Columbus Birth Injury Attorneys Who Fight For Your Family
Last updated on June 10, 2026
A child’s birth is one of the most joyful moments in a family’s life. Unfortunately, this moment can turn into a tragedy if a medical professional’s negligence causes a serious injury or even death to the baby or mother.
If you or a loved one sustained an injury during the birthing process because of a medical provider’s negligence, it is extremely important to contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. They can help you understand your case, what went wrong and what you may be entitled to in terms of compensation.
Standing Up For Families Impacted By Birth Injuries
As one of the most celebrated personal injury firms in Ohio, we at Colley Shroyer Abraham will do everything we can to obtain the accountability and compensation that your family deserves.
Thanks to our more than five decades of experience, we are prepared to work on cases involving:
- Cerebral palsy
- Complications from cesarean sections
- Failure to monitor fetal conditions and heart rate
- Forceps injuries
- Hypoxic and anoxic brain injury
- Obstetrical complications
- Preeclampsia/eclampsia
- Shoulder dystocia and Erb’s palsy
We know that nothing can undo the damage of such tragedies, but we are committed to advocacy and justice.
We can reach out to a network of medical professionals to build the strongest case possible for negotiation or litigation. Through comprehensive investigations and partnering directly with clients, we have helped hundreds of people obtain tens of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. We are ready to bring that same approach to your case.
Understanding Birth Injuries And Medical Negligence
A birth injury can be any harm to a baby before, during or just after birth. It can be as minor as bruising or as serious as brain damage. While not all birth injuries are caused by mistakes, sometimes, they happen because a doctor or nurse did not take sufficient precautions.
Common reasons for birth injuries include:
- Not enough oxygen reaching the baby
- Waiting too long to do a C-section
- Using tools such as forceps or vacuum extractors incorrectly
- Failing to notice when the baby is in distress
- Giving the wrong medicine during pregnancy or labor
As seasoned birth injury lawyers in Ohio, we know that it is not always easy to prove that a health care provider made a mistake. To show medical negligence, we need to prove that:
- The provider was responsible for caring for the mother and baby
- The provider failed to provide proper care
- This lack of proper care directly caused the injury
- The injury led to harm or damage
If you or your child was hurt because of a mistake during birth, it’s important to talk to a lawyer who understands these cases. Our medical malpractice team has extensive experience dealing with birth injury cases and can help you understand your options.
Cerebral Palsy And Other Neurological Injuries
Cerebral palsy is a serious, lifelong medical condition. In some cases, it stems from failures on the part of medical staff during prenatal care, labor or delivery. However, cerebral palsy is a complicated condition, and it often takes years to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy include:
- Delays in motor skill development
- Delays in speech development
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Muscle stiffness
- Exaggerated reactions
- Lack of muscle coordination
- Difficulty walking
- Tremors
Finding the right specialists is essential for getting a solid diagnosis. If you suspect that a health care provider’s negligence led to your child’s condition, our team can help you establish causation. For instance, negligence-related causes of cerebral palsy include:
- Failing to perform a necessary emergency C-section
- Failure to monitor the fetal monitor strip
- Failure to notice and act when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the child’s neck
- Misuse of medical equipment such as forceps
- Failure to recognize that the child is being delivered in a breech position
- Failure to monitor for and treat maternal infections
Nevertheless, the presence of these factors does not automatically indicate medical negligence. Each case requires a thorough investigation and expert medical opinion to determine if negligence occurred.
Aside from cerebral palsy, we also help with cases involving other neurological disorders such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), seizure disorders, hydrocephalus and more.
Errors During C-Sections
Many potential complications can arise during the delivery of a child. Cesarean sections can offer vital relief to a fetus or mother in critical distress. However, that relief can only come when medical staff are aware that a C-section is necessary and take the necessary steps.
C-sections are major procedures that can be life-saving when performed correctly and on time. Unfortunately, errors during this procedure can have severe consequences for both mother and child.
First, understanding when a C-section is medically necessary is crucial. Some situations that may require an emergency C-section include:
- Fetal distress or abnormal heart rate
- Placental abruption or placenta previa
- Umbilical cord prolapse
- Uterine rupture
- Prolonged or stalled labor
- Breech presentation or other positioning issues
When a child or mother is in distress, there may be little time to perform an emergency C-section. The decision needs to be made quickly, and it needs to be based on a correct assessment of all available information. Failure to do so can result in a variety of injuries such as cerebral palsy, brain damage or even death.
As C-section injury attorneys in Columbus, we often encounter cases involving:
- Delayed decision-making
- Surgical mistakes such as accidental cuts to the baby, injury to the mother’s organs or improper suturing
- Administering too much or too little anesthesia
- Failure to monitor for infection, bleeding or other complications after the surgery
- Infections at the incision site or in the uterus
- Excessive bleeding or hemorrhage
- Blood clots
- Injury to the surrounding organs
- Respiratory problems for the baby
While some complications can occur even with proper care, others may result from negligence. An experienced cesarean section attorney can help determine if negligence played a role and guide you through the legal process of seeking compensation.
The Potential Impacts Of Birth Injuries
A birth injury can have significant impacts on a family, both immediate and long-term. Potential consequences include:
- Immediate health needs: Special care right after birth or help with breathing or seizures
- Physical problems: Trouble moving, walking or using hands
- Learning and growth issues: Slower development and learning difficulties
- Ongoing medical care: Regular doctor visits, therapies and treatments
- Money worries: Large medical bills, need for special equipment and possible loss of family income
- Family stress: Changes in how family members relate; extra pressure on parents and siblings
- Emotional strain: Worry, sadness and anxiety for the child and family
- Daily life changes: Adjusting home life and parents becoming full-time caregivers
- School challenges: Need for special help in school, with parents advocating for the child’s needs
- Social hurdles: The child might feel left out or have trouble making friends
The attorneys at Colley Shroyer Abraham understand what you are going through. We have seen these cases many times, and our clients’ stories continue to motivate us to seek justice for families going through these impacts.
Why Choose Colley Shroyer Abraham?
At Colley Shroyer Abraham, we bring over five decades of trial experience to every case we handle. Our longevity in the legal field is a testament to our commitment to excellence and our ability to achieve positive outcomes for our clients, especially in complex cases.
We take pride in our high referral rate, which speaks volumes about the satisfaction of our former clients. Many of our new cases come from individuals who have worked with us before or have been referred by someone who has. This level of trust is something we’ve earned through years of dedicated service and positive results.
What truly sets us apart is our approach to legal representation. We understand that facing legal challenges can be overwhelming, which is why we offer personalized, empathetic support to each of our clients. We believe in building strong relationships with our clients, ensuring they feel heard, understood and supported every step of the way.
Moreover, our team is deeply rooted in the Columbus community and actively involved in various professional organizations. This local connection, combined with our extensive legal experience, allows us to provide effective representation tailored to the specific needs of our clients.
Choosing Colley Shroyer Abraham means partnering with a firm that not only has the skill to handle your case effectively but also the compassion and dedication to guide you through the process with care and understanding. We’re not just your attorneys; we’re your advocates fighting for the justice your family deserves.
What To Expect In A Birth Injury Case
When pursuing a birth injury lawsuit in Columbus, you must understand the process and potential outcomes. At our firm, we guide families through each step so they remain informed and supported throughout their legal journey.
The first step in a birth injury case is a thorough investigation. We review medical records, interview witnesses and consult with medical experts. These experts play a crucial role in determining if negligence occurred and how it led to the injury. Their testimony is often key in building a strong case for birth injury compensation in Ohio.
While some cases settle out of court, others may go to trial. The timeline can range from several months to a few years, depending on the case’s complexity and whether it goes to trial. Potential outcomes include a settlement, a court-awarded judgment or, in some cases, a decision in favor of the health care provider.
If successful, a birth injury lawsuit may result in various types of compensation:
- Medical expenses: Coverage for past and future medical treatments related to the injury
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical pain and emotional distress
- Future care costs: Funds for ongoing therapies, adaptive equipment and special education needs
- Lost earnings: Compensation for the child’s potential lost future earnings
Every birth injury case is unique, and outcomes can vary. Nevertheless, our Columbus birth injury attorneys will fight for the justice and compensation your family needs to move forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Injuries In Columbus
Families in Columbus trust hospitals and OB/GYNs to provide safe medical care during pregnancy, labor and delivery. While most births are successful, errors sometimes occur that leave infants with lifelong injuries. Our Columbus birth injury lawyers work with families who are dealing with the aftermath of preventable mistakes. Below, we have answered some of the most common questions parents ask when they face unexpected complications, injuries or long-term conditions linked to childbirth.
What causes cerebral palsy during birth?
A common cause is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), which happens when a baby does not receive enough oxygen or blood flow to the brain during labor and delivery. Prolonged oxygen deprivation, even for a few minutes, can cause permanent brain damage. HIE is often linked to delayed C-sections, failure to monitor fetal distress or improper use of labor-inducing drugs.
Other possible causes of cerebral palsy at birth include:
- Infections: Untreated maternal infections, such as chorioamnionitis, can damage a newborn’s brain.
- Birth trauma: Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors may injure delicate brain tissue.
- Premature delivery complications: Preterm babies are at higher risk if medical staff fail to provide the right interventions.
- Jaundice leading to kernicterus: When severe jaundice is ignored, excess bilirubin can harm brain function.>
In Columbus, hospitals such as OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Mount Carmel East handle thousands of deliveries every year. With high patient volumes, errors can occur when medical teams fail to follow proper protocols. If cerebral palsy was caused by mistakes that could have been prevented, families have the right to hold providers accountable through legal action.
Can I sue for birth injuries caused by a C-section error?
Across Columbus, thousands of C-sections occur each year. While most are successful, some are complicated by errors that fall under OB/GYN medical malpractice. C-section complications that may lead to a lawsuit include:
- Failure to perform a timely C-section: If doctors ignore signs of fetal distress, such as abnormal heart rate patterns, waiting too long can cause oxygen deprivation and conditions like cerebral palsy or HIE.
- Surgical errors: Mistakes during the incision may injure the baby, including lacerations to the skin, muscles or internal organs.
- Excessive bleeding: Negligence in managing maternal bleeding can lead to emergency complications for both mother and child.
- Anesthesia mistakes: Errors in anesthesia dosage may endanger the mother’s health and ability to deliver safely.
- Failure to monitor post-operative care: The baby and mother must be carefully observed after surgery. Poor monitoring can allow infections or breathing complications to worsen.
When these mistakes cause permanent injury, such as brain damage, Erb’s palsy (nerve damage in the arm) or developmental delays, families often face long-term medical expenses and emotional strain.
In Ohio, medical malpractice lawsuits involving birth injuries must meet strict requirements. Families must file within the state’s statute of limitations and present expert medical testimony.
A medical malpractice claim, including birth injury cases, must be filed within one year from when the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Also, if there is a statute of repose, no claim can be filed more than four years after the malpractice, regardless of when the injury was discovered.
This makes it important to consult a skilled Ohio birth injury law firm as soon as malpractice is suspected. Attorneys can obtain hospital records, consult independent OB/GYN experts and build a case that clearly shows that hospital negligence led to the injury.
How does hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy affect newborns?
HIE may occur when:
- The umbilical cord becomes compressed or wrapped around the baby’s neck.
- Labor is prolonged without proper medical intervention.
- The placenta detaches too early, cutting off the oxygen supply.
The effects of HIE depend on the severity of oxygen deprivation. In mild cases, infants may recover with little long-term impact. In moderate to severe cases, children may develop cerebral palsy, developmental delays, epilepsy or cognitive impairments.
Treatment often involves therapeutic hypothermia, where the baby’s body temperature is lowered to slow brain injury. However, this treatment must be started within hours of birth. If doctors fail to act quickly, the opportunity to minimize brain damage is lost.
Families dealing with HIE face years of medical appointments, therapies and adaptive care. Because many cases are preventable with proper monitoring and intervention, working with a birth injury attorney in Columbus can help parents secure compensation for medical bills, long-term care and the child’s future needs.
What is Erb’s palsy, and can it be linked to medical negligence?
Common signs of Erb’s palsy include:
- Weakness or paralysis in one arm.
- Lack of grip strength.
- Limited movement in the shoulder.
- Muscle stiffness or abnormal posture.
While some cases improve with therapy, severe cases may require surgery and some children live with permanent disability.
Medical negligence is when providers fail to handle shoulder dystocia properly. For example, using too much force with forceps, vacuums or manual pulling increases the risk of nerve damage. Proper techniques exist to manage these situations safely; failure to use them can amount to OB/GYN malpractice.
Parents in Columbus who suspect Erb’s palsy resulted from delivery room mistakes should consult a birth trauma lawyer. Attorneys can investigate whether doctors used excessive force or ignored safe delivery practices. If negligence is proven, families may recover compensation for therapy, surgeries and lifelong adjustments.
Why is it important to work with a birth injury attorney in Columbus?
Attorneys who focus on birth trauma cases bring valuable insight, including:
- Access to medical experts who can testify on whether proper standards of care were followed.
- Understanding of Ohio’s medical malpractice laws, including filing deadlines and evidence requirements.
- Ability to calculate immediate and long-term damages, from hospital bills to the cost of lifelong care.
- Experience negotiating with hospitals and insurers in Columbus to secure fair settlements.
- Courtroom advocacy if a case proceeds to trial.
Without legal representation, many families struggle to cover the costs of therapy, medical devices and special education services for their child. A skilled Ohio birth injury law firm can fight to help ensure compensation reflects the true scope of the injury and the child’s future needs.
Reach Out To Our Ohio Attorneys Today
You and your loved ones do not have to face the challenges of a birth injury alone. Contact our Columbus firm at 614-678-5072 for a free consultation with an experienced birth injury attorney. Let’s start exploring your options today.
Reach Out To Our Ohio Attorneys Today
You and your loved ones do not have to face the challenges of a birth injury alone. Contact our Columbus firm at 614-678-5072 for a free consultation with an experienced birth injury attorney. Let’s start exploring your options today.