How to Select a Birth Injury Lawyer
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran

The birth of your child should be a joyous event. Labor can be a difficult experience, but modern medicine makes it possible for mothers to have a safe and successful birth, even when complications arise.
However, doctors may be negligent and make mistakes that don’t give you the care you and your baby needs. When medical malpractice happens during birth or in neonatal care, serious disabilities such as cerebral palsy and brain damage can result.
The statute of limitations on birth injuries and other medical malpractice in Michigan is two years from the date of the injury or six months from when the injury is discovered, whichever is longer. If your child has suffered a birth injury, you need to take action right away to secure the financial support you need to provide for your child.
To prove that medical malpractice occurred, an attorney must accumulate hundreds of pages of evidence and deal with malpractice insurance companies that are determined to deny you the relief you deserve. You need a specialized attorney with extensive experience in handling birth injury cases in order to maximize your chances of winning.
Specialized Knowledge
Any medical malpractice case requires specialized knowledge of medical terminology and standard practices. Birth injury cases hinge on proving that a medical professional did not meet the standard of care for labor and delivery, which is nearly impossible for lawyers without the appropriate background knowledge.
Birth injury cases are complex, and attorneys must know what they’re looking for as they comb through documentation and testimony. Any attorney without the specialized knowledge required will probably miss important clues to the chain of events and mistakes that were made in the delivery room.
Attorneys need to know the limits of how much compensation you can get. Michigan laws around medical malpractice compensation are complex, and millions of dollars may be on the line. Since birth injuries can require years of rehabilitation and personal care for your child, your ability to provide for them will depend in part on how good your attorney is.
Years of Experience
Not everything about birth trauma and personal injury law can be taught in a book. Attorneys must be able to apply their experiences to each individual case or situation and give legal advice to clients accordingly.
They must also know the right follow-up questions to ask you as they are investigating the chain of events that led to the birth injury, and to recognize when evidence isn’t adding up. These skills aren’t all taught in law school, and some can only be obtained through extensive experience.
When selecting a birth injury lawyer, make sure to look for one with years of specialized experience, and who is part of a law firm with plenty of medical malpractice experience as well. A birth injury attorney who is brand new to the field might be unable to win your case at all, let alone get you the most compensation possible.
Professional and Caring Demeanor
Birth injuries can be traumatizing and life-altering for the parents as well as the child. Your days may be filled with medical appointments, physical therapy, and time-consuming care for your child, especially if your child suffers from cerebral palsy.
You and your family deserve a legal team that understands the stress you’re going through and the impact it can have on the rest of your life. An experienced and caring law firm can make the legal process as easy as possible, and will be understanding of your schedule.
Justice and Financial Security
Your family’s future has been permanently changed, but we’re here to support you every step of the way. At Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., we pledge to provide caring and compassionate service while you seek compensation and support for your child.
We know that birth injuries are complex, and that every case is different and requires careful attention. Our nurse attorney and senior partner, Eileen Kroll, has firsthand experience in the medical field and can help sort through the facts of your case as you seek for justice.
Remember, the statute of limitations on cases is just two years after the birth injury, or just six months from when the injury is discovered. Call us right away at 866-MICH-LAW to schedule a free consultation with our team. Our law firm never charges a fee unless we win your case.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.