Bringing your child into the world should be a joyful experience. But a single medical mistake in the delivery room can shatter that joy, replacing it with shock, fear, and heartbreak. Instead of celebrating, you’re left wondering how it all went wrong, and whether it could have been prevented.
Many birth injuries occur because someone failed to act, whether it’s a doctor, a nurse, or the entire hospital system. Even faulty equipment can play a role. And when more than one party is involved, finding out who is responsible becomes urgent for your child’s future care.
Our Cleveland birth injury lawyers explain who may be at fault for harm to your child and how to hold those parties accountable through a thorough legal investigation.
When Medical Mistakes Lead to Birth Injuries
Medical errors can happen before, during, or shortly after delivery. Sometimes a single error causes birth injuries, but often it’s a chain of failures that do harm.
Examples of preventable mistakes include:
- A doctor ignores signs of uterine rupture and delays an emergency C-section.
- A nurse fails to monitor vital signs or notify the physician of complications.
- An anesthesiologist gives the wrong dosage, risking both mother and child.
- A hospital lacks policies, staff, or training to manage emergencies.
These failures can cause lifelong conditions such as cerebral palsy, hypoxic brain injury, or fractures, all of which leave families facing emotional and financial strain.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Birth Injury?
Multiple parties may share fault in a birth injury lawsuit. Families trust an entire medical team; when that trust is broken, accountability often extends beyond one individual.
At-fault parties for Ohio birth injuries can include:
Physicians
Doctors must notice complications and act quickly. Delays in emergency C-sections, misuse of forceps, or ignoring fetal distress may all violate the accepted standard of care.
Nurses
Labor and delivery nurses are the eyes and ears at the bedside. Missing warning signs, failing to escalate concerns, or leaving charts incomplete can all create liability.
Anesthesiologists
Incorrect dosages or poor monitoring during labor can cause serious complications. If those errors result in harm, anesthesiologists may be held legally responsible.
Hospitals
Hospitals may face liability if they hire unqualified staff, fail to maintain equipment, or lack emergency protocols.
Medical Groups
If systemic issues such as understaffing or poor oversight contributed to the injury, medical groups employing doctors and nurses may share responsibility.
Equipment Manufacturers
A defective fetal monitor, vacuum, or forceps can harm a baby during delivery. The manufacturer may be held accountable under Ohio’s product liability laws in those cases.
Knowing who could be at fault is the first step, but proving liability takes a detailed investigation into the care your child and family received.
Evidence That Proves Liability in Birth Injury Claims
Proving liability in a birth injury case requires careful examination of what happened before, during, and after labor. Attorneys use detailed evidence to build a case, such as:
| Type of Evidence | What It Includes | What It Shows |
| Medical Records | Charts, notes, treatment logs, and incident reports | Whether your child received proper care, or if mistakes were made and later covered up. |
| Expert Testimony | Opinions from medical specialists in obstetrics, anesthesia, or neonatal care | How your care should have been handled, and whether a preventable error caused the injury. |
| Witness Accounts | Statements from nurses, staff, or family members present during labor | A clearer picture of what happened in the delivery room from those who were there. |
| Equipment Analysis | Inspection and testing of monitors, delivery tools, or devices | Whether faulty equipment played a part in your child’s injury, and who is responsible. |
At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, our Cleveland birth injury lawyers bring these pieces of evidence together to build a strong case for your child. We’ve won over $1 billion for Ohio families and will use that experience to pursue the full compensation your family will need for the years ahead.
Seek Support for Your Child’s Future
When a medical mistake changes your child’s future, waiting for answers is not an option. At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, we understand the overwhelming nature of facing a lifetime of questions and the challenges of proving accountability.
Our attorneys investigate every detail of your case, from the delivery room records to the expert opinions that reveal what should have been done. We pursue every liable party to secure the resources your child will need for treatment, therapy, and lifelong care.
Your child deserves care and the chance at a brighter future. Contact our Cleveland birth injury lawyers today for a free consultation, and let us help you get the support your family needs.
