SPRINGFIELD BIRTH INJURY ATTORNEYS
When Hospital Negligence Injures Your Baby in Springfield, We Hold Them Accountable.
Phillips Law Offices represents Springfield families whose newborns suffered preventable birth injuries at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Memorial Medical Center, and other Sangamon County facilities. With over $500 million recovered since 1945 and a $2.8 million birth injury verdict, our attorneys have the medical knowledge, litigation resources, and courtroom experience to take on hospitals and their insurance carriers.
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Get an honest assessment of your Springfield birth injury case. No fees unless we win.
(312) 346-4262
Springfield’s Trusted Birth Injury Law Firm
Birth injuries are among the most devastating forms of medical malpractice. When doctors, nurses, or hospital staff in Springfield fail to follow the standard of care during labor and delivery, the consequences can last a lifetime. Cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, brain damage from oxygen deprivation, and spinal cord injuries during birth are frequently the result of preventable medical errors.
Phillips Law Offices has fought for injured families across Illinois since 1945, recovering over $500 million in verdicts and settlements. Our birth injury attorneys work with leading obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatric neurologists to build cases that prove exactly what went wrong during delivery and who is responsible. Springfield families dealing with the overwhelming costs of caring for a child with birth injuries deserve experienced legal advocates who will pursue every dollar of compensation available.
Every consultation is free. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Types of Birth Injuries We Handle in Springfield
Birth injuries range from temporary conditions that heal within weeks to permanent disabilities requiring lifelong medical care. Phillips Law Offices has experience with every major category of birth injury caused by medical negligence in Sangamon County hospitals.
Cerebral Palsy from Birth Complications
Cerebral palsy is one of the most common and serious birth injuries caused by medical negligence. When a baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen during labor and delivery — due to delayed emergency C-sections, failure to monitor fetal heart rate patterns, or improper use of Pitocin — the resulting brain damage can cause permanent motor function impairment. Children with cerebral palsy may face lifelong challenges with movement, coordination, speech, and cognitive development. The lifetime cost of care for a child with cerebral palsy frequently exceeds $1 million, making aggressive legal representation essential for securing the resources families need.
Erb’s Palsy and Brachial Plexus Injuries
Erb’s palsy occurs when the network of nerves near the baby’s neck (the brachial plexus) is stretched or torn during delivery. This typically happens when a doctor applies excessive force during a difficult delivery, particularly in cases of shoulder dystocia where the baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone. Proper medical training teaches specific maneuvers to resolve shoulder dystocia without excessive traction on the baby’s head and neck. When physicians ignore these protocols at Springfield hospitals, the resulting nerve damage can cause partial or complete paralysis of the affected arm.
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
HIE is a type of brain damage caused by reduced blood flow and oxygen to the baby’s brain during or shortly after birth. Common causes include umbilical cord complications such as cord prolapse or nuchal cord, placental abruption, uterine rupture, and prolonged labor without proper intervention. When medical staff fail to recognize fetal distress signals on monitoring equipment or delay performing an emergency cesarean section, the window for preventing permanent brain damage closes rapidly. HIE can result in seizures, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and in severe cases, death.
Birth Fractures and Physical Trauma
Clavicle fractures, skull fractures, and other bone injuries can occur during difficult deliveries when medical staff use improper techniques or excessive force with delivery instruments. Vacuum extractors and forceps, when used incorrectly, can cause skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhages, and cephalohematomas. While some birth fractures heal without long-term consequences, others — particularly skull fractures with associated brain bleeding — can cause permanent neurological damage. These injuries are almost always preventable with proper delivery technique and timely decisions about surgical delivery.
Maternal and Neonatal Infections
Group B streptococcus (GBS), chorioamnionitis, and other infections during pregnancy and delivery can cause devastating harm to newborns when medical providers fail to screen for, diagnose, or treat these conditions promptly. Standard prenatal care protocols require GBS screening between 36 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, with prophylactic antibiotics administered during labor for positive results. When Springfield hospitals fail to follow these established protocols, babies can develop sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia — conditions that cause permanent organ damage or death without rapid treatment.
Infant Wrongful Death
The most tragic outcome of birth injury negligence is the death of a newborn. When hospital errors during labor and delivery cause a baby’s death, Illinois law provides surviving parents with the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties. These cases demand attorneys who combine legal expertise with genuine compassion for grieving families. Phillips Law Offices has the experience and sensitivity to handle these deeply painful cases while pursuing maximum accountability from negligent healthcare providers.
Springfield Hospitals Where Birth Injuries Occur
Springfield is home to two major hospital systems that handle the vast majority of births in Sangamon County. Both facilities have labor and delivery units staffed by obstetricians, midwives, and nursing teams responsible for monitoring mothers and babies throughout the birthing process. When these medical professionals deviate from accepted standards of care, preventable injuries result.
HSHS St. John’s Hospital
HSHS St. John’s Hospital is one of Springfield’s largest medical facilities, providing comprehensive maternity services including high-risk pregnancy care, labor and delivery, and neonatal intensive care. As a regional referral center, St. John’s handles complex deliveries from across central Illinois. Birth injury claims against St. John’s require attorneys who understand hospital systems, credentialing processes, and the specific protocols governing obstetric care at the facility.
Memorial Medical Center
Memorial Medical Center operates a Women and Children’s Center that provides labor and delivery services, maternal-fetal medicine, and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The facility handles thousands of births annually, including high-risk pregnancies involving gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and multiple gestations. Medical malpractice during delivery at Memorial Medical Center may involve failures in fetal heart rate monitoring, delayed cesarean sections, improper use of labor-inducing medications, or inadequate staffing during critical moments of delivery.
Common Medical Errors at Springfield Delivery Units
Birth injury cases against Springfield hospitals typically involve one or more of these failures: inadequate fetal monitoring during labor, failure to recognize and respond to signs of fetal distress, delayed or improperly performed cesarean sections, excessive force during instrumental deliveries, improper administration of Pitocin or other labor-inducing drugs, failure to manage shoulder dystocia using approved techniques, inadequate prenatal testing and screening, and communication breakdowns between nurses, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists during shift changes. Our attorneys retain board-certified obstetric experts who review every medical record to identify exactly where the standard of care was breached.
What to Do If Your Baby Was Injured During Delivery in Springfield
If you suspect your child’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence, taking the right steps early can make a significant difference in your ability to secure justice and financial resources for your child’s care.
STEP 1
Prioritize Your Child’s Immediate Medical Needs
Your child’s health comes first. Work with your pediatrician and specialists to ensure your baby receives all necessary diagnostic tests, treatments, and follow-up care. Request referrals to pediatric neurologists, orthopedic specialists, or other experts as needed. Early intervention services can significantly improve outcomes for children with birth injuries. Keep detailed records of every appointment, diagnosis, treatment plan, and medical expense from the very beginning.
STEP 2
Obtain Complete Medical Records
Request your complete prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum medical records from the hospital and all attending physicians. Under Illinois law, healthcare providers must produce your records within 30 days of a written request. These records — including fetal monitoring strips, nursing notes, physician orders, medication administration records, and operative reports — contain the evidence needed to determine whether medical negligence caused your child’s injuries. Do not delay this request, as some records may be subject to alteration or loss over time.
STEP 3
Document Your Child’s Condition and Your Family’s Losses
Keep a detailed journal documenting your child’s developmental milestones, medical appointments, therapies, and daily challenges. Record every expense related to your child’s care — medical bills, prescription costs, therapy fees, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and transportation to medical appointments. Document the emotional toll on your family, including time missed from work, the impact on siblings, and changes to your family’s daily life. This documentation quantifies the full scope of your damages.
STEP 4
Contact Phillips Law Offices for a Free Birth Injury Evaluation
Birth injury cases are among the most complex areas of medical malpractice law. They require attorneys who understand obstetric medicine, can interpret fetal monitoring data, and have access to qualified medical experts who will testify about the standard of care. Phillips Law Offices offers a free, confidential evaluation of your case. Our attorneys will review your child’s medical records, consult with obstetric specialists, and give you an honest assessment of whether negligence caused your child’s injuries.
Your Child’s Future Depends on the Legal Team You Choose
Birth injury cases against Springfield hospitals require attorneys with medical knowledge, litigation resources, and a proven track record. Phillips Law Offices has recovered over $500 million for injured clients, including a $2.8 million birth injury verdict. Get a free, honest evaluation of your case today.
(312) 346-4262
Birth Injury and Medical Malpractice Case Results
Phillips Law Offices has a proven record of obtaining substantial compensation for birth injury families across Illinois. These results reflect our commitment to thorough medical investigation and aggressive advocacy.
$2.8 Million
Verdict for a birth injury case involving medical negligence during labor and delivery. Our team of obstetric experts established that the delivery team failed to respond to clear signs of fetal distress, resulting in permanent neurological damage to the child.
$25 Million
Verdict for a client who suffered catastrophic injuries due to medical negligence. Detailed medical expert testimony and comprehensive life care planning established the defendant’s liability and our client’s lifetime care requirements.
$10 Million
Settlement in a medical malpractice case where healthcare providers failed to diagnose and treat a dangerous condition during pregnancy, resulting in permanent injury to the child. Expert investigation uncovered multiple deviations from the accepted standard of care.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
Illinois Birth Injury Law: What Springfield Families Need to Know
Illinois has specific statutes and legal requirements that govern birth injury and medical malpractice claims. Understanding these rules is critical to protecting your family’s right to compensation for your child’s injuries.
Extended Statute of Limitations for Minors: Illinois provides an extended filing deadline for birth injury claims involving children. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, medical malpractice claims must generally be filed within two years of when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered, but no more than four years from the date of the negligent act. However, for minors, the statute of limitations does not expire until the child reaches age 22. This extended deadline recognizes that birth injuries may not be fully apparent until a child reaches developmental milestones months or years after birth.
Affidavit of Merit Requirement: Illinois law requires plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases to file an affidavit from a qualified medical expert certifying that there is a reasonable and meritorious cause for filing the lawsuit. This affidavit must be filed with the complaint or within 90 days of filing. The expert must be a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, with experience in the same specialty as the defendant. Phillips Law Offices works with board-certified obstetricians and neonatologists who provide the required expert opinions.
No Damage Caps on Birth Injury Claims: Illinois does not impose caps on compensatory damages in medical malpractice or birth injury cases. The Illinois Supreme Court struck down damage caps as unconstitutional in Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (2010). Your child can recover the full value of medical expenses (past and future), rehabilitation costs, adaptive equipment, pain and suffering, lost future earning capacity, and the cost of lifelong care. Read our complete guide to personal injury claims in Illinois for a detailed overview of the process.
Joint and Several Liability: In birth injury cases involving multiple defendants — such as the obstetrician, the hospital, the anesthesiologist, and nursing staff — each defendant may be held jointly and severally liable for the full amount of damages if they are found to be more than 25% at fault. This means your family can recover the full judgment amount from any single defendant whose fault exceeds that threshold, regardless of whether other defendants can pay.
Why Springfield Families Choose Phillips Law Offices for Birth Injury Cases
Birth injury cases are about more than money. They are about making sure a child has every resource they need for the rest of their life. We fight for that future.
— Stephen D. Phillips, Senior Partner
Since 1945, Phillips Law Offices has built its reputation on thorough medical investigation, aggressive advocacy, and a genuine commitment to every family we represent. Birth injury cases in Springfield require attorneys who understand obstetric medicine, can interpret complex fetal monitoring data, and have the resources to retain top medical experts. Our downtown Chicago office at 161 N Clark St is accessible from Springfield, and our attorneys regularly handle cases in Sangamon County Circuit Court (7th Judicial Circuit).
- Over $500 million recovered for injured clients since 1945, including a $2.8 million birth injury verdict
- Five experienced trial attorneys including Stephen D. Phillips (41+ years)
- Access to board-certified obstetricians, neonatologists, pediatric neurologists, and life care planning experts
- Experience handling birth injury claims against HSHS St. John’s and Memorial Medical Center
- Deep understanding of the Illinois medical malpractice affidavit of merit requirement
- Contingency fee basis — no fee unless we recover compensation for your family
- Aggressive negotiation backed by a willingness to go to trial
- Direct attorney access throughout your case
Springfield Local Resources
HSHS St. John’s Hospital: 800 E Carpenter St, Springfield, IL 62769 — (217) 544-6464. Full labor and delivery services with NICU.
Memorial Medical Center: 701 N First St, Springfield, IL 62781 — (217) 788-3000. Women and Children’s Center with Level III NICU.
Sangamon County Circuit Court: 200 S Ninth St, Springfield, IL 62701 — (217) 753-6674. 7th Judicial Circuit for medical malpractice filings.
Illinois Early Intervention Program: Springfield families with children under age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities may qualify for free early intervention services through the state’s Child and Family Connections program. Call (217) 524-1983 for Sangamon County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from Springfield families about birth injury claims under Illinois law.
How long do I have to file a birth injury lawsuit in Springfield?
Illinois provides an extended statute of limitations for birth injury claims involving minors. While the general medical malpractice deadline is two years from discovery (with a four-year outer limit), claims on behalf of injured children can be filed until the child reaches age 22. This extended deadline exists because many birth injuries — particularly those involving brain damage or developmental delays — may not be fully apparent for months or years after birth. Despite this extended window, contacting an attorney sooner is always better, as evidence and witness memories deteriorate over time.
What is an affidavit of merit and why is it required in birth injury cases?
Illinois law requires plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases, including birth injury claims, to file an affidavit from a qualified medical expert stating that there is a reasonable and meritorious basis for the lawsuit. This affidavit must be filed with the complaint or within 90 days. The expert must be a licensed physician with experience in the same specialty as the defendant. Phillips Law Offices works with board-certified obstetricians and neonatologists who review your case and provide the required certification before we file suit.
How do I know if my baby’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence?
Not every birth complication is the result of negligence. However, certain warning signs suggest a preventable error occurred: a previously healthy pregnancy that suddenly results in a severely injured baby, evidence of prolonged oxygen deprivation during delivery, failure to perform a timely C-section when fetal distress was present, excessive force during delivery resulting in nerve damage or fractures, and untreated infections that spread to the baby. Phillips Law Offices retains board-certified obstetric experts who review your complete medical records to determine whether the standard of care was violated.
What compensation is available for birth injury victims in Illinois?
Illinois law allows birth injury families to recover compensation for all past and future medical expenses, rehabilitation and therapy costs, adaptive equipment and home modifications, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost future earning capacity, and the cost of lifelong care. Illinois does not cap compensatory damages in medical malpractice cases. In cases involving gross negligence or reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available. Our attorneys work with life care planning experts to calculate the full lifetime cost of your child’s injuries.
Can I sue both the doctor and the hospital for my baby’s birth injury?
Yes. In many birth injury cases, multiple parties share responsibility. The attending obstetrician may be liable for delivery errors, while the hospital can be held responsible for inadequate staffing, faulty equipment, improper training, or negligent hiring and supervision of medical staff. Anesthesiologists, nurses, and midwives may also bear liability. Illinois joint and several liability rules mean that a defendant found more than 25% at fault can be held responsible for the full amount of damages, which is particularly important when some defendants have greater insurance coverage than others.
How much does it cost to hire a birth injury lawyer in Springfield?
Phillips Law Offices handles all birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your family. We advance all case costs, including medical record retrieval, expert witness fees, life care planning evaluations, and court filing fees. Your initial consultation is free and confidential. There is no financial risk to your family in hiring our firm to investigate your child’s birth injury.
What is the difference between a birth injury and a birth defect?
A birth defect is a condition that develops during pregnancy due to genetic factors, chromosomal abnormalities, or environmental exposures, and is generally not caused by medical negligence during delivery. A birth injury, by contrast, is harm that occurs during labor, delivery, or the immediate postpartum period due to the actions or inactions of medical professionals. Cerebral palsy caused by oxygen deprivation during delivery, Erb’s palsy from excessive force, and skull fractures from improper forceps use are examples of birth injuries. Some conditions may have both genetic and delivery-related components, which is why expert medical evaluation is essential.
How long does a birth injury case take in Sangamon County?
Birth injury cases are among the most complex types of medical malpractice litigation. The timeline depends on the severity of the injuries, the number of defendants, the complexity of the medical issues, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Most birth injury cases take between 18 months and 4 years to resolve. The medical investigation and expert review phase alone can take 6 to 12 months. Phillips Law Offices never rushes a birth injury case. We ensure every aspect of your child’s current and future needs is thoroughly documented before pursuing settlement or trial.
Talk to a Springfield Birth Injury Lawyer Today
(312) 346-4262
Related: Birth Injury Lawyer | Medical Malpractice Lawyer | Springfield Medical Malpractice Lawyer | Springfield Personal Injury Lawyer | Verdicts and Settlements | Complete Guide to PI Claims in Illinois
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. Contact Phillips Law Offices for a free consultation.