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ARTICLE · 22 OCTOBER 2026

What Are The Steps To Pursue Compensation For A Birth-related Medical Error?

JMW Solicitors LLP
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Birth injury claims can provide compensation when avoidable harm occurs during pregnancy, labour, delivery or shortly after birth due to medical negligence. Understanding the claims process helps families navigate the complex journey from initial concerns through gathering medical records, obtaining expert evidence, and ultimately securing appropriate compensation. This comprehensive guide explains each critical step involved in pursuing a birth injury medical negligence claim.

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Rebecca Cahill
Rebecca Cahill

If you or your baby experienced avoidable harm because of the care provided during pregnancy, labour, delivery or shortly after birth, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim for compensation. The first step is usually to speak to a specialist solicitor, who can listen to what happened and assess whether the care should be investigated.

For many families, this comes at a time when they are still trying to understand what happened during the birth and what the injury may mean for the future. You do not need to know whether medical negligence definitely occurred before asking for legal advice.

A birth injury claim involves gathering medical records, obtaining independent expert evidence and establishing whether the care provided by doctors, midwives or other members of the maternity team fell below a reasonable standard and caused avoidable harm. Where the evidence supports a claim, compensation is then assessed according to the effects of the injury and the support that

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