Skilled Birth Injury Attorney in Temple City, CA
A difficult delivery is not automatically a case of medical negligence. But when a newborn suffers brain damage, nerve damage, or another serious injury, the medical records may reveal that a critical warning was missed or an appropriate intervention came too late.
A delayed C-section, inadequate fetal monitoring, improper use of delivery instruments, or a failure to respond to a newborn’s condition can all warrant a closer review.
The challenge for a family is knowing where a difficult birth ends and medical negligence begins.
A Temple City birth injury lawyer at Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor can examine the labor, delivery, and newborn records to determine what the medical team knew, when they knew it, and how they responded. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of trial experience handling medical malpractice and birth injury cases throughout Southern California.
In one case, we obtained a $6 million recovery against a hospital after a newborn suffered severe brain damage when staff failed to properly monitor him after delivery.
Your child’s injury may require years of treatment, therapy, equipment, and specialized care. A careful legal review can help determine whether someone else may be responsible for those costs. Contact Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor to discuss what happened and learn what the records may show.
| 40+ Years Trial Experience | Super Lawyers Selected | Lead Counsel Rated | Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum |
When a Birth Injury May Point to Medical Negligence?
A serious outcome does not, by itself, establish malpractice.
Our attorneys look for the decisions and omissions that occurred before, during, and immediately after delivery.
Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may involve:
- Brain injuries, including cerebral palsy, associated with oxygen deprivation during labor or delivery
- Erb’s palsy and other nerve injuries associated with shoulder dystocia or improper delivery techniques
- Skull fractures or intracranial bleeding associated with improper vacuum or forceps use
- A C-section that was delayed when medical circumstances called for earlier delivery
- Failure to recognize or properly respond to abnormal fetal heart-rate patterns
- Failure to monitor the mother or baby when continued observation was medically necessary
- Infections that were not diagnosed or treated appropriately in the mother or newborn
These injuries can have different causes, and the records are often essential to determining whether the medical team acted appropriately. Our attorneys can review the available evidence before you make decisions about a potential claim.
The Long-Term Cost of a Birth Injury Is More Than a Hospital Bill
The financial impact of a serious birth injury may continue long after the delivery itself.
A child with cerebral palsy, significant brain damage, or a permanent nerve injury may need ongoing therapy, mobility equipment, medications, attendant care, specialized education, and other forms of support.
That makes the medical history only part of the picture.
A birth injury case may also require an assessment of the child’s future needs and the expenses associated with providing that care. Hospitals and their insurers may retain medical experts of their own and dispute whether an injury could have been prevented.
There is also a legal deadline that families need to address early. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.5 provides specific rules for medical malpractice claims involving children under six. In general, the claim must be brought within three years after the date of the alleged wrongful act or before the child’s eighth birthday, whichever period provides more time. Additional notice requirements may apply when the defendant is a health care provider.
Our Birth Injury Trial Experience
Our attorneys have handled medical malpractice cases through litigation, including cases involving severe newborn injuries. That experience includes the following reported results:
| Outcome | Case Type |
| $6,000,000 | Estrada v. UCI Medical Center (UC Regents) involving a newborn who suffered anoxic brain damage, cerebral palsy, and spastic quadriplegia after being suffocated and left unmonitored following delivery |
| $989,000 | Medical malpractice jury verdict obtained by attorney Raffi H. Ohanian after the defense made no pretrial settlement offer |
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in another case. Every birth injury claim depends on its own medical evidence, legal issues, and facts.
FAQs About Temple City, CA Birth Injury Laws
How do you determine whether a birth injury was caused by malpractice in Temple City, CA?
In Temple City, medical records provide much of the starting point. An attorney may review fetal monitoring strips, nursing notes, physician records, delivery records, medication records, newborn assessments, and other documentation to reconstruct what happened. The investigation may then involve qualified medical experts who can assess whether the care met the applicable standard.
Where would a Temple City birth injury case be filed?
The appropriate court depends on the facts of the case, including the defendants and where the underlying events occurred. Temple City matters may proceed through the Los Angeles County Superior Court system, including the Alhambra Courthouse. Our attorneys can determine the appropriate venue and handle the filing requirements for the case.
My baby was delivered at a hospital near Temple City. Does the hospital’s location matter?
The location of the hospital can affect which medical records, personnel, and other evidence need to be obtained. It may also affect venue and other procedural issues. It does not, by itself, determine whether medical malpractice occurred.
How long do I have to bring a birth injury claim for my child in California?
California has specific limitations rules for medical malpractice claims involving young children, and additional notice requirements may apply. The precise deadline can depend on the child’s age, the date of the alleged negligence, the identity of the defendant, and other facts. Because missing a deadline can affect your ability to pursue a claim, have the circumstances reviewed promptly.
If you are unsure whether your child’s injury resulted from medical negligence, an personal injury lawyer can review the available information and explain what the next legal steps may involve.
Discuss Your Child’s Birth Injury With Our Temple City Attorneys
The records may contain answers that a hospital’s explanation does not.
If your child suffered a serious injury during labor, delivery, or the immediate period after birth, Thon Beck Vanni Callahan & O’Connor can review the medical evidence and assess whether negligence may have contributed.
Contact our Temple City birth injury attorneys for a free consultation. We can discuss what happened, explain the legal issues that may apply, and help you understand what pursuing a claim could involve.