Four Parts of a Legal Claim
When a hospital or doctor causes a birth injury, the family in question deserves fair compensation to cover medical costs and provide for their child’s future. Attorneys work with experts to develop a case that satisfies four parts of a legal claim.
The lawsuit begins by filing an order and complaint by the attorney representing the plaintiff. The case goes through the discovery process, during which attorneys exchange information and take depositions.
Statute of Limitations
Like any personal injury lawsuit such as birth injuries, birth injury lawsuits must be filed within an established time frame, which is known as the statute of limitations. After this time period expires, the family and victims may lose the chance to receive financial compensation resulting from medical malpractice.
A nurse or doctor who fails to meet standards of care is believed to be negligent in their medical practice. In many states, this includes performing within the limits of their education and training, as well as experience. Because of their special training, medical specialists such as obstetricians also have higher standards.
Lawyers often require medical experts to testify on behalf of their clients about the standard of care. Experts are able to review case files and take depositions to prove claims of negligence.
Expert witnesses can also tell between mistakes and malpractice. For example mistakes are an error that a reasonably competent and skilled medical professional could have made under the circumstances, but the mistake resulted in harm. Malpractice, on the other hand, is more serious and is an intentional act or omission that causes harm. The majority of birth injury attorneys argue both theories to ensure victims get an adequate amount of compensation for their injuries.
A family may make a birth injury claim against private parties, like hospitals or obstetricians, to remedy careless actions that cause children’s medical issues. Families may also file a wrongful-death claim when a severe birth defect results in the death of the child.
Medical Records
If you or someone you know suffered an injury during birth, filing a claim can be complicated. A personal injury and medical malpractice attorney can help you gather the necessary documentation and evidence to increase your chances of winning the financial compensation that is owed.
A successful claim for birth injuries is contingent on establishing four crucial elements that include duty of care; breach of this duty; causation and damages. A competent lawyer can assist your family in establish these elements based on medical records and other evidence including expert testimony.
In a medical malpractice case in general, a doctor is responsible for his or her actions within the confines of their duties. However, a hospital could also be held vicariously liable for the actions of its employees if they are acting within the context and nature of their work.
If your child is injured and the severity of the injury, your child may require medical or life-care for the rest of their lives. This could result in a large amount of costs, birth injury lawyers such as hospitalization or additional procedures and surgeries medication, in-home carer equipment, and other services.
A birth injury lawsuit can be a lengthy process to resolve. However, an experienced legal team will expedite this process by examining all evidence and presenting it to you as quickly as it is possible. The majority of birth injury lawyers offer free initial consultations, and they also have contingency fee agreements. This means that you won’t be charged attorney’s fees during the trial process unless and until you win compensation.
Expert Witnesses
The medical expert witness can provide important information to the jury and judge. This expert is able to analyze the particular situation and identify the elements that are significant clinically. This allows lawyers to focus their arguments on what is important and only address pertinent issues. The expert can also translate medical and scientific terms into an easy format to understand for jurors.
In order for a lawsuit to be successful, there must be four parts that must be proven: negligence, breach of duty, causation and damages. To prove this, New York birth injury lawyers can use the medical records and other evidence. They can identify as defendants any medical professional involved in the care and delivery of the child including the hospital or institution where the delivery occurred. They may also have to identify the mother, or any other family member who was present at the birth.
After the lawsuit has been filed and the parties are able to undergo a process of filing motions, hearings and discovery. The exchange of medical records, among other things, is part of the discovery process. The discovery period can last for up to a whole year. In this time, the parties often try to come to an agreement. If a settlement isn’t reached, the case goes to trial. The trial could last for many years, but many cases settle much sooner.
Damages
The process of filing a lawsuit involves creating the case to pursue financial compensation. Your lawyer needs to have the resources necessary to build a solid case and take it to trial, if needed. Your lawyer will generally advance the entire cost of litigation and pay fees for legal services only if you collect money.
The process of bringing a lawsuit for birth injuries begins with your lawyer filing a Summons and Complaint with the court in the county where the incident occurred. Hospitals, doctors and other medical care are defendants. Once the lawsuit is filed there are a variety of procedures that are followed. This is the time when attorneys exchange information, evidence and obtain depositions from witnesses.
Causation is a key element of a birth injury lawsuit. You must show that a medical professional breached their obligation and that your child wouldn’t be injured if they did not.
The other main aspect of a birth injury legal case is proving damages. Your lawyer will work with experts to determine the complete range of your losses from medical expenses and loss of income to the cost of care for your entire life and emotional anxiety. Your lawyer could also seek to strengthen your claim by providing the results of other malpractice cases involving similar injuries. Finally your lawyer will take into consideration the current state of the law for your specific injury, including whether the noneconomic damage cap is applicable.