Birth Injury Solicitors Leeds
Giving birth should be a safe and supported experience. When maternity or care falls below acceptable standards, the consequences can be life-changing for both the mother and the child. At Switalskis, our birth injury solicitors in Leeds help families find answers, secure justice and access the support they need to rebuild their lives.
We have represented families affected by maternity failings across Yorkshire for more than 30 years. From our Leeds office, we work closely with families impacted by substandard care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as neighbouring Trusts including Bradford, Mid Yorkshire, Calderdale and Huddersfield, and York and Scarborough. We also act for families across the UK.
If you believe you or your baby were injured due to medical negligence during pregnancy, labour or shortly after birth, we’re here to help you understand your options.
Call us on 0800 138 0458 to get started, or send a message via the form on our site.
Reach out to us today for a free, no-obligation consultation by calling
0800 1380 458, or contacting us through the website.
Birth injuries can affect the mother, the baby or both. They often happen during complex or delayed labour, or when medical staff fail to act quickly on warning signs. Understanding how a birth injury was caused is the first step towards getting answers and, if appropriate, making a birth injury negligence claim.
We recognise the numerous challenges mothers may face during childbirth. At Switalskis, we're here to support you with your birth injury case. If you've experienced any form of injury during childbirth, rest assured that we're here for you. Types of birth injuries to the mother include:
Sometimes, a healthcare professional's oversight can result in an injury to your child with long-lasting effects. If your child has suffered any type of birth injury, we're committed to providing the legal support you need. Types of birth injuries to the child include:
Families across Leeds and the wider region are understandably seeking clarity following the Government’s announcement of an independent inquiry into maternity and services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
While a chair and formal terms of reference are yet to be confirmed, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has said he intends for the inquiry to begin as soon as possible. Its purpose will be to examine concerns raised over maternity and care and to ensure families receive the answers they have been seeking.
For many families, the announcement of this inquiry brings a mixture of relief, worry and uncertainty. At Switalskis, our birth injury and maternity negligence teams in Leeds are here to provide support, guidance and legal expertise to anyone affected. We listen closely to families, help them understand their rights, and ensure their voices are heard at every stage, including throughout major investigations such as this one.
If your family has been affected by concerns around maternity or care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, or you simply want to understand what the inquiry may mean for you, we are here to help.
At Switalskis, our specialist medical negligence solicitors in Leeds provide expert legal representation to clients throughout Yorkshire and beyond. With decades of experience, we handle a wide range of medical negligence claims, including complex cases involving major local healthcare providers such as:
We act on all types of medical negligence claims, regardless of where the care took place. If you can’t get to our office in Leeds city centre, we can arrange to meet you at a location that’s more convenient. We can also handle your case remotely via phone, video calls and email.
We understand the difficulties that can occur during pregnancy and when delivering a baby. Sometimes, the urgency to deliver a baby quickly and safely can mean that important steps are missed, or events go wrong. Even in these cases, doctors must follow correct procedures and do everything they can to deliver your baby safely. If you or your child were injured, you may feel that mistakes have been made that could have been avoided.
As a result, you may want any or all of the following:
At Switalskis our solicitors understand how emotionally challenging birth injuries are. You’ll be matched with a solicitor you feel comfortable with, who will listen carefully and treat your case with the sensitivity it deserves. We have successfully secured millions in compensation to support lifelong care, therapies and adaptations for affected children and families. Many of our cases are funded by conditional fee agreements (claiming on a no win, no fee basis), meaning you pay nothing unless we win your claim.
Many of our expert birth injury lawyers are accredited by the Law Society and AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents). Our team continues to grow to meet demand across the UK - recent appointments have strengthened our specialist medical negligence team , making sure clients can access the highest level of expertise wherever they are.
In November 2018, baby Leo Thomson was born prematurely by emergency section at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. Tragically, Leo died just one day later at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, after suffering brain damage at birth.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust has been fined £1.6 Million by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after admitting to failing to provide safe treatment for three mothers and three babies who tragically died within months of each other in 2021.
The mother of a young woman born with a brain injury, caused after being starved of oxygen for too long, has spoken of the family’s 25-year struggle for justice. A High Court judge found failings in her care led to a negligent delay in delivery.
A teenage girl with severe physical and learning disabilities has been awarded compensation worth £21.6 million after a London hospital NHS Trust admitted that her injuries could have been avoided if appropriate care had been provided.
The High Court in London has approved a multimillion pound settlement for a man who sustained severe brain injuries at birth. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted his injuries could have been prevented with proper care.
The inquest into the death of Baby Wynter Andrews concluded with the coroner stating that “obvious neglect” had contributed to Wynter’s death. It is hoped that the findings of the inquest will bring about greater scrutiny and transparency into the practices of NUHT.
We’re here to simplify the process of making a birth injury claim. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand what to expect when making a birth injury claim.
Your journey begins with a simple conversation. Contact us to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation during which we'll listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options. This meeting will give us a clear picture of what we need to investigate.
Next, our expert legal team will investigate your circumstances. We'll gather and examine all the necessary medical records, consult with medical experts, and review your case thoroughly to understand its strengths and challenges. The aim will be to prove your or your child’s injuries were caused by medical negligence, and work out the potential value of the claim.
Once we have enough evidence, we'll send a letter of claim to the medical professionals involved, outlining the full details of the claim and the evidence supporting it. They'll then have a few months to respond, during which time they can conduct their own investigation and decide whether to accept liability.
Once the defendant has responded to the claim, our negotiations can start. Our expert medical negligence solicitors will negotiate on your behalf, using our expertise and experience to establish who was at fault and secure the highest possible compensation amount for you.
Most claims will be settled through negotiation, and a fair settlement will be agreed upon without needing to go to court. In rare cases, we may need to take your claim to trial. Should this happen with your claim, we will represent you in court and stand by you every step of the way.
If your claim is successful, you'll receive compensation that can cover the costs of care, therapy, equipment and adaptations to housing, ensuring the best possible quality of life for you and your child.
With Switalskis by your side, making a birth injury compensation claim becomes less daunting. We'll guide you through each stage of the process, providing clear advice, empathetic support, and legal expertise every step of the way.
With Switalskis by your side, making a birth injury compensation claim becomes less daunting. We'll guide you through each stage of the process, providing clear advice, empathetic support, and legal expertise every step of the way.
Contact us today and let's start your journey towards recovery together. Call us today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch via our form.
At Switalskis, our dedicated team offers a professional service that goes beyond the legal formalities, to take the stress out of the process and allow you to focus on your recovery. We take the time to understand your needs, to make the process as simple as possible and represent your interests effectively. Our approach to medical negligence compensation claims is underpinned by the following principles:
Medical negligence cases often include a combination of legal and clinical terminology that can be difficult to decipher. We're committed to breaking things down and offering clear communication that lets you know exactly what to expect from the process and where your case is up to.
Making a medical negligence claim while dealing with recovery from an injury or illness can lead to a lot of emotional strain without the right support. Switalskis will stand by your side and offer emotional support alongside our excellent service and legal advice.
Our solicitors have a thorough understanding of both the legal and medical aspects of a clinical negligence claim, which means we're adept at gathering evidence and assessing your needs. Our strong track record of success means we're well-placed to deliver the best possible outcome for you.
When poor medical care, a delayed diagnosis or a surgical error lead to harm, patients have the right to pursue compensation and justice for their injuries. Switalskis will make sure your voice is heard during this process and protect your rights throughout your legal journey.
For definitions of terms used in these FAQs, visit our Glossary page
.
At Switalskis, our medical negligence solicitors in Leeds can help clients across the country to take action and secure the compensation they're owed. We have secured settlements from NHS Trusts and private hospitals throughout the region on behalf of those who have suffered harm, usually on a no win, no fee basis.
To learn more about making a medical negligence claim, or to start the process, contact us today. Call 0800 138 0458 to speak to our clinical negligence team, or use the form on our website to send us a message.