Don t Buy Into These "Trends" Concerning Birth Injury Claim
The Benefits of a Birth Injury Settlement
A settlement for birth injuries can provide medical treatment that can be costly. The amount of compensation that you receive will depend on the severity and type of birth injury that your child was injured.
Costs for lifelong care are usually associated with severe birth injuries, like cerebral palsy. These costs are known as economic damages and aren't subjected the maximum limits in all states.
Compensation
Medical malpractice laws could hold nurses and doctors accountable for errors they make during childbirth, which can have permanent and life-altering consequences for the baby or mother. In some cases the court could decide to award compensation for damages, including discomfort and pain as well as loss of consortium, past and future physical therapy, medical expenses and more.
A birth injury lawsuit also seeks compensation for other costs that would have been avoided if a doctor did not commit error, such as loss of income or birth injuries decreased earning capacity. Parents who have to care for their children with disabilities often face significant financial losses. Some birth injuries require costly equipment or modifications to the home. This can result in high costs.
Lawyers begin the claim process by sending an initial demand package to the malpractice insurance company of the doctor or hospital with a full description of the accident along with all relevant documents. The insurance company will review the claim and decide whether to accept or decline it. If it rejects the offer the lawyers will be preparing to start a lawsuit.
Some states have indemnity fund for birth injury lawsuits injuries, which reduces the amount of medical malpractice premiums or fees charged by obstetricians. These funds may not cover the costs of lifetime care. Additionally they don't stop plaintiffs from seeking financial compensation from other defendants, such as the hospital where the malpractice occurred.
Expert Witnesses
Medical professionals involved in a lawsuit regarding birth injuries owe the duty of care the mother and child. If the healthcare provider is not able to meet this obligation and results in an injury, then they may be liable. To prove this, you need expert witnesses, typically doctors who are in the same or similar field who can explain the rules of practice in a layman's way and explain how the medical professional violated that standard.
A skilled birth injury lawyer knows how to get and present the most expert witness testimony. They also have the experience to anticipate the healthcare providers defences and counter them in a manner that the case is presented in the most favorable light.
Your attorney can also help you to calculate your total losses and demonstrate them in court. These include non-economic and economic damages, including medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of income.
A reputable birth injury lawyer is also experienced in dealing with insurance companies, and knows the tactics that insurance companies often employ to press victims into accepting lower-priced offers. Your lawyer can assist you in resisting these pressures and keep the case moving until the malpractice insurance companies of the medical providers agree to accept a settlement. If they don't an offer, your lawyer may make a claim to force them to negotiate in good faith.
Statute of limitations
There are strict deadlines for filing claims on behalf of children who suffered birth injuries. For instance, medical malpractice claims based upon injuries to mothers generally need to be filed within two years of the date of the negligent act or omission leading to the claim. Birth injury claims based upon injuries to the child are generally allowed until the child reaches the age of 10.
To prove your case, you must establish that the medical professional who treated your child erred in the lawful standard. This may require a thorough review of medical documents and tests, and it may involve interviewing other nurses, doctors and birth injuries hospital staff who observed the birth and labor process.
If you can prove that a medical professional did not to uphold the standard of medical care, that does not mean that you automatically be able to win your case. You must prove that this negligence directly caused your child's injuries. This is known as causation and is an extremely litigated issue in medical malpractice cases.
It is important to choose an attorney who has the resources needed to construct your case and, after that, go through the process of trial. Your lawyer will typically provide you with a loan for your lawsuit and only be paid when they get compensation for you. This allows you to concentrate your focus on the healing of your child and gives you financial security in the event of a lengthy trial.
Time Limits
Each state has its own statute of limitations or time frame within which you are required to make a claim. This is to ensure that legal matters are handled quickly, and while evidence and witness statements are fresh. In cases involving birth injuries, the statute of limitations is usually two and a half years from the date of the negligence or mishap.
However there are exceptions to injuries suffered by infants. New York law, for example, allows for longer time limits on medical malpractice claims for children. The deadline is extended to 10 years from the date of birth for the child.
A skilled birth injury lawyer will be familiar with the particulars of each state's statute of limitations. They will be aware of any special concerns that arise from the case of a child's birth injury. For instance, many birth injury cases involve significant economic damages, which include future loss of income (or loss of life expectation) and past and foreseeable medical expenses. Economic damages do not have a maximum cap which can increase the value of the case.
An experienced birth injury attorney will be well-versed in the process of negotiating and settlement claims with insurance adjusters. They will know how to spot a lowball offer and utilize their expert knowledge to counter-offer an acceptable amount of settlement. In some instances, settlements can be reached without the need for court. In certain cases, a trial is necessary to get the compensation you deserve.