Washington, DC Birth Injury Lawyer

Seeking Compensation and Justice for a Birth Injury?

Regan Zambri Long’s award-winning Washington, DC birth injury lawyers in your area bring nearly 200 years of combined experience to families whose children have suffered from negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. One of our partners is recognized as the top nurse attorney in Washington, DC and her experience as an obstetrical and neonatal nurse has given her a unique understanding of birth injuries, and our team combines deep legal insight with real-world medical understanding to help families find answers and accountability.

Our firm has recovered several multi-million dollar settlements for families affected by serious birth injuries. We front all case costs, and retain obstetric and neonatal specialists to support your claim. From negotiating with hospitals and insurers to taking cases to trial, our board-certified attorneys fight for compensation that supports lifelong recovery and care.

Has your child suffered a preventable birth injury in Washington, DC? We understand the heartbreak and uncertainty that follow. Contact Regan Zambri Long today. One of our attorneys will call you back personally. We have over 100 5 star Google reviews, and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There’s no fee unless we win your case.

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What Is a Birth Injury?

In legal terms, a birth injury occurs when a healthcare professional makes a mistake or delays medical care. These types of injuries can happen to a child at any stage of pregnancy, during labor and childbirth, or just after birth.

Nationally, birth injuries affect about 7 of every 1,000 babies. This shocking figure highlights how often medical mistakes can affect newborns and why it’s vital for families to understand when an injury may involve negligence.

 

Birth injuries typically cause the most devastating, long-term results to the unborn or newborn baby. The mother can also be severely injured due to the medical professional’s reckless behavior. Some of the most common birth injuries that spur legal action include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Cerebral palsy – Caused by damage to the baby’s developing brain, either in pregnancy, during birth, or right after the baby is born. Cerebral palsy may happen due to decreased blood and oxygen to the brain, loss of tissue or white matter, or bleeding.
  • Brachial plexus palsy, such as Erb’s palsy – When there has been damage to the brachial plexus (upper) nerves, resulting in a lack of movement or paralysis in the arm, shoulder, wrist, and/or hand.
  • Asphyxia – When there is a lack of blood flow or oxygen deprivation to the child’s brain before, during, or after birth, it can cause brain damage.
  • Maternal injuries – Includes improper stitching after a C-section or an episiotomy, uterine rupture, failure to treat infection, inappropriate treatment, improper prenatal care, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, adverse reactions to an epidural or anesthesia, and more.
  • Other catastrophic infant injuries – Broken bones, spinal injuries, and more.

While some of the injuries cannot be prevented, many tragically happen due to medical malpractice. Hiring a Washington, DC birth injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long is your first step toward justice.

Can a Washington, DC, Birth Injury Lawyer Help With Maternal Injuries?

Delivering mothers can suffer from birth injuries, as well. Some of the most common maternal birth injuries include:

  • Ruptured uterus
  • Postpartum hemorrhage
  • Perineum tears
  • Damage to the pelvis and/or pelvic floor muscles
  • Complications from preeclampsia or postpartum infection
  • Improper stitching after a C-section or episiotomy

A Washington, DC birth injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long can help you determine whether your postpartum injuries are the result of medical negligence. If they are, we will make sure you receive fair compensation.

How Do Washington, DC Birth Injury Lawyers Prove Medical Negligence?

No one likes to see their child suffer, especially when the injury could have been prevented. But how do you know the injury resulted from negligence or a mistake?

To prove that the injury was the result of medical malpractice, our Washington, DC birth injury attorneys will need to show the following:

Violation of Standard of Care in Birth Injuries

Medical professionals must have the skills and knowledge to handle your needs. They must provide the same level of care they give to all patients. If the healthcare provider neglects their duties, they are in violation.

For example, a pregnant woman with her first child says her baby has not moved much. Instead of checking on the baby to ensure everything is ok, the medical professional tells the mother-to-be that she doesn’t know what she’s talking about since it’s her first child.

The Violation Caused Birth Injury or Harm

Using the example above, the baby is stillborn when the mother gives birth. It was later determined that if the doctor had checked the mother when she had mentioned the lack of movement, the child’s life could have been saved.

Because the medical professional neglected their duties or acted recklessly, the violation caused harm or injury to the patient. To learn if the violation created the injury, your birth injury attorney will need to do a thorough examination of all the medical records and speak with medical experts.

The Birth Injury Resulted in Damages

Finally, your personal injury lawyer will need to show that the injury resulted in damages to the victims. Damages usually include medical expenses, lost wages, mental anguish, and pain and suffering. In the above case, the family is not only suffering the emotional trauma of losing a child, but they have mounting medical bills and funeral costs.

No family should suffer because of the negligent behavior of a medical professional or healthcare facility. If your child suffered an injury, schedule a free consultation with our medical malpractice attorney law firm today.

How Do I Know If I Have a Birth Injury Malpractice Case in Washington, DC?

There are many reasons a child may be born with birth injuries, both naturally and due to malpractice. If you believe your child’s injuries are due to negligence on behalf of your medical practitioner, then you should review your case with an attorney familiar with birth injuries. To help you and your lawyer prove your case, you will need:

  • Thorough and detailed medical records. Save everything. It’s a good idea to write a timeline of the events that led to the injury.
  • Complete documentation of any medical treatments you had before, during, and after your baby’s delivery.
  • Results of any scans or labs performed on your child, including but not limited to EEG or CT scans.

Every medical malpractice case is different. Proving your child’s birth injury was the fault of your medical team can be a long, exhausting process. An experienced Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer will work for you by utilizing strategies, medical professionals, and other resources to prove your case. A Regan Zambri Long birth injury attorney can meet with you for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Compensation Is Available for Birth Injuries in Washington, DC?

Birth injuries are not only devastating to the family, but they can also be costly. Not only will you need to pay any medical expenses involved in the birth of your baby, but you could face additional expenses down the road if further medical care is needed for your child.

With a successful birth injury lawsuit, your attorneys can help you seek the following compensation:

  • Past and future medical expenses, such as doctor visits, lab testing, future surgeries, medical equipment, and long-term care
  • Lost wages and loss of earning potential for your family
  • Emotional distress and mental anguish
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Funeral costs if the injury causes the loss of the child

In rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded for your lawsuit. This type of compensation is meant to punish the behavior of the medical professionals responsible for the injury to your child.

When you hire a Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long, you increase your chances of making a full and fair financial recovery.

How Can Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC Birth Injury Lawyers Help Your Case?

In rare instances, punitive damages may be applicable. These damages serve to penalize the at-fault party for their negligent behavior.

Our Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyers have investigated and pursued birth injury lawsuits successfully for decades and have achieved outstanding results for families and their injured children.

 

These multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts include:

 

  • $4.2 million settlement for a child who suffered severe brain injuries at birth due to the negligence of a Maryland hospital and its physicians.
  • $2.5 million settlement for an infant who sustained serious brain injuries at the time of delivery.
  • $2.4 million verdict in a Fredericksburg Circuit Court case involving a birth injury that caused a permanent brain injury to a baby boy.
  • $1.8 million settlement for a child whose arm was permanently damaged by improper treatment after birth.

Partner Jacqueline Colclough is widely recognized as Washington, DC’s top nurse attorney, bringing her background in obstetrical and neonatal nursing to each case. Her medical insight provides a unique advantage in identifying negligence and building evidence-based claims. She has been named a Best Lawyer for Medical Malpractice Law in 2024 and 2025 and currently serves on the Board of Governors for the District of Columbia Trial Lawyers Association.

 

Jacqueline joins the firm’s five other partners on the 2025 Lawdragon list of the 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in the nation. In addition, three partners are named among the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, DC, and the firm’s three named partners hold AV ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest standard of professional excellence and ethical integrity.

We have the attorney resources necessary to handle these complex medical and legal cases successfully.

We recognize that families who have children with developmental and physical disabilities face extraordinary and unique challenges every day. Our Washington, DC, birth injury lawyers are experienced in assisting families with formulating care plans for their children. Schedule your free case evaluation today online or by calling 202-960-4596.

Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Injury Claims in Washington, DC

When you determine your child has experienced an injury at birth, it is a traumatizing experience for the whole family. Sadly, it also takes a lot of time and resources to resolve. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer at Regan Zambri Long will help you navigate the process from start to finish and ensure you get the justice you deserve.

What Does a DC Birth Injury Attorney Do?

Your attorney is your most important ally in your case. Your Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer will investigate your case, prove negligence, conduct settlement negotiations, and take your case to trial if necessary.

Whether your family is undergoing the stress of handling a birth injury or grieving the wrongful death of your baby, your birth injury attorney will shoulder the legal burden so that your family can focus on healing. You don’t have to take on a birth injury case alone–Regan Zambri Long is here to help.

What Are the Consequences of Birth Injuries for Parents and Newborns?

The consequences of birth injuries are life-changing for parents and children alike. For the injured child, the result of a birth injury is potential physical suffering and developmental delays. Years of therapy, treatments, medications, and even surgeries can follow. Therapies and treatments take the child away from school, playtime, time with family and friends, and time to enjoy childhood. Not only will the child have to cope with the physical impairments due to the birth injury, but also the emotional distress of having to continue living with the injury for the rest of his or her life.

Likewise, the parents will have to address the financial component of immediate medical care for their newborn and ongoing care as the child grows. Depending on the severity of the injury, the child may need care 24/7, which could result in one or both parents being unable to return to work. In that case, the parents will not only have to deal with financial burdens due to the injury but will have to deal with future lost wages, as well.

What Are the Common Medical Errors Leading To Birth Injuries?

Some common errors involve:

  • The improper resuscitation of a newborn
  • Misuse of Pitocin (a synthetic hormone) to induce or speed up labor
  • The unsafe use of vacuum extraction or forceps during delivery
  • Delaying the order of cesarean section (C-section)
  • Ignoring signs of oxygen deprivation in the fetus
  • Permitting prolonged delay between the rupture of membranes and delivery
  • Not properly guarding against, identifying, or treating infection
  • Failing to diagnose and/or treat placenta previa or placental abruption
  • Not stopping preterm labor with labor-arresting medications
  • Improperly monitoring a pregnancy, including monitoring the health of the woman and the baby
  • Failing to order proper care for a woman and baby with a high-risk pregnancy
  • Misreading prenatal tests
  • Misdiagnosing and/or failing to treat premature rupture of the membranes
  • Not preparing to deliver a more significant or premature baby
  • Mistreating complications in the mother
  • Failure to respond appropriately to bleeding
  • Failure to treat umbilical cord entrapment
  • Ignoring fetal distress

A Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer will have the knowledge to identify potential errors and consult with expert witnesses to prove your claim.

How Often Do Birth Injuries Occur?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the infant mortality rate in the United States in 2023 was 5.61 deaths per 1,000 live births. Birth injury or complications during pregnancy were among the five leading causes of infant death in the U.S.

 

One in 345 people in the United States lives with cerebral palsy, which is the most common movement disability in children. Between 85-90 percent of cerebral palsy cases are caused by abnormal brain development or brain damage during or right after birth, according to the CDC. A small percentage of cerebral palsy cases develop within 28 days of birth, often caused by an infection, such as meningitis. Early detection of cerebral palsy and intervention can help improve a child’s life.

What Is the Difference Between a Birth Defect and a Birth Injury?

A birth defect refers to an illness or a health condition that forms while the child is in the womb. Some examples of birth defects include Down syndrome, spina bifida, and some types of heart problems.

A birth injury usually occurs when the mother is in labor or is delivering the child. If you are unsure whether your child’s injury was caused by negligence, consult with a Washington, DC birth injury lawyer from Regan Zambri Long.

How Do I File a Birth Injury Claim in Washington, DC?

The first thing you need to do is find an experienced personal injury lawyer. Your DC birth injury lawyers will follow these general steps to prove your case:

  • Your Washington, DC birth injury lawyer will start by listening to your story to determine if negligence occurred either before, during, or after birth.
  • A thorough review of the medical records is essential in any medical malpractice claim. You will need copies of all medical records you obtain from your doctor’s office. These records will help prove your doctor failed to provide the proper standard of care by law during your labor and delivery.
  • An experienced birth injury lawyer in Washington, DC, will have medical experts to consult with to prove your case further. They can also help you determine and quantify what future care for your child will look like. This helps ensure your settlement adequately covers pain, suffering, and beyond for your child and your family.
  • Your DC birth injury lawyer will follow all the standard steps to file a lawsuit. Once the lawsuit is filed, negotiations will begin with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
  • All legal action will end if a settlement has been reached. Your case may go to court if a settlement cannot be reached. The judge and jury will listen to the arguments and decide on your case. Negotiations will continue until your lawsuit has been decided.

Birth injury lawsuits are exhausting, but a Regan Zambri Long Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer will handle the legal burden so your family can focus on healing.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Washington, DC Birth Injury Case?

Birth injury lawsuits are exhausting, but a Regan Zambri Long Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer will handle the legal burden so your family can focus on healing.

Several factors must be considered when determining who is at fault in a lawsuit. Your lawyer will first investigate the doctor who delivered the baby. Did the doctor act negligently during delivery, or did the complications arise that were entirely out of the doctor’s control? Other medical staff will also be considered, including nurses, midwives, and physician’s assistants.

Next, your attorneys will also need to determine if the OB-GYN ordered the appropriate tests during pregnancy, monitored the baby and mother correctly, and consulted with specialists to ensure the delivery would be safe for both the mother and the child. If they failed to do so, the liability would be on them.

Finally, your attorney will also investigate the instruments used during delivery – were they defective? Were they misused? If the hospital fails to provide safe equipment, a claim could be made against the hospital or manufacturer of the equipment. The experienced birth injury attorneys at Regan Zambri Long will work with medical staff and consultants to determine who is at fault in your case to secure the maximum compensation owed to you.

How Long Does a Birth Injury Case Take in Washington, DC?

No one can estimate this without knowing the intricacies of your case and the injuries. No two cases are the same as the outcomes or the injuries. The timeline of a medical malpractice case in Washington, DC, depends on the statute of limitations, well-documented medical care, and other variables, including the injuries. It could take years from start to finish for your case to be resolved. A personal injury lawyer at Regan Zambri Long will be with you every step of the way, guiding you through the process.

Is There a Time Limit to File a Medical Negligence Case?

Yes, but it depends on who is filing the claim and where the incident occurred in the DC metro area.

If you are the parent, you can file a medical malpractice claim on behalf of your child. In Washington, DC, you have three years after the incident to file a claim.

However, the time limit differs if the child wishes to file a claim. In Washington, DC, the minor has up to three years after their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit for injuries. A Washington, DC, birth injury lawyer will advise you when to file your claim.

How Do I Choose the Best Washington, DC Birth Injury Lawyer for My Case?

Birth injury cases can be incredibly complicated to prove. Many birth injuries can happen naturally, without any negligence, so you have to prove the actions of your medical team or facility specifically caused it. To prove this, you must be working with an experienced attorney. What you should look for:

  • A lawyer with experience in medical malpractice and birth injury as a specialty.
  • A personal injury lawyer with a winning track record ensures they have the knowledge and expertise to get what their clients deserve.
  • A lawyer who works on a contingent fee basis. This means they only get paid if they win you a settlement. Raising a child with a brain injury can already cause financial stress, so a contingent fee ensures you have no added strain when filing your birth injury case. Fees for your legal representation will only be collected when you win, paid directly from the settlement you receive.
  • A lawyer you feel comfortable with. You will spend a great deal of time working with your attorney, making a good client-lawyer relationship a priority.

Regan Zambri Long’s Washington, DC Birth Injury Lawyers Are Ready to Help You and Your Child

The medical negligence attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC understand the pain you and your family are going through. Once you hire our law firm, we will aggressively go after the medical professionals who are responsible for your child’s birth injury. We will thoroughly investigate and speak with experts to understand what may have happened. We will negotiate with the parties’ insurance companies and, if necessary, represent you in court.

We work on a contingency basis. This means you do not owe us a fee until your case is settled or there is a verdict for injuries in your case’s favor. We will then take a small percentage from the case settlement to cover our firm’s costs. If we are not successful, you do not owe us a fee.

If your child was injured during birth as a result of medical negligence, our DC lawyers are ready to help. Contact Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a consultation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Washington, DC Birth Injury Lawyers

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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