Irvine Birth Injury Lawyer

Irvine Birth Injury Attorney

An Irvine birth injury lawyer advocates on behalf of families whose children were injured as a result of medical negligence before, during, or immediately following delivery. Birth injury claims frequently involve complex medical issues, delayed diagnosis, and life-long effects for both the injured child and the entire family.

Careful investigation is required to review the decisions made during prenatal care, labor and delivery, and neonatal treatment. At Easton & Easton, our legal team helps families determine if preventable medical errors were a factor in their child’s birth injury and if legal action may be available under California law.

Skilled Irvine Birth Injury Lawyer

Hire a Birth Injury Lawyer

Easton & Easton is a California personal injury law firm with over 100 years of combined litigation experience in representing clients with complex injury and medical-related claims in Orange County.

Our law firm’s seasoned attorneys have handled catastrophic injury and medical negligence cases, including birth injury matters, which involve a meticulous review of medical records and professional review. Easton & Easton is included in the lists of Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. We take a methodical, evidence-driven approach to high-stakes litigation.

When a Birth Complication Becomes a Birth Injury Claim

A birth injury is a physical or neurological injury to an infant that occurs either before, during, or shortly after delivery. Some birth injuries occur as a result of medical complications that are unpreventable. Worldwide, the incidence rates of birth injuries vary from 1.9 to 53 per 1,000 live births.

Not all unfavorable outcomes during the birth process are the subject of a legal claim. To file a valid birth injury claim, one must show that a medical provider did not act in a manner consistent with accepted standards of care and that it was the provider’s deviation from the standard of care that resulted in the injury.

It is important to remember that every case should be reviewed on an individual basis, and therefore can take time. Reviewing prenatal records, labor management choices, and delivery timing helps determine preventability despite its initial complexity.

Common Medical Errors That Lead to Birth Injuries

Birth injury claims commonly involve preventable medical mistakes, such as the failure to notice and respond to fetal distress, misuse of delivery instruments, or the delayed decision to perform a C-section.

Irvine-area high-risk deliveries are often referred to UC Irvine Medical Center and Hoag Hospital Irvine, which have level 3 maternal-fetal medicine and neonatal intensive care units, and may be part of the review of standards of care.

How Birth Injury Cases Are Investigated and Evaluated

Medical records, prenatal care documentation, fetal monitoring strips, and delivery notes are the main records reviewed when handling a birth injury claim. Professional medical review of these records is almost always necessary to explain whether the standard of care was followed and whether an error occurred that could have caused the injury.

Obstetrics and neonatology professionals can help determine if generally accepted standards of care were met or not, and if a medical mistake was a cause of your injury. Issues related to causation, timing, and degree of harm are often at the heart of liability and legal strategy.

The Long-Term Impact of Birth Injuries on Children and Families

A birth injury may lead to permanent physical, cognitive, or developmental disability, necessitating a lifetime of medical care, therapy, and special education services. For many, care coordination, assistive devices, and special education services are challenging decisions in the early years after birth.

In the longer-term, families have to decide on the financial and legal planning needed to obtain resources to support the child in the future. Prognosis, future medical procedures, and quality of life issues are often the primary issues in legal claims and potential compensation.

FAQs

How Is a Birth Injury Different From a Birth Defect?

Birth injury refers to an injury to a newborn child caused by events or medical errors during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or after birth. A birth defect, on the other hand, is not caused by medical care and often is the result of genetic or developmental issues occurring before birth. The difference is relevant in birth injury claims as the cause of the infant’s injuries may be related to a provider’s care.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Birth Injury Case?

Liability for a birth injury may be the responsibility of one or more health care providers. Providers can include those involved in prenatal care, labor and delivery, or newborn care. Providers can include physicians, nurses, or other professionals.

Liability is often associated with the decisions or actions that were substandard when compared to accepted standards of care. Determination of liability is often made after a review of medical records and professional analysis.

What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Birth Injury Claim in California?

California birth injury claims are subject to Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 as well as special rules for claims by minors. In general, a medical malpractice claim must be brought within three years of the date of injury, or one year from the date of discovery of the injury, whichever occurs first. For children injured before the age of six, California law generally tolls the statute of limitations until the child’s eighth birthday.

Can Parents Recover Damages for Their Own Losses in a Birth Injury Case?

Parents might be compensated for their own losses in some birth injury cases through damages for medical costs they covered or income they missed while taking care of their injured child. The recoverability of these damages varies depending on how a claim is structured and who is asserting it. You can hire a birth injury lawyer to provide guidance on these issues.

Contact an Irvine Birth Injury Lawyer

Birth injury legal claims raise intricate medical and legal issues with lasting repercussions. In cases where preventable mistakes lead to harm during childbirth, legal counsel can help families assess responsibility and explore their rights under California law. Schedule a consultation with Easton & Easton today.

Your Story Is Important To Us.
CALL US SO WE CAN HEAR IT.

Call Us Now

Firm Awards

Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlements in Los Angeles

Easton & Easton has been recognized by TopVerdict.com Top 10 Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement in Los Angeles for 2025, for the case Bicyclist v. Inattentive Driver — the fifth time the firm has appeared on a TopVerdict list across nine years, and a recognition that arrives in the firm’s 35th anniversary year.

The superior client service Easton & Easton provides has earned the firm an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen anew each year since 2014 by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as one of the "Best Law Firms" for the Southern California Metro Area.

Easton & Easton is honored to have been chosen by OC Register Voters as "The Best Law Firm in Orange County” each year since voting began in 2022.

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton have all been selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers for California by the National Trial Lawyers — a membership organization limited to less than 1% of attorneys.

Doug, Brian, Matt, Travis and Gabe have each been selected to "Best Lawyers" for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation. Best Lawyers selects the Top 5% of attorneys based on peer voting and client reviews.

Number 1 Bicycle Accident Settlement California 2024

We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as the #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement in California in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.

Easton & Easton was named a Tier 1 firm in Southern California by U.S. News & World Report — the highest ranking a law firm can achieve. Selection is based on client feedback, peer reputation, and professional excellence. When independent evaluators rank the best, we're at the top.

Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, Brenda Kocaj, and Alexandro Garza were selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars — honoring the top 2.5% of attorneys 40 or younger in California.

Easton & Easton was voted "Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" by readers of the Los Angeles Times in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Three years in a row — chosen by the people we serve

Doug, Brian, and Matt Easton were once again selected to Super Lawyers — a distinction earned by only 5% of California attorneys. Selection is based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring attorneys in the top 5%.

10 Best Personal Injury Law Firms in all of Southern California

Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a Top 10 Personal Injury Settlement in California in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.

Easton & Easton received the "People Love Us On Yelp" award in 2016 due to exceptional client satisfaction reviews.Our clients don't just hire us — they recommend us.

Personal Injury Settlements United States 2024

Easton & Easton was recently honored for securing a $32,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2024 by TopVerdict.com.

Brian, Matt, and Travis Easton are lifetime members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum — a distinction held by less than 1% of U.S. attorneys. Membership requires securing a verdict or settlement of $2 million or more. When you hire Easton & Easton, you're hiring proven results - because Results Matter.

Doug Easton has held the "AV Preeminent" Rating for over 30 years, and Matt Easton received this prestigious distinction in 2015. The AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards, based on the legal profession's oldest peer review rating system — dating back to 1887. When your peers have trusted your ability and integrity for over three decades, that says everything.

Number 1 Bicycle Accident Settlement Los Angeles 2023

We were recently honored for securing a $26,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as a the #1 Personal Injury Settlement in Los Angeles County in 2023 by TopVerdict.com.

Brian Easton was selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 2015. ABOTA is one of the most premier associations of trial attorneys and judges, requiring a proven track record of jury trials as lead counsel and approval by a majority vote of the ABOTA board. Membership isn't given — it's earned in the courtroom.

The National Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40

Travis Easton, Gabe Mendoza, and Brenda Kocaj were selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 — an invitation-only honor recognizing the nation's top young trial attorneys. At Easton & Easton, experience and ambition work side by side.

Easton & Easton was honored for securing a $20,000,000 settlement for our client, which was selected as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Settlements in the entire United States in 2019 by TopVerdict.com.

Nation's Premier Top Ten Attorney Personal Injury

Both Doug and Matt Easton have been selected as Top Personal Injury Attorneys by Avvo with scores of 10 out of 10 — based on skill, experience, results, peer evaluations, and client reviews. A perfect score. No room for higher.

Easton & Easton was honored to have been chosen by the LA Times Reader's Choice Poll as "The Best Personal Injury Law Firm in Orange County" for 2018-2020 (each year the voting took place).

Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California 2016

We were recently honored for our efforts in securing a $1,850,000 verdict for a client, which was selected as one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in California in 2016 by TopVerdict.com.

Awards/recognitions noted are from organizations recognized within the legal profession as bona fide.
No purchase was required for selection. Selection methodologies available upon request.

Orange County Personal Injury Lawyer | Costa Mesa Auto Accident Attorney | Catastrophic Injuries

“We look for the human story behind every injury or wrongful death. We prepare our cases for trial; reaching out to the jury with the most compelling evidence possible for the best verdict possible. Insurance companies know this and come to the table prepared to negotiate in good faith. Call us to see how we can turn your story into fair compensation.”

Partner W. Douglas Easton

What Our Clients Say

“Client testimonials reflect individual experiences; results vary. No guarantee of outcome.”

Coming out of my first auto accident as an adult, a very difficult and scary time to navigate and understand, I was so incredibly thankful to have been put in contact with Easton & Easton. I honestly was lost with how to handle paperwork, doctors, medical costs and what next steps were, and from the moment I spoke with Travis Easton and my case manager Katie, my mind was put at ease. They have made the entire process stress free for me as I recovered, and I am so grateful for them and their genuine care for my case. Communication from the start has been fantastic, especially making clear what my expectations for the entire process would look like, and I truly believe they have my best interest at heart. 100% I would recommend their firm for anyone that is needing representation! Read more…

Sara McClelland

My experience with Easton & Easton has been amazing! Gabriel Mendoza and my case manager Katie have been so helpful and taken so much stress off my plate. They’ve been super informative and honest and given me very clear expectations. They’ve taken such a terrible experience (my accident) and eased my mind about the outcome. I can’t thank them enough!! Read more…

Caila Dean

Ive used them twice and never been disappointed. Read more…

Lisa Bluemel

The Easton & Easton Law Firm is amazing! The entire team is very helpful and caring. They were always there to answer all my questions. They directed me through the entire process and stayed with me every step of the way. This team is outstanding and were wonderful to work with. Because of the tremendous effort they put on my case they were able to win my difficult personal injury case. I couldn’t have asked for a better law firm to handle my case. They are the Best! Thank you for your patience, professionalism, & guidance! I definitely recommend this firm to handle your case. They go out of their way to fight for your rights. THANK YOU… Read more…

Sofia Sanchez

I could not be more pleased with the services provided by the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton. The senior partner Mr. Easton took the time to meet with me and my wife while I was still in the hospital, where he gave my family hope that there was light at the end of a very long, and very dark tunnel. Matt Easton then worked my case, and because of his dedication, experience and expertise I received a settlement that was larger than I EVER thought possible. It was truly astounding! Matt and the entire team at Easton & Easton looked out for me throughout my recovery, and in the end they gave me my life back. Five stars is not enough. Thanks Matt! Thanks Easton & Easton! Read more…

Dan Campbell

Brian and everyone at Easton and Easton are simply the BEST at what they do. Brian is thorough, easy to talk to, and truly cares about his clients. If you want a family of attorneys with perseverance and determination to fight for you, give Easton and Easton a call. I am glad I did. Read more…

Kyle Keith

What an amazing law firm, talk about going above and beyond to make such a painful experience go so well. I have referred a co-worker and a family member to them as well and everyone had such a great experience as I had. Read more…

Logan Ross

I can’t say enough amazing things about my experience with Travis Easton at Easton & Easton. Travis and his entire team (Katie, Amy, Dee, Michelle, & Araceli) are phenomenal. It provided me a lot of comfort to know I was being so well taken care of. I was especially impressed that every document for the case was perfectly written and specific to me. Nothing was generic, which shows the level of care and attention they put into each individual case. I had such a great experience and would highly recommend Travis Easton and his firm to anyone going through a personal injury. Travis took a bad situation and made the best of it for me. Thank you again, I’m forever grateful!!
-Allee

Ashlee A.

Retaining Easton and Easton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! From the initial consultation to our final meeting, they were nothing short of exceptional. I was forced to retain their services after firing my previous attorney for not handling the case properly. I dealt with Gabriel and Brian (partner) exclusively throughout the case. They did as promised and were great communicators throughout the entire process. I will recommend them to anyone I know going through a personal injury case. They were ultimately able to untangle the mess caused by my previous lawyer and get a result that I was extremely happy with. Their staff is exceptional as well and provided top notch customer service. Amera was also extremely helpful and easy to deal with as well.

Jeffrey N.

I was in a pretty bad car accident and decided to have Easton & Easton represent me, Travis Easton to be specific. Travis Easton and his paralegal made the whole process effortless. They were so understanding and helpful! The entire thing was a gigantic mess, yet Travis managed to make it run like clockwork. I would HIGHLY recommend Easton & Easton! If you are ever in need of a personal defense attorney Easton & Easton is the firm to represent you!

Mark B.

They are the best law firm in Orange County period. Choosing them to represent me was the best decision of my life.
My life changed in a matter of seconds after a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left me disabled. Brian Easton and his team worked on my case non stop for 3 years and provided me the justice I deserved. I couldn’t have been more content.
I was treated with utmost respect and I felt like I was being represented by a close family member. The responses to my questions were quick and clear. What E & E has done for me is phenomenal.
My sincere thanks to Brian, Matt, Travis, Doug, Gabriel and Amera. They are what they are because of their dedication to provide high quality and professional service to their clients.

Vamsi P.

Brian Easton and his team, Gabe Mendoza and Amera Hajali, helped me during a very difficult time in my life. I had a significant injury from a car accident, and wound up seeking out Easton & Easton when I was having difficulties getting help from my doctors. The Easton team took a lot of stress off of me while acting as my advocates to help me get the care I needed, and saw my case all the way through to a healthy settlement.
They are the BEST!

Jennifer P.

I have nothing but good things to say about Easton and Easton. Brian handled my case professionally and communicated with me effectively throughout the process. He made sure that the process was effortless and as hands free as possible. This was super important for my busy schedule. I highly recommend Easton and Easton if you are ever found in a situation that you need an attorney.

Claudia C.

I would highly recommend Easton & Easton.
I was rear ended on my home and pushed into a semi-truck. I was not sure how to go about even using an attorney.
Brian, Gab and Amera were so good about helping me thru the process and representing me.
I was able to concentrate on getting myself better knowing they had my back, taking care of the details and keeping me informed along the way

Linda M.

The best Law firm by far. I would highly recommend Easton & Easton, LLP and ask for Gabriel Mendoza and staff. He and his colleagues did and exceptional service. Thank you for everything. Job well done!

Ericka P.