How a birth injury lawyers Injury Claim Works
You may be entitled to compensation in the event that a medical professional has been negligent and your child suffers injuries during birth. Generally, the amount of compensation you receive will depend on a number of factors.
The lawsuit process starts with your attorney filing an complaint against the defendants. Both sides will then engage in discovery where they will exchange evidence and other information, including medical records.
Medical expenses
Medical expenses associated with birth injuries vary depending on the severity of the injury. For example, broken bones may require surgery to fix them and can result in ongoing physical therapy costs. In the same way nerve damage resulting from manual pressure or rough handling can cause permanent pain and limitations. Your lawyer will evaluate the needs of your child and estimate the cost of treatment over a lifetime to ensure that you receive enough compensation.
You will need to demonstrate that a healthcare professional owed obligations to you, and that they did not fulfill that duty, and that this breach caused the injuries of your child. This usually requires medical experts to analyze the situation and give an opinion based on their own experience.
Based on the circumstances, you might be able to include a number of healthcare professionals and hospitals in your lawsuit. This includes the doctor who gave birth to your child, the staff members and the hospital in which the birth occurred. Your legal team will write letters to all of these parties advising them that a claim for medical malpractice has been filed and they will be given the chance to settle the matter before filing an action.
Suffering and pain
A birth injury lawsuit may result in compensation for emotional and physical injuries suffered by children. The amount of damage families receive is determined by the severity of the injury and the impact it has on the child’s life.
To be able to claim compensation parents must show that a medical professional or facility did not act in accordance with the standards of care. This means that the physician or hospital acted with a lack of ability or judgement in a situation in which their actions or inaction led to an injury to a patient. Both sides often hire medical experts to help determine the standard. Specialists, like doctors of obstetrics, are held to higher standards.
The majority of cases involving birth injuries settle rather than going to trial. Trials are risky, lengthy and costly. Settlements enable families to receive financial assistance sooner and in a more friendly manner. Settlements ensure that future needs of a child are taken care of. This could include the expense of a wheelchair van as well as home modifications, special equipment, and ongoing medical treatment.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages are the most severe awards juries could award in a birth injury case. These damages are typically given to punish the offender and discourage others from doing the same. These awards are also intended to ensure that victims feel their cases are taken seriously.
A New York City personal injury lawyer can help you assess the value of your claim including non-economic damages. They may also file a lawsuit for punitive damages, in the event that they are appropriate. Punitive damages are based on the conduct of the defendant and an indictment of moral imprudence. They usually amount to four times the amount of other damages that are awarded.
A lawyer can help you win you a significant sum to help cover medical costs for your child and other financial losses. They can also file lawsuits for emotional trauma as well as other losses that are not financial. Some states cap the amount of compensation that victims can receive. Virginia for instance, limits damages up to the cost of treatment, up to the victim reaches their 10th birthday. Other states restrict damages for suffering and pain as well as other types.
Damages for non-economic damages
In many cases, injuries sustained by a child require lifetime treatment. This includes medical treatment therapies, as well as other expenses. It could also cover future lost earnings if the accident is affecting the child’s ability to work and make an income. This is referred to as loss of consortium.
Your lawyer will help you determine the total cost of your child’s injury, including non-economic damages. They will collaborate with experts to build a case that demonstrates how badly your child was harmed and the impact it had on their life. They will also rely on expert testimony to prove that the doctor violated their duty of care.
They could also request access to the medical records of your child. These are crucial to your case. They are important to obtain as soon as you can in the event of that you have suffered a birth trauma. They could be lost, misplaced, or destroyed. Your attorney can assist you in getting these documents as quickly as is possible.
Damages for economic damages
A birth injury can result in a number of expenses that might not be immediately apparent. These include medical bills that have already been paid, as well as the anticipated costs for future therapy including in-home or institution-based care and medication, adaptive equipment and transportation to and from therapist or doctor’s appointments.
A serious disability may also make it difficult for an person to earn a living. This can also have a ripple affect on the financial health of a family. A parent may have to quit their job or quit work entirely in order to care for the child who is disabled, leading to the loss of wages.
Parents who make a claim for birth injury should keep track of all these costs and losses to determine their maximum possible award. When a jury or court gives damages, they take into consideration the needs of the victim for the rest of their life. The more accurate the estimation of future medical costs and losses, the higher the amount of compensation will be. Non-economic damages are more difficult to put a price on, but they can be awarded too. These include emotional suffering, distress loss of quality of life and loss of consortium.