Illinois Birth Injury Lawyers

Strong Legal Allies for You & Your Child - & Nationwide* Services

Thousands of children each year are born with semi-permanent or permanent birth injuries due to the avoidable negligence of medical professionals. At the Law Firm of Michael H. Bereston, we know that there is never an acceptable excuse for a birth injury that should have been entirely preventable. For the last 30+ years, Attorney Michael Bereston has been fighting in court for the families of children born with serious birth injuries. He leads our law firm with knowledge and insight that inspires and uplifts our entire team, so we can always do our absolute bests for our clients.

Do you want to work with a reputable team of legal fighters? Contact our Illinois birth injury attorneys online now to request a free and confidential consultation.

Types of Birth Injuries

A birth injury suffered by an unborn child or newborn can take many forms. That does not mean that you need to look far and wide for a law firm that can handle your case and all of its intricacies. Our firm has been designed to focus on birth injury claims and lawsuits, which means that we are ready to investigate and manage claims originating from virtually any type of birth injury.

Our firm can help with the following birth injury case types and many more:

• Cerebral palsy (CP): Cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that may be caused by oxygen deprivation during or after labor. It is important for doctors and nurses to monitor the baby during labor and to accurately and timely identify signs of fetal stress. If fetal stress is detected, the doctors and nurses should intervene which is something that doctors and nurses should be able to mostly prevent through adequate medical monitoring. CP can cause stiff muscles, spastic movements, and balance issues that might not become apparent when the child starts to miss milestones such as rolling over, sitting up and trying to stand or walk.
• Hypoxic brain damage: If a child does not receive adequate levels of oxygen during labor, birth or even while in utero, it can cause hypoxic brain damage, which means damage caused by oxygen deprivation. Hypoxic brain damage can cause a variety of severe and permanent health issues, such as CP as mentioned above, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and more.
• Placental abruption: If the placenta separates from the uterine lining at any point during the pregnancy, both the mother and her unborn child can face a significant risk of catastrophic injury or death. Placental abruption usually causes telltale symptoms that doctors need to recognize and diagnose quickly and accurately.
• Premature labor: If a baby is born prematurely, it can be the cause of a lifetime of health complications. Medical providers need to pay attention to a mother’s health and that of her unborn child to prevent premature labor. Failing to do so could constitute medical malpractice and a birth injury claim.
• Fetal distress: When a baby’s heart rate during pregnancy or labor enter an unsafe level, the child may be in distress. This condition is usually caused by inadequate oxygen levels and may be detected through electronic fetal heart rate monitors. The actions of medical providers when an unborn child is in fetal distress are crucial. Even the slightest delay can be catastrophic.

What You Can Recover in a Birth Injury Lawsuit

The majority of birth injury damages are related to the extensive or lifelong special care a child will need due to their injuries. For example, a child with severe cerebral palsy might need a specialized wheelchair, accommodating living spaces, and around-the-clock care.

Birth injury claimants can also seek damages related to the income that the parents cannot make because they must dedicate significant time to taking care of their child. Non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and emotional distress suffered by the child can also be factored into a case.

*In jurisdictions outside Maryland and Washington DC, Mr. Bereston, pursuant to Court approval, will prosecute the case.