Discovering that your newborn suffered an injury during labor and delivery is one of the most frightening experiences a parent can face. In the middle of what should be a joyful moment, families are instead confronted with medical terminology, uncertain prognoses, and the daunting question of what happened and why. Many parents in this situation are left wondering whether their child’s injury was simply an unavoidable complication or the result of a preventable mistake made by a doctor, nurse, or hospital staff member.
At Wagner Reese LLP, we understand how overwhelming this time can be, and we are committed to helping Columbus families get the answers and support they deserve. Our firm has spent years fighting for Indiana families affected by medical negligence, and we bring that same dedication to every birth injury case we take on. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3.6 million babies are born in the United States each year, and a portion of those births result in serious complications that could have been prevented with proper medical care. When a birth injury stems from a provider’s error rather than an unavoidable risk, families may be entitled to pursue compensation for the harm caused. If you are looking for a Columbus personal injury attorney after a birth injury, we can listen to what happened and explain your options.
TIME-SENSITIVE: Indiana Statute of Limitations
Indiana law gives most injury victims two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. After that deadline passes, you permanently lose your right to pursue compensation — regardless of how strong your case is.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can occur for many reasons, and identifying the specific cause is often the first step toward understanding whether medical negligence played a role. Some injuries result from natural complications during delivery, while others stem directly from mistakes made by the medical team responsible for the mother and baby’s care.
Common causes we investigate in Columbus birth injury cases include the following:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress during labor
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction tools
- Delayed response to signs of oxygen deprivation
- Medication errors during labor and delivery
- Failure to perform a timely cesarean section when medically necessary
Once we understand the sequence of events leading up to the injury, we can begin building a case that holds the responsible parties accountable. This process often requires consulting with medical experts who can review the delivery records and determine where the standard of care was not met.
Types of Birth Injuries We Handle
Birth injuries range widely in severity, and some conditions are not immediately obvious at birth. Certain injuries may not become apparent until a child misses developmental milestones months or even years later, which is why ongoing medical monitoring is so important for any child who experienced complications during delivery.
Our firm handles cases involving conditions such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus injuries, and birth asphyxia. Each of these conditions carries its own set of long-term challenges for the child and family, from physical therapy and specialized education needs to ongoing medical care that can last a lifetime. We work closely with families to understand not just what happened during delivery, but what their child will need moving forward, so that any compensation pursued reflects the true scope of their situation.
What to Expect When Working With Our Firm
Families who come to us after a birth injury are often exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and the last issue they need is a complicated or confusing legal process. We aim to make the process as straightforward as possible by handling the investigation, gathering medical records, and communicating with insurance companies and hospital representatives on our clients’ behalf.
Many birth injury cases also intersect with broader questions about the quality of prenatal care a mother received. In some situations, complications that arise during pregnancy go unaddressed and contribute directly to a difficult delivery. We also assist families dealing with related prenatal complications that may have played a role in their child’s injury, because these cases often require examining the full timeline of a mother’s prenatal care rather than just the events of the delivery itself.
Every case is different, and the timeline for pursuing a claim can vary depending on the complexity of the medical records and the severity of the child’s condition. We take the time to walk families through what to expect, so they are never left guessing about the next steps.
Why Columbus Families Trust Wagner Reese LLP
$200M+
Recovered for clients
150+
Combined years of experience
28+
Years serving Indiana
24/7
Attorney availability
$0
Fees unless we win
Wagner Reese LLP has built a reputation across Indiana for standing beside families during some of the most difficult chapters of their lives. We approach every birth injury case with the seriousness it deserves, recognizing that the outcome of these cases can affect a child’s quality of life for decades to come. Our team brings a combination of legal skill and genuine compassion to each case, because we know that behind every file is a family trying to figure out how to move forward.
If your family is dealing with the aftermath of a birth injury in Columbus, we encourage you to reach out to our team as soon as possible. Waiting too long to investigate a potential case can make it harder to gather the medical evidence needed to establish what went wrong. We are here to listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand your options with no obligation attached. Contact Wagner Reese LLP today through our contact form to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward getting your family the answers and support you deserve.