every aspect of your medical care to determine liability. We believe families deserve justice, and we will fight tirelessly to ensure any negligent parties are held responsible.

Proving negligence in a birth injury claim requires detailed evidence and a thorough understanding of both legal and medical principles. At ABC Law Centers, our legal team takes a meticulous and compassionate approach to ensure your family’s case is as strong as possible.

To show negligence, lawyers typically focus on these key elements:

1. Duty of Care: We establish that the healthcare provider owed your child a duty of care—meaning they were obligated to act within reasonable medical standards throughout your pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
2. Breach of Duty: Next, we investigate evidence to show that the medical professional failed to meet those standards by making critical mistakes or omissions. This might include delayed responses to fetal distress, mismanagement of maternal conditions, or improper use of medical tools.
3. Causation: We must prove a direct connection between the mistake and your child’s birth injury. This often involves working closely with medical experts to explain how the negligence caused the harm.
4. Damages: Finally, we calculate the financial, physical, and emotional harm caused by the negligence, which may include medical bills, therapy costs, and the impact on your child’s quality of life.

Our collaborative team carefully reviews medical records, consults expert witnesses, and builds compelling arguments to hold the negligent parties accountable.

Birth injuries can create lifelong challenges and expenses. Filing a lawsuit can help ease these financial burdens and ensure your child has the resources they need to thrive. Victims of birth injuries in Grand Rapids may be entitled to compensation for the following costs and damages:

• Present and future medical expenses, including hospital stays, surgeries, therapy, etc.
• Rehabilitation and assistive technology, such as wheelchairs
• Costs of specialized education and care
• Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of normal activities
• Lost wages if parents must step away from work to care for their child

By pursuing compensation, families can focus on providing care and creating opportunities for their children without worrying about how to cover mounting expenses.

Below are answers to common questions our lawyers get regarding birth injuries and birth injury cases.

Birth injury cases often involve multiple parties, including doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Our legal team will investigate every aspect of your case, consulting with medical professionals to uncover who is liable. We’ll ensure that all responsible parties are identified so you can pursue justice and secure the resources your child needs.

In Michigan, families pursuing a medical malpractice claim typically have two years from the date of the injury to file. However, when it comes to birth injury cases, the statute of limitations extends until the injured child’s 10th birthday. Every case is unique, so we encourage you to contact our Grand Rapids team right away to understand your specific timeline and protect your child’s rights.

Not necessarily. Many birth injury cases are resolved through negotiated settlements without going to trial. However, if the responsible parties don’t offer fair compensation, ABC Law Centers is prepared to fight for your family in court.

At ABC Law Centers, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us no fees unless we win your case. This allows families to pursue justice without worrying about upfront costs or financial risk.

Yes. Beyond securing financial compensation, our team collaborates with life care planners and medical specialists to develop a comprehensive plan for your child’s future care. This may include specialized equipment, therapy, and educational resources.

The challenges of caring for a child with a birth injury is a deeply personal and often overwhelming experience. ABC Law Centers can provide the legal and emotional support your family needs to move forward with confidence and hope. Our dedicated team will help you understand your legal rights, identify negligence, and work to secure the resources that will allow your child to thrive.

Here’s how we can help you and your family:

• Conduct a thorough investigation of your medical records and evidence.
• Work with medical experts to determine how negligence led to your child’s injury.
• Handle negotiations with insurance companies and opposing lawyers on your behalf.
• Advocate for the full and fair compensation your child deserves to cover lifelong needs.

You don’t have to face this alone. Filing a claim isn’t just about financial compensation—it’s about ensuring your child has the care and opportunities they deserve. Contact our compassionate team today at (248) 593-5100 or through our online form for a free, confidential consultation with a Grand Rapids birth injury lawyer. Together, we’ll fight for the justice and peace of mind your family needs and deserves.

We handle cases all across the state, including the following cities:

Detroit ▪️ Dearborn ▪️ Lansing ▪️ Ann Arbor ▪️ Southfield