DeKalb County Birth Injury Lawyer

When a new baby gets hurt during labor or delivery, it changes everything for a family overnight. Parents expect a happy day, but instead, they leave the hospital feeling scared and overwhelmed by unexpected medical needs. A serious birth injury often leads to huge hospital bills, endless doctor appointments, and deep worry about what the future holds for your child. The team at Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC helps parents figure out what went wrong. A DeKalb County birth injury lawyer from our firm will take the time to look closely at your medical records and listen to your story.

Why You Should Talk to Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC About Your Case

Taking on a hospital or a doctor’s insurance company on your own can feel impossible while you are trying to care for a hurt child. You need someone who knows how to deal with Georgia medical malpractice laws and won’t let insurance companies push you around.

• Free case reviews available 24/7 so you can get clear answers when you need them most
• You do not pay us anything unless we get a settlement or win money for you in court
• Decades of practice in Georgia, serving injured patients and families across the state since 1997
• Access to trusted medical experts who help us show exactly how the hospital or doctor caused the harm

Our firm focuses heavily on medical malpractice cases, including hospital negligence and surgical mistakes. Over the years, we have recovered over $600 million in verdicts and settlements for people who were hurt by medical errors.

What Counts as a Birth Injury Under Georgia Law

A birth injury happens when an adverse event during labor or delivery harms the baby. This is completely different from a birth defect, which happens earlier in pregnancy because of genetics or natural development.

In Georgia, medical providers must treat mothers and babies using an accepted standard of care. When a doctor, nurse, or midwife fails to follow those basic medical rules and your child gets hurt, it is medical malpractice.

An experienced DeKalb County birth injury lawyer can check if your medical team missed obvious warning signs or made preventable mistakes during delivery.

Steps to File a Medical Malpractice Claim in DeKalb County

Filing a lawsuit might sound stressful, but your lawyer handles the hard work so you can stay focused on your child’s health and therapy.

1. Reviewing all prenatal, labor, and delivery records from the hospital
2. Consulting with independent medical experts to confirm if a doctor or nurse made a bad mistake
3. Getting an expert affidavit, which is required under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1 before you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit in Georgia
4. Identifying every person or facility responsible, including attending doctors, nurses, or the hospital itself
5. Calculating total costs, including future medical care, therapy, and household changes
6. Sending a demand to the insurance provider and negotiating for a fair payout
7. Filing a lawsuit in DeKalb County courts if the insurance company refuses to pay what your family needs

Georgia law puts strict limits on how long you have to take legal action. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-73, parents usually have two years from the date of the injury to file a claim for their own costs. For an injured child, a claim can generally be brought up until their 7th birthday if the harm happened before they turned five. Missing these deadlines means you lose your right to sue, so talking to a lawyer early is a good idea.

Common Causes of Birth Injuries in DeKalb County Hospitals

Most birth injuries happen when labor complications arise and the medical team fails to react quickly or correctly. Delivery can turn dangerous in a matter of minutes if no one is paying attention to fetal heart monitors or physical signs of distress.

• Failure to notice when a baby is not getting enough oxygen
• Waiting too long to perform an emergency C-section
• Using vacuum extractors or forceps with too much force
• Missing signs of maternal infections or preeclampsia
• Failing to manage shoulder dystocia, where the baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone
• Mismanaging prolonged or difficult labor

Doctors are trained to watch for these exact problems. When they ignore clear warning signs, babies pay the price. Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC has secured multiple multi-million dollar results in catastrophic malpractice cases, including wrongful death and permanent disability claims, helping families hold negligent medical providers accountable.

Medical Conditions Caused by Labor and Delivery Errors

Some birth injuries heal over a few weeks with basic care, but others cause permanent brain damage or physical disability. The most severe birth injuries usually stem from physical force during delivery or a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain.

• Cerebral palsy, which affects muscle movement, balance, and posture
• Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus nerve damage, causing weakness or total paralysis in the arm
• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a severe brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation
• Fractured bones, such as broken collarbones or arm bones from forceful pull during delivery
• Facial paralysis caused by pressure on nerves during birth
• Infant brain swelling or bleeding inside the skull

When a child suffers from a long-term condition like cerebral palsy, they may need special medical tools, physical therapy, and home nursing care for the rest of their life.

Compensation You Can Recover in a Birth Injury Case

Getting a settlement or court win helps pay for the massive expenses that come with raising a child with special medical needs.

• All past medical bills, emergency room visits, and hospital stays
• Projected costs for future surgeries, medications, and doctor visits
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions
• Specialized equipment like wheelchairs, braces, or custom vans
• Home modifications like building wheelchair ramps or expanding doorways
• Lost wages for parents who had to quit their jobs or work fewer hours to stay home and care for their child
• Payment for physical pain, emotional stress, and reduced quality of life for your child

Get Help From a DeKalb County Birth Injury Lawyer

If you suspect medical mistakes caused your child’s birth injury, you do not have to figure this out by yourself. The attorneys at Chance, Forlines, Carter & King, PC are here to review your records, answer your questions, and fight for the money your child needs for lifelong care. Call our team today at (404) 760-7400 for a free, private consultation with a DeKalb County birth injury lawyer.