Infants are especially vulnerable when moving through the birth canal during delivery. One common complication involves the baby’s shoulder getting caught in the pelvic area, a medical emergency known as shoulder dystocia. If not properly addressed, shoulder dystocia can cause lasting damage to the infant and could lead to a birth injury claim if medical negligence contributed to the injury.
At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., our Cook County, IL birth injury attorneys can investigate a case of shoulder dystocia to figure out who what happened and who may be legally responsible. Our firm, led by Attorney Allen Schwartz,…
Continue Reading Can I Sue if My Baby Suffered Shoulder Dystocia During Birth?

The loss of a child during a pregnancy comes with a kind of grief that is hard to put into words. In many cases, a miscarriage happens for reasons that no one could have prevented. But in some cases, medical negligence may contribute to the loss. When this happens, the family may have the right to seek compensation.
At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., our Cook County, IL birth injury attorneys have years of experience investigating medical negligence during pregnancy and childbirth, including cases involving pregnancy loss. Attorney Allen Schwartz has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for families harmed…
Continue Reading When Does a Miscarriage Point to Medical Malpractice?

Many labor inductions are medically necessary. Doctors often recommend induction when a pregnancy continues well past the due date or when the mother or baby has a health problem like preeclampsia that makes continuing the pregnancy more dangerous than delivering the baby.
Nevertheless, induction is a medical procedure, and every medical procedure comes with risks. Doctors should explain why they recommend an induction and discuss the risks and benefits. They must also use an appropriate method. Once labor is induced, both mother and baby need to be monitored carefully.
An unnecessary or poorly managed induction can sometimes lead to serious…
Continue Reading Can You Sue for an Unnecessary Induction that Causes Birth Injuries?

The purpose of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is to ensure that prematurely born or ailing newborns get the treatment they need. Unfortunately, some hospitals end up falling short of their responsibility to newborns in need. If your baby was injured in the NICU due to a preventable error, you can file a claim for compensation.
At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., our Cook County, IL birth injury lawyers have the skills, resources, and experience to properly represent the parents of injured newborns. Attorney Allen Schwartz has been recognized by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for his continued devotion…
Continue Reading Can I Sue if My Baby Was Injured in the NICU?

Mothers need around-the-clock attention during childbirth to avoid injury. Doctors and other medical personnel have a responsibility to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, but in the worst case scenario, the mother or baby could end up seriously hurt. Sometimes, these injuries can be traced back to plain negligence in the delivery room. You should know that in Illinois, nurses can be held responsible for birth injuries if they acted negligently.
At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., our Chicago, IL birth injury attorneys will review your case to make sure that all of the liable parties…
Continue Reading Are Nurses Ever Liable for Birth Injuries in Illinois?

The birth of a child should be one of the happiest moments in a family’s life. However, when labor does not progress as expected, doctors may recommend using forceps or a vacuum to assist with delivery. These instruments can help bring a baby safely into the world when used correctly and at the appropriate time. Unfortunately, the improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction can result in serious birth injuries that affect children and families for a lifetime.
Understanding when these delivery methods are medically necessary and when they pose unnecessary risks can help families recognize whether proper standards of…
Continue Reading When is Forceps or Vacuum Use Necessary During Delivery?

Erb’s palsy is a condition with a lasting physical, emotional, and financial impact. Parents sometimes do not understand how expensive this condition is until they begin paying for therapy, medical visits, surgeries, and adaptive equipment. Unfortunately, Erb’s palsy can be the result of medical malpractice.
When a medical professional does not follow safe delivery procedures, you have the right to hold them accountable for any harm they cause. First, speak to a Chicago, IL birth injury lawyer at Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd. to learn more about your legal options. There is nothing anyone can do to right the wrong…
Continue Reading The Lifetime Cost of Erb’s Palsy

When a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the first question parents ask is how they will afford the care their child needs. Occupational therapy is one of the most important parts of treatment. It helps children improve coordination, learn daily living skills, and gain independence.
But the therapy is long-term, continuing throughout childhood, and the costs can be very high. Families in Illinois who suspect that medical negligence caused their child’s cerebral palsy may be entitled to compensation to cover those expenses. This can make a major difference in how families plan for the future and support…
Continue Reading Who Pays for Occupational Therapy for Cerebral Palsy?

Epidurals are one of the most common forms of pain management during childbirth. For many families in Cook County, they are seen as a routine way to make delivery more manageable and less traumatic. But while most epidurals are given safely, there are cases where things go wrong. 
Nerve damage from an epidural can be devastating, leading to lasting pain, mobility issues, or even permanent disability for a mother. Recognizing the signs of nerve injury early is critical, both for your medical care and for protecting your legal rights if the damage was caused by medical negligence.
Attorney Allen Schwartz…
Continue Reading Signs of Nerve Damage from an Epidural

When a mother delivers a baby, the intense focus on labor and delivery can give the impression that the hard part is over. But serious medical complications can still happen in the hours, days, and weeks after a baby is born. If a hospital or healthcare provider does not monitor and treat those complications appropriately, the consequences can be life-altering and even fatal for the mother, the newborn, or both.
Families affected by negligent postnatal care may have grounds to bring a malpractice claim. These cases are complicated, and the emotional difficulty is often immense, but taking legal…
Continue Reading Is Poor Postnatal Care Considered Malpractice?

When a mother goes to the hospital to give birth, she puts her trust in the medical team to care for her and her baby. If there are not enough nurses or doctors available, that trust can be shattered when something goes seriously wrong. Many mothers describe the heartbreak and rage of knowing something was wrong and being powerless to do anything about it. 
In some cases, it is a lack of staffing that leads to serious harm. If your child suffered a birth injury due to delays or missed warning signs because there were not enough doctors or nurses…
Continue Reading Who Is Liable for a Birth Injury Caused by Hospital Understaffing?

Timing is critical during labor and delivery, especially when there are complications. Neonatologists are doctors who specialize in newborn care, and they are often needed immediately after delivery for high-risk births. When a hospital delays calling this specialist, a baby can suffer serious and lifelong harm. If your child was injured and you suspect a delay in care contributed to or caused this injury, you might have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Illinois law protects families harmed by medical negligence. If your baby suffered a birth injury due to a delay in involving a neonatologist, speak with a qualified…
Continue Reading Can Not Having a Neonatologist Cause a Birth Injury?

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that can affect a child’s movement, posture, and muscle coordination. While some cases are unpreventable, others result from medical negligence during labor and delivery. One common cause of preventable cerebral palsy is the failure to properly monitor the baby’s heart rate during childbirth.
Fetal heart monitoring provides critical information about a baby’s well-being during labor. When doctors or nurses fail to respond to signs of fetal distress, serious brain injuries, including those that lead to cerebral palsy, can result. As of July 2025, Illinois law continues to allow families to pursue compensation when medical…
Continue Reading Can Failure to Monitor Fetal Heart Rate Cause Cerebral Palsy?