A birth injury can change everything about welcoming a newborn into the world. It can turn joy into grief and expectation into uncertainty. If your child was injured at birth, you may have a medical malpractice claim. A Kent medical malpractice lawyer at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand what went wrong and pursue compensation for your child’s injuries
For more than three decades, our lawyers have represented families across Washington in complex medical malpractice cases. We have recovered billions of dollars against insurers, hospitals, and other major defendants. If you have questions about your child’s condition or the care you received, contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Families in Kent Trust Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers
Birth injury cases require a law firm with dedicated medical malpractice experience and the resources to take on major healthcare systems and malpractice insurers. Families in Kent choose our Kent birth injury lawyers because we have:
- Strong trial background in high-stakes medical error litigation
- Decades of experience handling birth injury and negligence claims
- A proven record of billions of dollars recovered for clients across Washington
- Respect from our peers in the legal community, backed by recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers (and other top services).
- Partnerships with leading medical experts who can help strengthen your case
- Contingency fee arrangements with no up-front payments for legal representation
We understand that your child’s future is at stake. We’re here to help you make things right. Call our Kent medical malpractice lawyers for a free case review to learn more.
How a Birth Injury Attorney in Kent Can Help Build Your Case
Birth injury claims in Kent, WA often involve complicated medical issues and detailed factual investigations. Without legal experience and relationships with top medical experts, it can be extremely difficult to determine if and when your child was injured (e.g., during prenatal care, labor, or delivery). Moreover, hospitals and insurers aggressively defend these cases, which makes experienced legal representation all the more essential.
An experienced birth injury attorney in Kent will help you:
- Work with independent medical specialists to assess whether proper care was provided
- Review medical records and care notes
- Reconstruct the timeline of prenatal care, labor, and delivery
- Identify all providers and institutions responsible for your child’s condition
- Evaluate your child’s current and future care needs
- Document the impact of the birth injury on your family’s daily life and finances
- Handle all communications and negotiations with insurers and healthcare facilities
- Take your case before a judge and jury if the other side refuses to take accountability
A personal injury lawyer will handle all aspects of your case. Call Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about what we can do for you.
Birth Injuries That May Give Rise to Malpractice Lawsuits
Birth injuries can occur before, during, or shortly after delivery. Some complications are unavoidable, and some injuries are the result of genetics and other factors beyond the control of medical providers. However, many injuries happen because providers delay important decisions or fail to respond to warning signs.
Common birth injuries associated with negligence include:
- Broken bones during delivery
- Shoulder dystocia
- Paralysis in the face
- Oxygen deprivation injuries, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Cerebral palsy
- Nerve injuries, including brachial plexus damage (Erb’s palsy)
- Spinal cord trauma
- Injuries from forceps or vacuum devices
- Infections
- Fatal birth complications
Because they happen to the smallest and most vulnerable among us, these injuries are especially devastating. Moreover, they can cause the need for ongoing care and long-term specialized treatment before the child has even gotten started living their life. Holding negligent providers accountable for these injuries can help ensure your child has access to the resources they need.
What Must Be Proven in a Washington Birth Injury Claim?
To recover compensation in a Washington birth injury case, you must establish that medical negligence directly caused your child’s injuries. This generally involves proving that a provider violated the professional standard of care during prenatal treatment, labor, or delivery.
You will need to establish the following elements:
- A provider–patient relationship, supported by a duty to provide proper care
- A failure to meet accepted medical standards and provide proper care
- A birth injury caused by the provider’s violation of care standards
- Measurable financial and emotional damages
Like many medical malpractice cases, birth injury claims can feature multiple at-fault parties. Holding each negligent party accountable not only provides families with a sense of justice, but it also unlocks the most possible compensation for your child.
Evidence Used to Support a Birth Injury Case
In birth injury claims, liability may extend to one or more of the following professionals:
- Delivering physicians
- Obstetricians
- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses
- Nurse practitioners
- Medical residents and staff
- Healthcare systems
Building a strong case against these parties requires multiple forms of evidence and persuasive expert testimony about what went wrong. Your attorney will gather the following evidence to support your claim:
- Prenatal and maternal medical records
- Labor and delivery documentation
- Fetal monitoring data
- Birth and neonatal records
- Imaging studies (such as MRIs or CT scans)
- Expert medical opinions
- A life care plan outlining future treatment needs
This evidence will help show how your child’s injury could have been prevented and document the full impact on your child’s life.
How Much is My Kent Birth Injury Case Worth?
The financial impact of a birth injury can be significant and long-lasting. Washington law allows families to pursue compensation for their economic and non-economic losses following a malpractice event.
Therefore, you may be able to recover full economic and non-economic damages for your child’s:
- Medical expenses, including future care costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Assistive equipment and devices
- Home modifications for accessibility
- Loss of your child’s future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress experienced by your family
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Long-term care and support services
Our firm works with the top medical and financial professionals in Washington to prove your damages and ensure that your claim reflects the full lifetime cost of your child’s injury — not just immediate expenses.
What Are the Deadlines for Filing a Birth Injury Lawsuit in Washington?
You won’t have unlimited time to file a birth injury claim. In most cases, families must file within three years of the negligent act, or one year from when the injury was discovered (whichever is later).
If you miss the statute of limitations, you may lose your right to pursue compensation entirely. Speaking with an attorney as early as possible can help protect your claim.
Speak With a Kent Birth Injury Attorney Today for Help
If your child suffered a birth injury in Kent, they deserve the opportunity for a stable and supported future. At Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyers, we help families hold negligent medical professionals accountable. We’re ready to help you get justice.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Kent birth injury lawyer. Let us help you take the next step toward protecting your child’s future.