Birth Injury Compensation Claims
The birth of a child is one of the times when you most rely on the care and expertise of medical staff. When the care you receive is not of the standard you expect, this can have serious consequences for you, your child or even both of you.
Thankfully, most babies are delivered safe and healthy, but if things should go wrong, you may be able to claim for compensation. We aim to make a difficult, distressing process as simple and clear for you as we can.
Our specialist team provides expert legal advice in different languages to clients who have been involved in medical negligence claims, including birth injuries to the mother, baby or both. They operate on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning that you won’t pay any fees unless your case is successful.
How can birth injuries arise?
There are many different kinds of birth injury and sadly, some can be fatal. Throughout the birth, both mother and baby need to be carefully monitored to help spot any signs of potential risk to their health or to the chances of a safe delivery.
The types of birth injury that can occur are:
- Injuries to the mother which can result in ongoing conditions such as incontinence
- Loss of oxygen which can result in serious neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy
- Erb’s Palsy which causes the baby’s shoulders to be misaligned
- Stillbirth, which can include any baby past the 24-week stage of pregnancy
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can be experienced by the mother after an extremely difficult labour, even when the baby is delivered safely
Any birth injury can be very distressing, especially those resulting in the loss of a baby or a serious disability. Many families need to claim for compensation to pay for the specialist care required. They also find comfort in finding out where things went wrong, receiving an official apology for the negligence they suffered and knowing that they might help prevent similar incidents in the future.
How much compensation might I receive for a birth injury?
The amount of compensation you receive very much depends on your specific circumstances. That’s why we recommend that you get in touch with us promptly so that we can discuss the details of your claim with you. Whilst no amount of money can ever compensate you for the loss of a baby, it is only right that you should be compensated for the many ways it will affect your life.
You may be able to claim for the following if they are a direct result of your injuries:
- Compensation for distress and upheaval
- Loss of earnings and financial losses incurred
- Medical costs, prescription fees, care and rehabilitation costs
- Adaptations to your home or vehicle
- Damage to your property
- Travel expenses incurred
We can help you assess your future needs and work with you to agree the level of compensation that you may be entitled to as a result of you’re the negligent treatment.
Do I have a valid claim for compensation?
If you can answer yes to all three of the following questions, we recommend that you contact us to discuss your circumstances further:
- Was the incident within the last three years?
- Was someone else to blame for the incident?
- Were you or you baby injured as a result of the incident?
Answering ‘yes’ to all three doesn’t mean that a successful claim is certain. However, these questions are key to the claims process. Answering yes to all three does indicate that you have a greater chance of being entitled to claim. Getting prompt, specialist legal advice could be beneficial.
Because of the three-year time limit, it’s important that you contact us promptly so that we can start the process for you.
How do I begin a compensation claim for a birth injury?
Call us on 0208 1111 911 or contact us through the website and we’ll discuss your circumstances with you. The first call typically takes about 15 minutes and in that time we can usually determine whether or not it’s realistic to pursue a claim for compensation.
