Welcoming a new baby should be joyful. But if your child struggles to feed, startles when touched, or misses milestones, that joy may give way to worry, especially if you suspect something went wrong during birth.
Meeting with a Chicago birth injury lawyer can help you get answers and protect your child’s future, but when is the right time to reach out? Too early, and you might feel like you’re overreacting. But waiting too long could limit your options or delay the support your child needs.
Learn when to contact an attorney, how long you may have to take legal action, and what steps can secure the care and support your family deserves.
Timing Matters in Birth Injury Cases
When it comes to birth injury cases, timing can affect everything from the strength of your case to your child’s future care. Acting early allows your legal team to preserve evidence, investigate thoroughly, and build a strong foundation for your claim.
Why it’s important to act quickly:
- Medical Records Are Easier to Access: Illinois hospitals keep records for 10 years, but delays can lead to missing or incomplete files. Requesting them early helps preserve a complete medical history, including notes, test results, and provider observations.
- Witness Memories Are More Reliable: Nurses, doctors, and other staff are more likely to recall important details about the labor and delivery when interviews or statements are gathered soon after the birth.
- Expert Reviews Can Start Promptly: Reviewing records shortly after birth gives medical experts a clearer view of what happened. When the details are still fresh, assessing whether your baby received proper care or if a preventable error occurred is easier.
The sooner you act, the faster you can understand your legal options and get the care your child deserves.
Some Injuries Aren’t Obvious Right Away
Not all birth injuries are immediately apparent. Some, like brachial plexus injuries or fractures, show up right away, but cerebral palsy, developmental delays, or cognitive issues may not appear until months or years later. That delay can leave parents feeling unsure, confused, or afraid of overreacting.
If you notice these signs, trust your instincts and reach out for legal guidance:
- Delays in sitting, crawling, or walking
- Stiffness or limpness in the arms or legs
- Jerky movements or staring spells
- Trouble latching, swallowing, or frequent gagging
- Poor eye contact or difficulty tracking movement
- Weak grip or uncoordinated hand movements
- Strong reactions to sound, light, or touch
Even subtle signs may point to something serious. An experienced birth injury attorney can review your situation, help you find the right medical experts for an evaluation, and explain what legal options may be available.
How an Attorney Can Help
Facing a potential birth injury claim can be stressful, especially while caring for your child. With a knowledgeable attorney managing the legal and investigative side, you can focus on your child’s health and routine.
A qualified birth injury attorney can:
- Request and Review Medical Records: Collect birth notes, fetal monitoring strips, and newborn assessments to identify possible errors.
- Consult Medical Experts: Bring in specialists to evaluate whether the care provided met medical standards.
- Calculate the Statute of Limitations: Determine how much time remains to file a claim based on when the injury was discovered.
- Assess Future Needs: Project the long-term costs of therapy, equipment, in-home care, and other necessary support.
- Handle Communication With Hospitals and Insurers: Speak on your behalf to prevent pressure or misleading settlement offers.
The compassionate attorneys at Beam Legal Team represent your family’s best interests and pursue accountability, whether through an insurance claim, private settlement, or taking your case to trial.
Protect Your Child’s Future
At Beam Legal Team, we understand how overwhelming it can be to look back on your child’s birth and wonder if something went wrong. Parents often feel guilt, confusion, or fear that they waited too long to ask the hard questions.
Our team has worked with families across Illinois to investigate possible medical errors and help them get answers, support, and justice. We work with trusted medical experts to build a strong, timely case focused on your child’s future.
There’s no wrong time to seek help. If you’re seeing signs of a birth injury or questioning the care your child received, contact us today to talk about your legal options.