Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Have Been Recovered for Injured Babies and Children
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Every parent-to-be in Long Beach enters the hospital with the same fundamental hope: for a safe delivery and a healthy child. It’s a hope built on months of planning and trust in the medical professionals you’ve chosen. But when a preventable medical mistake turns this long-awaited day into a medical crisis, that trust is shattered. The future you envisioned is suddenly replaced by a bewildering maze of medical terminology, therapy appointments, and profound uncertainty. You are left grappling not just with a new diagnosis, but with the heartbreaking question of what went wrong and why.
Our founding principle at The Child Injury Firm is clear: a family’s future should not be defined by a preventable medical mistake. For years, we have applied this belief to our work, fighting for families in Long Beach and throughout California who find their lives tragically altered by negligence in the delivery room. We are here to be your advocates and allies, transforming your pain into a powerful pursuit of justice and ensuring your rights under California law are fully enforced.
The medical facilities in Long Beach are known for their high quality of care, but this does not eliminate the nationwide risk of preventable medical errors. Data from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides a clear picture, showing that there were 1.24 million hospital stays involving adverse events in a single recent year. This guide exists to arm you with the knowledge to navigate this reality, transforming your uncertainty into a powerful and informed voice for your child within the local healthcare system.Â
After a difficult birth, there are two possible stories of how a child’s condition came to be, and it is our job as legal investigators to find out which one the evidence tells. The first story begins months before birth; this is the story of a birth defect, where a genetic or developmental issue arises in the womb. The second story begins in the delivery room; this is the story of a birth injury, where a specific medical mistake during labor causes direct harm. This second story often involves a critical moment—a sudden drop in heart rate, a delayed decision—that a competent medical team should have managed differently. Our investigation uncovers that critical moment, which becomes the centerpiece of the legal case. Our goal is to discover which of these two stories the facts support, as this is the critical first step toward getting your family justice.
In a Long Beach delivery room, a family places its complete trust in the medical team to ensure a safe arrival for their child. When a preventable error violates that trust, the resulting harm can be permanent. Our firm has represented many families whose children have suffered from a range of devastating birth injuries caused by medical negligence, such as:
These are not simply medical diagnoses; they represent a future that was stolen. A child who suffers a preventable birth injury is denied the opportunity for a life free from these challenges. The purpose of a medical malpractice birth injury claim is to reclaim the resources necessary to provide your child with a lifetime of dignity, quality care, and the best possible opportunities.Â
A birth injury becomes a medical malpractice case in Long Beach when we can establish a clear chain of accountability. This legal process involves proving a series of connected facts under the specific rules of California law.
Establishing the Duty (The Standard of Care): The chain begins with the professional duty that every doctor, nurse, and hospital in the Long Beach area owes to a patient. This duty is to provide a “standard of care,” which is a legal benchmark for what a reasonably skilled and competent medical professional would have done in the same situation.
Proving the Breach (The Mistake): Next, we must prove a breach of that duty. This means pinpointing the specific, preventable mistake—whether it was a doctor misreading clear signs of fetal distress, a nurse failing to escalate an urgent problem, or a hospital being dangerously understaffed. This is the moment the medical care provided fell below the accepted professional standard.
Linking the Breach to the Harm (Causation): This is the most critical link. We must scientifically and medically prove that the specific breach of duty was the direct cause of your child’s injury. This requires building an unshakable argument, supported by testimony from world-renowned medical experts, that leaves no doubt about the connection between the error and the devastating outcome.
This entire chain of accountability is governed by two crucial California laws that every family must be aware of:
Long Beach is home to a world-class medical center that handles a very high volume of births for the region. The primary hospitals for childbirth in the Long Beach area are:
Receiving a diagnosis for your child is overwhelming. Finding the best resources near me was a common search for many families we have helped. Here are some trusted, non-legal organizations that can provide invaluable information and support in the Long Beach area:
Connecting with these groups can provide comfort, practical assistance, and a sense of community, reminding you that you are not on this journey alone.
There are absolutely no upfront costs to hire our firm. We handle all birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we advance all the significant costs required to build and litigate your case—including hiring world-class medical experts, court filing fees, and deposition costs. You will never receive a bill from us. Our fee is a percentage of the financial recovery we win for you. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing.
This is a critical part of our investigation. Liability often extends beyond a single individual to the institution itself. Hospitals in Long Beach can be held liable for systemic failures, such as negligent hiring of staff, insufficient training, failing to have proper emergency protocols in place, or chronic understaffing that compromises patient safety. Our job is to identify every responsible party to ensure complete accountability.
We understand that your primary focus must be on your child’s care. Our legal team handles the vast majority of the day-to-day legal work. Your role is primarily as a source of information. You will share your story with us, help us gather documents, and provide updates on your child’s condition. You will likely need to attend a legal proceeding called a deposition, but we will thoroughly prepare you for every step. While the process can be long, we strive to shield you from the stress so you can focus on your family.
A comprehensive life care plan, which forms the basis of the damages we seek, goes far beyond immediate medical bills. It is designed to cover a lifetime of needs, including: the cost of future therapies (physical, occupational, speech), in-home nursing care, specialized medical equipment and technology, essential home and vehicle modifications for accessibility, and your child’s lost future earning capacity. It can even account for the lost wages of a parent who must leave their career to become a full-time caregiver.
Absolutely not, until you have spoken with an experienced birth injury attorney. While it may seem like a helpful gesture, this is a common tactic used by hospitals to offer a quick, lowball payment in exchange for you signing away all of your family’s future legal rights. The true cost of a birth injury is often not known for months or even years. Accepting an early offer without a full understanding of your child’s lifelong needs can be a catastrophic financial mistake.
Catastrophic child and birth injuries can shatter the lives of not just the babies and children, but also their families. Families are left to navigate a complex maze of medical challenges, financial burdens, and emotional turmoil. But, this is where Jeffrey Killino and his team of dedicated lawyers can provide the support and guidance families need most.
For over 2 decades, Jeffrey Killino and his team have secured life-changing results for babies and children facing catastrophic injuries. Our clients gain access to the best medical care, financial security, and peace of mind, knowing their futures are protected.
Jeffrey Killino and his team of child and birth injury lawyers are committed to go beyond securing multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. We measure our success by our positive impact on our clients’ lives. We’re dedicated to supporting them throughout their journey, even after their case is resolved.
Jeffrey Killino and his team of child and birth injury lawyers are committed to more than just securing multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. We measure our success by our positive impact on our clients’ lives, helping them access the best medical care, achieve financial security, and find peace of mind. We also actively work to prevent injuries and promote safety for everyone.
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