How a Birth Injury Attorney Can Help Families Get the Compensation They Need
Complications can still occur during and after a child’s birth despite advancements in medical technology making it more secure than ever. If you believe your child suffered a preventable birth injury, speak to an experienced birth injury attorney right away.
A firm that is specialized in cases involving birth injuries will generally advance all legal costs and only get paid when they receive compensation for your case.
Damages
While medical advances have made childbirth more secure than it used to be but many mothers and their babies are still at risk of injuries due to a variety of reasons. This includes oxygen deprivation, head trauma and infections. These injuries can result in devastating disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. A good birth injury attorney can assist families in obtaining the compensation they need to fund lifelong care and care.
Your lawyer will ask for all relevant medical records and reports relating to your baby’s injuries. He or she will also employ medical experts to examine the evidence and provide an official opinion as to whether the medical experts involved in your baby’s delivery violated the standard of care. In a typical case, an expert will assess the medical care offered by the defendant with practices typically accepted by medical professionals with similar experience and qualifications.
Economic and non-economic damages may be awarded. Economic damages cover expenses such as current and future medical bills, lost income, and property losses. Non-economic damages include emotional distress as well as pain and suffering. In rare instances punitive damages can also be awarded. They are designed to punish the responsible party and discourage similar conduct in the future. They differ from compensatory damages which are awarded to recover actual loss.
Medical Experts
Even though medical advancements have made childbirth safer than ever before, there are still certain risks for both mother and baby. It is the responsibility of nurses and doctors who are involved in the delivery to behave in a professional manner, and to avoid making mistakes that could have disastrous consequences for both the baby’s and mother’s health. Parents may claim damages if nurses and doctors are not professional during a delivery.
A birth injury attorney will work closely with you throughout the duration of your case, beginning from the initial consultation through to the final resolution. They will collect evidence from you, including witness testimony and medical records. They will also seek expert opinions from other sources, including doctors and specialists.
These experts will review all the evidence, and provide an opinion in writing on whether the injuries were due to medical negligence. The lawyer will then use this information to determine the best way to proceed.
If the medical expert agrees with you that malpractice occurred, your lawyer will bring suit against the responsible parties. This includes the obstetrician in charge of your pregnancy as well as any nurses, surgeons, or hospital personnel who assisted during the birth injury law firm.
The costs of a lawsuit could be high due to the costs for expert witnesses, evidence, and depositions. Your lawyer will cover these expenses, and reimburse you once they have settled your case.
Preparing for Trial
In general, a birth injury lawsuit injuries lawyer will consider any case where the infant suffered injuries caused by negligence of a doctor prior, during or shortly after delivery. The lawyer will consider two things when reviewing the case: whether there evidence of medical negligence and the severity of the injury.
Attorneys often consult medical experts to determine whether the injury was caused by medical negligence. These experts will review all documentation related to birth, pregnancy, and medical treatment for injuries. They will also be in a position to determine the effects of the injuries sustained by the child on his or her future.
The experts will assist the lawyer identify the medical providers that should be included in the lawsuit. The lawyer will issue a letter asking the medical providers and insurers to respond to the claim. A good birth injury attorney will know how to negotiate with the insurance companies and will be prepared to take the case to trial if needed.
Parents could be entitled to damages for future and past medical expenses related to the injuries sustained by their child. They could also be awarded damages for pain and suffering. These damages can be substantial in the event that a child’s injuries were serious. A good birth injury attorney will be able to maximize the amount of money awarded to the parents.
Insurance Companies
A lawsuit for birth injuries can’t erase the harm done to your child but it can cover future medical expenses therapy, home modifications, and ongoing support. These costs might seem overwhelming at first but a good birth injury lawyer will work with a variety of experts to determine the financial impact of any injury on your family, and what amount you are entitled to compensation for these costs.
The first step in a birth injury claim is to establish that the doctor who handled your case had a professional relationship with you and your child and that they breached the trust by committing a breach during or before the birth of your child. This can be easy to prove through the collection of your medical documents and hospital bills.
Once this is established the lawyer will have to determine the specific actions that the doctor made that were negligent and how these affected the health of your child. A birth injury attorney will know what to look for and where to get the medical evidence and expert witness testimony needed to prove your case.
A good birth injury attorney will take care of all the complexities of your case and should not require you to pay out of pocket to pursue justice. They should be able to work on a contingent fee basis which means that they get paid if they win your case and the amount they earn is a percentage of the settlement or award you receive.