The Benefits of a Birth Injury Settlement
A settlement for birth injury lawyers injuries can aid in the payment of medical expenses that can be costly. The amount of compensation you receive will be contingent on the nature and severity of the birth injury your child sustained.
Cerebral palsy are often the cause of lifelong cost of care. These costs are known as economic damages and aren’t subject to caps on maximum amounts in many states.
Compensation
If nurses or doctors make mistakes during childbirth that lead to permanent, life-altering effects for the baby or mother who has been injured, they may be held liable under medical malpractice laws. In some cases, a court awards damages for suffering and suffering and loss of consortium, past and future physical therapy, medical bills and more.
A birth injury lawsuit also seeks compensation for other expenses that would have been avoided if the doctor did not commit wrongdoing, for example, lost income or reduced earning capacity. Parents who spend time caring for their disabled child typically have to leave their jobs, resulting in significant financial losses. In addition certain birth injuries require expensive equipment or modifications to the home, which could add up to high expenses.
Lawyers begin the claim process by sending an initial demand form to the malpractice insurance company of the hospital or doctor and includes a complete description of the accident and all relevant records. The insurance company will review the claim and either accept or deny it. If the insurance company rejects the offer then attorneys will file a lawsuit.
Certain states have an indemnity fund for birth injuries that reduces the amount of medical malpractice fees or charges charged by obstetricians. These funds may not be able to cover the costs of a lifetime’s worth of care. Furthermore they do not bar plaintiffs from seeking monetary compensation from other defendants, for instance, the hospital where the negligence occurred.
Expert Witnesses
The medical professionals involved in a lawsuit involving birth injuries have a duty to the mother and baby the obligation of following the accepted standards of care. If the healthcare provider fails to comply with this duty, and the result is to an injury, they may be held accountable for their actions. Proving this claim requires expert witnesses, typically doctors from the same or a similar field who can describe the standard of practice in plain language and also explain how the medical professional breached that standard.
An experienced birth injury lawyer knows how to get and present the most expert witness testimony. They are able to anticipate and fight the defenses of healthcare professionals, to ensure that the case can be presented in the most favorable way possible.
Your lawyer will help you determine the total amount of your losses. They will also prove the amount in the court. These are both economic and non-economic ones like medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost income.
A good birth injury lawyer is well-versed in negotiation with insurance companies and is aware of the tactics insurers often employ to pressure victims into accepting low-cost offers. Your attorney can help resist these pressures and keep your case moving until the malpractice insurers of the medical providers agree to accept a settlement. If they don’t an offer, your lawyer may file a lawsuit to force them to negotiate in good faith.
Statute of Limitations
There are strict deadlines for filing claims on behalf of children who have suffered birth injuries. For example, medical malpractice claims based upon injuries to the mother generally must be filed within two years of the date of the negligent act or omission that gave rise to the claim. In contrast birth injury claims based on injuries sustained by the child may be filed as long as the child is 10.
To establish a solid case, you must prove that the medical professional who treated your child was in violation of the applicable standard. This may require a thorough review of medical records and tests, as well as it could involve a thorough interview with other nurses, doctors and hospital staff who observed the birth and labor process.
Even if you establish that a medical professional was unable to uphold the standard of care, this does not mean that you will automatically be able to win your case. You must also prove that the breach of duty directly led to the injuries to your child. This is known as causation and is an extremely litigated issue in medical malpractice cases.
It is important to choose an attorney with the resources necessary to build your case and then proceed to the trial. Your lawyer will typically cover costs for litigation and only be paid if you are awarded compensation. This allows you to concentrate on your child’s rehabilitation and also provides a degree of financial security that you can rely on in the event of a lengthy and long trial.
Time Limits
Every state has a statute of limitations, also known as a timeframe within which you have to file a lawsuit. This is to ensure that legal matters are handled quickly, while physical evidence and witness statements are fresh. For birth injury cases the statute of limitations is typically two and half years from date of the negligence or mishap.
However, there are exceptions for injuries suffered by infants. For instance, New York laws allow for an extended statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims on behalf children, which extends the time limit to 10 years from the birth of the child.
A skilled birth injury lawyer is well-versed in the specifics of the statute of limitations for each state. They will also know about any particular issues in a birth injury case. For instance, many birth injuries involve substantial economic damages, including the possibility of losing future income (or loss of life expectation) and past and future medical expenses. Economic damages do not have a maximum amount and can be a significant factor in the value of a case.
An experienced birth injury attorney will be well-versed in the procedure of negotiating and settling claims with insurance adjusters. They are able to recognize a lowball settlement offer and respond with an amount that is fair. In certain situations, settlements can be reached without the need for court. In other cases trials may be necessary to receive the amount you are due.