Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Have Been Recovered for Injured Babies and Children
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Nothing can prepare you for the moment your joy turns to fear. One minute, you are welcoming a new life into the world in a San Francisco hospital; the next, you are facing a future you never imagined, filled with medical questions, uncertainty, and trips to specialists across the city. When you learn your child has suffered an injury during birth, your world stops. And then the questions begin. How did this happen? Was it preventable? What does this mean for our child’s future?
Our experienced team at The Child Injury Firm has stood beside families across San Francisco, the Bay Area and beyond asking these same, heartbreaking questions. We have seen firsthand the devastating impact a preventable birth injury can have on a family. It’s a pain no one should ever have to endure. But here is a truth you need to hear: You are not alone, and you have rights here in California. Our dedicated team of Birth Injury Lawyers can help!
San Francisco is a global hub for medical excellence, but that prestige does not make its hospitals immune to devastating mistakes. A common statistic about birth injuries in California is that approximately 40 babies each day are born with some type of birth injury in the state. This underscores the ongoing risks and the importance of high-quality obstetric care for California families. The purpose of this guide is not to frighten you. It is to equip you with clear, honest information so you can become the most powerful and effective advocate for your child within San Francisco’s complex healthcare system.
Our legal investigation often works like a medical process of elimination. We begin with the injury and then work backward with our experts to systematically rule out all potential unavoidable factors. This includes genetic conditions or properly managed complications that would be classified as birth defects. Once we have demonstrated that the injury was not caused by these unavoidable factors, the evidence often points squarely to a preventable error. This methodical process allows us to isolate the specific moments of medical negligence that caused the birth injury.Â
In a Bay Area delivery room, a newborn is completely dependent on the skill and attention of the medical team. When that trust is broken through a preventable error, the results can be devastating. Our team of birth injury lawyers has represented families throughout the country whose children have suffered a wide range of malpractice-related birth injuries, including:
Perinatal Asphyxia: This occurs when an infant is deprived of adequate oxygen before, during, or just after birth. It can be caused by a medical team’s failure to respond to issues like placental abruption or a compressed umbilical cord. This oxygen deprivation is a leading cause of severe, permanent brain damage, including HIE and cerebral palsy.
Brachial Plexus Injuries: (Klumpke’s Palsy): While many are familiar with Erb’s Palsy, other nerve injuries can occur from excessive force during delivery. Klumpke’s Palsy is a severe injury to the lower nerves of the brachial plexus, often resulting in paralysis of the hand and wrist and creating a “claw-like” appearance. This is a direct result of improper maneuvering during a difficult birth.
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS): When a baby is under stress in the womb, they may pass their first stool (meconium) into the amniotic fluid. If the medical team fails to recognize signs of fetal distress or doesn’t properly clear the baby’s airways after birth, the infant can inhale this toxic substance. This can lead to severe respiratory distress, pneumonia, and permanent lung or brain damage.
Spinal Cord Damage: In catastrophic cases, excessive stretching, pulling, or twisting of the infant’s body during a complicated delivery (such as a breech birth) can cause irreversible damage to the spinal cord. This can result in paralysis and a lifetime of profound disability.
These are not just medical conditions; they are events that fundamentally alter the course of a family’s life. Parents are forced to become experts, advocates, and full-time caregivers. The need for the best specialized medical care, adaptive equipment, accessible housing, and lifelong assistance creates a cascading financial and emotional impact that can be impossible to manage without significant support.
It is also crucial to recognize that from the moment a potential birth injury occurs, you are in a race. On one side, you have your family, trying to understand what happened. On the other hand, you have the hospital’s risk management team and their insurance company, who are already running their own race to protect their interests.
The hospital’s team gets an immediate head start. They begin their investigation right away, interviewing their doctors and nurses while memories are fresh, reviewing the charts, and building a defensive narrative. They are preparing to deny responsibility from day one. Every moment of delay for your family gives them a chance to get further ahead.
Meanwhile, a second clock is ticking: the statute of limitations. This is California’s absolute legal deadline for filing a claim, which for a child is often before their eighth birthday. If you do not cross this finish line in time, you are disqualified from the race for justice, no matter how strong your case might have been. Procrastination is not an option, because while you wait, crucial evidence—like staff recollections and electronic records—begins to vanish, putting you at a greater disadvantage.
Hiring our firm means you are no longer running this race alone. It means you have a team of professional runners on your side. We immediately launch our own investigation to catch up to and pull ahead of the defense. We send legal notices to preserve all evidence, we engage our own medical experts to analyze the records, and we prepare your case to win. The race for justice has already begun. Let us run it with you and for you.Â
San Francisco is served by several world-class medical centers known for their advanced maternity care. Some of the major centers for childbirth in the city include:
Connecting with these groups can provide comfort, practical assistance, and a sense of community, reminding you that you are not on this journey alone.
Suing a major San Francisco medical institution is not a fair fight. They are protected by sophisticated insurance carriers and elite defense law firms whose entire purpose is to defeat your claim and protect their client’s reputation. To overcome this formidable defense and secure your child’s future, your legal team must be built on three non-negotiable pillars of strength:
Unassailable Medical Expertise: First, your lawyers must speak the language of medicine as fluently as they speak the language of law. Our team has the proven experience to dissect complex fetal monitoring strips, delivery notes, and neonatal records from systems like UCSF and Sutter Health, pinpointing the exact moments where the standard of care was broken.
A National Network of Credible Experts: Second, your firm must have access to the nation’s top medical specialists. We have spent decades building relationships with renowned obstetricians, neonatologists, and life care planners who are willing to stand up and testify against even the most powerful institutions, lending undeniable authority and credibility to your case in a San Francisco courtroom.
The Financial Fortitude to Go the Distance: Finally, your firm must have the resources to fund these incredibly expensive cases from start to finish. Hospitals often fight a war of attrition, hoping you’ll run out of money. Our firm has the financial strength to match them dollar for dollar, ensuring we never have to compromise on securing the best possible outcome for your family.
These three pillars are not just talking points; they are the essential requirements for achieving justice. For us, building this strength is our mission, because securing your child’s future is our cause.
For families in San Francisco facing the challenges of a birth injury diagnosis, connecting with the right support network is a critical step. Here are five of the top resource groups that provide invaluable assistance, community, and information.
Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC) This is the most important first call for any family. GGRC is the state-funded, non-profit organization that serves San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties. It is the primary entry point for accessing and funding essential services for children with developmental disabilities, including early intervention programs, physical and occupational therapies, medical equipment, and respite care for families.Â
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities This is an exceptional, San Francisco-based organization that provides direct, local support. They specialize in connecting parents with other parents who have similar experiences, offering a powerful sense of community and understanding. They also provide workshops, resource libraries, and expert help in navigating the city’s complex educational and healthcare systems.
United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate (UCPGG) For families dealing specifically with a cerebral palsy diagnosis, UCPGG is a vital resource. As a leading advocacy group for the Bay Area, they provide specialized programs, family support, and direct services. They are a powerful ally in helping families understand the challenges and opportunities that come with a CP diagnosis.  Â
The CDC on Cerebral Palsy Facts When you are trying to understand a complex medical diagnosis, having a source for clear, unbiased information is essential. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the most reliable and authoritative medical data about conditions like Cerebral Palsy, helping parents separate facts from myths.
Key Takeaways
The new law significantly increases the cap on non-economic damages (for pain and suffering), which was previously fixed at $250,000. As of 2023, this cap is now higher and will continue to increase annually to account for inflation, allowing families to seek more just compensation for their profound losses.
Yes, unfortunately. It is a common defense tactic for hospitals and their insurance companies to try and shift blame to the mother’s actions during pregnancy or labor. Our experienced California birth injury firm will know how to anticipate and dismantle these “blame the victim” arguments with medical evidence and expert testimony.
Absolutely. While large hospital systems have immense resources and powerful legal teams, they are not above the law. We have decades of experience litigating. Can we really take them on? Absolutely. While large hospital systems have immense resources and powerful legal teams, they are not above the law. We have decades of experience litigating against major healthcare providers in the Bay Area. We have the resources, expert networks, and courtroom experience to level the playing field and hold them accountable.
Finding the right expert is crucial. The best experts are not just leaders in their field (like neonatology or obstetrics), but they are also excellent communicators who can clearly explain complex medical concepts to a jury. Our firm has spent decades building a national network of these elite, credible experts who are willing to stand up and testify on behalf of injured children.
The most important initial step is to ensure your child receives the highest-quality medical care and to gather all relevant medical records as soon as possible. Once your child is stable, promptly consult a law firm specializing in birth injury cases   —don’t delay, as California has strict statute of limitations rules that could affect your ability to pursue a claim if too much time passes. Early legal advice ensures you protect your child’s rights and preserves critical evidence for your case.
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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