If your child suffered a birth injury in Bellevue, WA, you may have a medical malpractice claim against the medical providers or hospital responsible for their care. The Bellevue personal injury lawyers at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer can help you investigate what happened and fight for accountability.
Our firm has spent decades representing families across Washington in complex medical malpractice cases. We have recovered billions of dollars for injured clients and are committed to helping you secure the care and resources your child needs to thrive. If you have concerns about how your child’s birth was handled, contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your legal rights.
Why Families in Bellevue Turn to Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers
Families throughout Bellevue, Washington, trust our firm because we have the experience and resources necessary to take on the largest hospitals and healthcare systems in the state. We stand out because we have:
- A proven history of recovering billions of dollars for injured clients
- More than 30 years of experience handling complex medical malpractice and birth injury cases
- Trial experience in state and federal courts, including high-stakes litigation
- Recognition from organizations such as Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers
- Access to top-tier medical experts to analyze and support your claim
- No upfront fees; we only get paid if we recover compensation for you
Reach out to us today to schedule a free case review with a Bellevue birth injury attorney. We’re here to go to bat for you and your child.
How a Bellevue Birth Injury Attorney Can Support Your Case
Birth injury claims can be so complex that general personal injury lawyers often decline to take them. These cases require extensive evidence (which is often in the hands of the hospital) and persuasive expert testimony from medical specialists to determine what went wrong. Without an attorney leading the investigation, it can be difficult to present a strong case.
An experienced birth injury lawyer in Bellevue can handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Conducting a thorough investigation into the events surrounding the pregnancy and delivery
- Consulting with qualified medical experts to determine whether the standard of care was violated
- Calculating both immediate and long-term costs associated with your child’s condition
- Identifying all liable providers and institutions involved in your child’s care
- Reviewing prenatal care records, labor and delivery notes, and fetal monitoring data
- Documenting the emotional and physical impact of the injury on your family
- Negotiating with insurance companies and hospital systems
- Taking your case to trial to pursue justice for your child
Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer is here to help you navigate every stage of your case. Call us today to learn more about how our birth injury lawyers in Bellevue can assist you.
Common Birth Injuries That Can Arise Due to Medical Mistakes
Birth injuries can occur at any stage of pregnancy, labor, or delivery (and even shortly after birth). Many result from substandard care by one or more medical providers.
Some of the most common birth injuries include:
- Brain injuries, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Cerebral palsy
- Brachial plexus injuries, such as Erb’s palsy
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractures during delivery
- Shoulder dystocia complications
- Facial nerve injuries
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
- Birth-related infections or oxygen deprivation
- Wrongful death
These injuries can lead to long-term or permanent disabilities. They often require extensive medical care and support throughout a child’s life. Many of these injuries are preventable with proper care.
Proving a Birth Injury Claim in Washington
To succeed in a Washington birth injury case, your legal team must establish several key elements. Generally, you must show that the medical provider engaged in professional negligence during prenatal or labor and delivery care.
The elements of a successful claim include:
- The existence of a provider–patient relationship and related duty of care
- The provider failed to meet accepted medical standards
- That failure directly caused the birth injury
- Your child and family suffered measurable damages
Depending on the circumstances, liability may extend to multiple parties involved in the mother’s or child’s care, including:
- Obstetricians
- Delivering physicians
- Nurses and nurse practitioners
- Anesthesiologists
- Medical residents
- Hospitals and healthcare systems
Every party that contributed to your child’s injury can be held liable for their portion of negligence. However, a thorough investigation may be necessary to determine who is responsible for your child’s injuries.
What Compensation Is Available in a Bellevue Birth Injury Case?
Washington law allows families to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic damages related to their child’s birth injury. These damages should account for all of your family’s financial and personal losses.
Depending on your case, your compensation award may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Costs of specialized care
- Assistive devices and adaptive equipment
- Home modifications
- Loss of your child’s future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress experienced by the child and family
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Long-term care and support services
An experienced attorney can work with medical and financial experts to pinpoint exactly what your family has lost due to the injury and what your child needs to have the brightest possible future.
Time Limits for Filing a Birth Injury Claim in Washington
Washington has strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice claims, including those involving birth injuries. In many cases, families must file within three years of the medical error, or one year from the date the injury was discovered.
If you fail to file your claim within the applicable statute of limitations, you may lose your right to recover compensation. That’s why it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Speak With a Bellevue Birth Injury Attorney Today
If your child suffered a birth injury in Bellevue, you deserve answers, and your child deserves the best possible future. Holding negligent medical providers accountable can help your family access the care and support you need.
Contact Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Let us help you understand your rights.