How a Birth Injury Attorney Can Help Families Get the Compensation They Need
Complications can still occur in the course of the birth of a child despite advances in medical technology that make it safer than ever. If you believe your child was injured due to a birth injury, you should contact an experienced birth injury attorney immediately.
A firm that specializes in birth injury law firm injury cases will typically advance the entire cost of a lawsuit. They will only get paid when they receive compensation for your case.
Damages
Although advances in medicine have made childbirth safer than it was previously however, many mothers and infants are still at risk for injuries due to a variety of reasons. Trauma to the head and oxygen deprivation are among the most frequent. These injuries can cause lasting and severe disabilities, including cerebral palsy. A good birth injury lawyer can help families get an award for Birth Injury Lawsuit the lifelong medical treatment and care they require.
Your lawyer will request all pertinent medical records and reports relating to the baby’s injury. They may also engage medical experts who will review the evidence and provide an official opinion on whether the medical professionals who delivered your baby have violated the standard of care. In a typical case an expert will assess the medical care provided by defendant to practices typically accepted by medical professionals with similar training and experience.
Damages are awarded for economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages can include medical expenses, lost income, and property damage. Non-economic damages include emotional distress as well as suffering and pain. In rare instances punitive damages can also be awarded. These are meant to penalize the responsible party and discourage similar behaviour in the future. These are separate from the compensation damages that are awarded to recover actual losses.
Medical Experts
Although advances in medicine have made childbirth more safe than ever before, there are some risks for both the mother and baby. It is the responsibility of doctors and nurses involved in the birth process to behave in a professional manner and avoid making mistakes which could have catastrophic consequences for the health of both parties. Parents can sue for damages if nurses and doctors fail to behave appropriately during the delivery.
From the first consultation to the final resolution, a birth injury lawyer will closely assist you with your case. They will gather evidence from you, like witness testimony and medical records. They will also seek expert opinions from other sources such as doctors and specialists.
These experts will examine all the evidence and provide an opinion in writing on whether the injuries were because of medical negligence. The lawyer will use this information to determine the best way to proceed.
If the medical expert agrees that malpractice was committed then your lawyer will file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. This typically consists of the obstetrician responsible for your pregnancy and delivery as well as any surgeons or nurses who assisted in the delivery and the hospital in which the birth took place.
The costs of a lawsuit are high due to the fees for expert witnesses, documents, and depositions. Your lawyer will advance these expenses and reimburse you once they have negotiated a settlement on your behalf.
Prepare for the trial
A birth injury lawyer will take on any case where the baby suffered injuries as a result of doctor negligence, before or during or shortly after delivery. The attorney will look at two factors when analyzing the case whether there evidence of medical negligence and the severity of the injury.
Often, lawyers will consult with medical experts in order to determine whether medical malpractice led to the injury. Experts will carefully review documents from the pregnancy, the child’s birth and the medical treatment for the injuries that occurred afterward. They will also be able to evaluate the effects of the injuries on the child as well as his or her future.
The experts will help the lawyer decide which medical providers should be included in the lawsuit. The lawyer will then send a letter the medical providers and their insurance companies asking them to respond to the claim. A reputable birth injury lawyer will know how work with insurance companies and be ready to go to trial should it be necessary.
Parents may be entitled to damages for medical expenses arising from the injuries suffered by their child. Additionally, you could be awarded damages for the pain and suffering you have endured. The amount of damages could be substantial, especially if the child’s injuries are severe. A good birth injury lawyer will maximize the compensation awarded to parents.
Insurance Companies
While a birth injury lawsuit can’t undo the harm that was done to your child, it could pay for future medical expenses as well as the cost of therapy or home modifications as well as ongoing support. These expenses may seem overwhelming, but a seasoned birth injury lawyer will work with a variety of experts to determine the financial impact on your family of the injury you sustained and the amount of compensation you are entitled to.
To submit a claim for birth injury, you must first prove that your doctor and your child have an professional relationship, and that they violated this relationship by committing a negligent act prior to or during your child’s birth. This can be easy to prove through the collection of your medical records and hospital bills.
Once this is established the lawyer will need to determine the specific actions that the doctor made that were negligent and how they impacted your child’s health. A birth injury lawyer will know where to find the medical evidence, expert witness testimony and other evidence that can be used to prove your claim.
A good birth injury lawyer will take care of all the complexities of your case. They should never 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 receive payment if they win your case and the amount they receive is a percentage of the settlement or award you receive.