Birth Injury Compensation
Children with birth injuries need every resource they require to lead a full and fulfilling life. Settlements that provide financial compensation could help them access the resources they need.
A petition may be filed by the personal representative of the infant who has been injured or his guardianship, parents, ad in litem, or the next of family members. After filing a petition an undisputed assumption will be established that the injury claimed was a neurologic birth injury as defined by SS 38.2-5001.
Medical expenses
It can be extremely traumatic to discover that a child has suffered a birth injury due to medical negligence. In addition to the emotional stress that can be experienced, financial burdens can also be substantial. Parents are accountable for immediate medical care and may have to invest all their lives in therapy and other treatments.
Your attorney will examine the evidence to show that a healthcare provider made an error that led directly to the injuries of your child. Then, he will determine your child’s estimated future costs to be included in the demand for compensation. These expenses are referred to as economic damages.
You can seek non-economic damages as well as paying the medical bills of your child as well as any other costs associated with it. This will compensate you and your loved ones for the suffering and pain your child has suffered. These damages aren’t as quantifiable and could include mental anguish and disfigurement and other intangibles.
Many states have instituted medical indemnity programs to pay for future medical and rehabilitation costs for those who suffer serious birth injuries. These funds are able to collect a percentage of malpractice insurance premiums, or require hospitals and doctors to contribute to the fund. For instance the New York’s Medical Indemnity Fund provides lifetime payouts to children and adults with a neurological birth injury.
Pain and suffering
Providing your child with life-long medical care and treatment after a birth injury is incredibly expensive. Those costs can add quickly even for children with minor injuries. The pain and suffering associated with these injuries may be a lot more severe, and you deserve compensation for it.
However serious your child’s injuries are it is not advisable to speak with hospital or insurance representatives without first consulting an attorney. You may be able to make your words against them, and they may try to decrease your compensation. This is why it’s vital to speak with an experienced birth injury lawyers injury lawyer prior to doing anything else.
If you meet with an attorney, they will build a solid case for your child’s injuries. This could involve getting expert testimony to back your claim. They will also get swearing statements from the lawyers representing the defendants as well as any other parties involved.
Once they have sufficient evidence Your lawyer will submit a demand package to the hospital and doctor responsible. The document will detail the details of your child’s injuries and how they occurred due to medical malpractice. It will also contain documents and records that support your claims. If the doctor refuses your offer, then your lawyer will file suit.
Future care costs
Severe birth injury can result in expensive long-term care, which affects families financially. A child who has cerebral palsy will require a lifetime of treatment, which can include surgeries or home health assistants, therapy and medication sessions along with doctor’s appointments and prescriptions. These costs can quickly accumulate and affect the life of a family.
In certain cases, a birth injury lawyer will engage an expert to draft what’s known as a «life care plan.» The document will estimate future needs based on the victim’s medical history and age. It contains estimated annual cost projections for things such as medications as well as doctor visits, therapy, attendant care, future lost income, and transportation as well as home improvements.
These damages are typically significant portions of a settlement or jury verdict in a birth injury lawsuit, and are designed to enhance the victim’s quality of life. Certain states limit damages that are not economic which can apply to birth injury cases.
Many doctors, hospitals and insurance companies refuse to admit their negligence or agree to pay for a birth injury. This is the reason that most lawyers opt to seek an agreement instead of a trial verdict. A lawyer will draft an offer package and then send it to medical professionals involved in the case with a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding the injuries your child sustained. If the doctor or hospital refuses to accept the conditions of the contract, your lawyer will file suit.
Economic Damages
A birth injury can be costly to treat, and the victims could require costly treatment for years or even their entire lives. The economic damages in these cases could include future and past medical expenses, as well as other costs associated with the care of the victim, such as mobility accommodations. These are usually calculated with the help of a designated witness.
Parents are also entitled to compensation for the emotional pain caused by the trauma and the knowledge that their child’s medical error could have been avoided. Certain states have laws that recognize this emotional injury and provide non-economic damages to victims.
It’s essential for families to understand that even though many birth injuries can lead to grave and debilitating conditions Children can live an exemplary life with the appropriate help. That’s why it’s important that they have the financial resources necessary to give them the best chance to live a having a fulfilling and happy life.
An experienced lawyer can help a family file a birth injury lawsuit against the hospital or doctor responsible for their child’s injuries. They will analyze the case thoroughly and collect additional evidence to prove their claim that the medical professional did not adhere to a standard of care. They will then negotiate with the defendants in order to negotiate an agreement. If not, then they will start a lawsuit.