Birth Injury Litigation
Birth injuries can cause serious disabilities that can affect the quality of life of your child. Medical treatments can be expensive and long.
A good lawyer can start a lawsuit for birth injuries as well as investigate the incident, gather evidence, build the case for negligence, and also represent you in settlement negotiations or at trial if needed.
Settlements
In a majority of medical malpractice lawsuits the plaintiff and defendant reach an agreement before the case goes to trial. Both parties are able to avoid the costly and stressful court costs and receive compensation for the plaintiff. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached, a jury will decide if the defendants owe the plaintiff any compensation and the amount of amount they have to pay.
The first step to receive financial compensation for a birth injury in your child is to prove the doctor who delivered your baby had a professional relationship with you and that he violated this obligation during the birthing procedure. This can be accomplished using medical documents and hospital bills. Your lawyer will need to prove that the breach caused your child’s injuries.
If you have evidence, your attorney will present a complete set of demands to the malpractice insurance carriers of the defendants. The document contains a letter detailing the injuries suffered by your child, along with supporting documentation. The malpractice insurance company will look over the request, and either accept or reject it. If the demand is rejected by your lawyer, they will start a lawsuit.
In the event of an outcome in a birth injury lawsuit the attorney you consult with may recommend placing part of your settlement or award in a special trust for children with special needs. This will permit your child to access funds in the future for things like medicines, physical therapy and home modifications.
Trials
In some cases, attorneys attempt to come to an agreement on how to settle the issue before going to court. A settlement is a formal agreement that resolves a dispute and pays compensation to the plaintiff.
An attorney’s team will gather evidence to show that medical professionals didn’t meet a high standard of care, causing an injury. Lawyers for defendants will also gather their own evidence to disprove claims. The attorneys will then sit down with each other to discuss an amount for settlement. If a settlement isn’t reached the case will go to trial.
The trial process can take months or years to be completed. It can be stressful, risky, and painful for plaintiffs, as they experience the trauma of their child’s birth trauma. The winning side could be awarded a substantial verdict. A losing party may appeal the decision.
A knowledgeable birth injury lawyer can make all the difference in your case. A legal professional can ensure the best possible outcome through each step of the legal process, starting with the creation of the demand letter, to filing the lawsuit or discovery, negotiation of settlement and trial, or in the event of an appeal, if necessary. They can assist you in obtaining compensation that will alter your life and the lives of your family. A lawyer can provide you with an expert network to help you with your claim. The legal team of Lipsitz Green will investigate the case to determine what transpired and fight for fair amount of compensation.
Statute of limitations
Medical professionals have their own set of rules that they must follow during procedures. This includes the statute of limitation which specifies a deadline for filing lawsuits. This limit is set to ensure that claims are filed while evidence in the physical remains and the memories of witnesses are fresh. A lawsuit filed after the deadline for filing a lawsuit has passed will be dismissed even when it has a solid legal basis.
For birth injury victims the statute of limitations may be especially important. A successful lawsuit can offer compensation for the victim’s present and future medical expenses as well as lost wages due to missing work to care for their child, as well as emotional distress. In certain cases, the juror or judge could also award punitive damages to punish defendants who have shown extreme negligence.
A New York attorney who is adept at defending birth injuries should represent victims. They can investigate the incident and gather evidence, make a case for negligence and reach a settlement or go to trial if necessary. In certain situations, a defendant might attempt to dismiss a case by saying that the statute of limitations has run out. A lawyer will be able determine quickly whether this is the case. If the case involves public hospitals, which are operated by the state, local or federal governments in addition, a separate and shorter time limit may apply.
Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses can help juries and judges comprehend the evidence and facts of the medical malpractice case. They may also offer expert or specialized opinions to help jurors make a decision. They can do this because their experience and expertise is more thorough and trustworthy than the average person or one with no medical background.
A legal representative may retain an expert witness to review medical records, provide testimony, and aid the lawyer in preparing the case. The expert will sign an affidavit, and then appear in the court. An expert could be an internal employee of the defendant’s hospital, health care system, or someone outside that institution.
Expert testimony should reflect the current state of medical knowledge at the time of the incident in the case. The expert should not criticize the performance that is within generally accepted practice standards or allow for Birth Injury Lawsuit performance that is in violation of the standards. Experts should be prepared to provide deposition transcripts and courtroom testimony for peer review. They should not sign contracts in which the fees for their expert testimony are inordinately high in relation to their time and effort.
Parents of a child who suffered a serious birth trauma may seek damages to cover the cost they will incur to care for their child, as well as any past expenses that have been that they have incurred. An experienced lawyer can determine if negligence caused the child’s injury during birth and obtain compensation that will reduce the financial burden for a family.