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The Benefits of a Birth Injury Settlement
A settlement for birth injuries may help pay for medical treatments which are usually expensive. The amount you receive could be contingent on the type of birth injury that your child sustained.
Lifelong care costs are typically due to serious birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy. These expenses are called economic damages, and they are not subject to caps on the maximum amount.
Compensation
When doctors and nurses make mistakes during childbirth which cause permanent, life-changing consequences for the injured baby and/or mother and/or mother, they could be held liable under the law of medical malpractice. In some instances the court awards damages for pain and suffering as well as loss of consortium future and past medical bills, physical therapy and more.
A birth injury lawsuit may also seek reimbursement for other costs that could be avoided if the doctor had not committed negligence, like lost income or diminished earning capacity. Parents who are responsible for their disabled child often have to leave their jobs, which can result in substantial financial losses. Some birth injuries also require expensive equipment or modifications to the home. This can lead to expensive expenses.
Lawyers typically begin the claims process by providing an offer to the hospital's doctor or malpractice insurance company, which includes an extensive description of the injuries and all relevant documents. The insurance company will evaluate the claim and either accept or deny it. If it declines the offer then lawyers will prepare to make a claim.
Some states have indemnity insurance funds for birth injuries. These funds decrease the amount of medical malpractice insurance premiums or charges to Obstetricians. However, these funds might not be sufficient to provide for a lifetime of healthcare. Additionally they don't stop plaintiffs from seeking monetary compensation from other defendants, such as the hospital where the negligence occurred.
Expert Witnesses
The medical experts involved in a birth injury lawsuit owe the mother and child an obligation to adhere to the accepted standards of care. If the healthcare provider fails to meet this obligation and it leads to an injury, they could be held accountable for malpractice. Expert witnesses are required to prove this claim. They are typically doctors working in the same or the same field, who can explain in layman's terms the standard of practice and how the medical professional who was liable for the malpractice did not meet that standard.
An experienced birth injury lawyer knows how to get and present the most expert witness testimony. They are able to anticipate and counter the defenses of healthcare professionals, so that the case will be presented in the best light.
Your attorney will help you determine the total value of your losses and prove it in court. These include both economic damages as well as non-economic ones, like medical expenses or pain and suffering as well as lost income.
A good birth injury lawyer is also proficient in negotiations with insurance companies and is aware of the tactics insurers frequently employ to pressure victims into accepting low-cost offers. Your lawyer can assist you in resisting these pressures and help keep your case moving until the malpractice insurance companies of the medical professionals agree to accept a settlement. Your lawyer can bring a lawsuit to force them into negotiations in good faith if they do not agree.
Statute of Limitations
There are strict deadlines for filing claims on behalf of children who have suffered birth injuries. Medical malpractice claims based on injuries to a mother's body should generally be filed within two-years of the negligent act that caused the claim. In contrast birth injury claims based on injuries to the child can generally be filed until the child turns 10.
The objective of building an argument that is strong is to prove that the medical professional treating your child did not follow the appropriate standard of care. This could mean a thorough examination of medical documents, tests, as well as interviews with other doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who were present during the birth and labor.
If you can prove that a medical professional erred in their duty to meet the standards of care, this does not mean that you will automatically win your claim. It is also necessary to prove that this breach of duty directly caused your child's injuries. This is known as causation, and is a widely contested issue in medical malpractice cases.
Selecting an attorney with the resources to build your case and birth injury lawsuit to go through trial is essential. Your lawyer will typically cover costs for litigation and only be paid if you get compensation. This allows you to focus your attention on the healing of your child and also provides financial security in the event of an extended trial.
Time Limits
Each state has its own statute of limitations or time frame within which you have to start a lawsuit. This limitation ensures that legal proceedings are handled in a timely manner and while physical evidence is still available and the accounts of witnesses remain fresh. For birth injury attorneys injury cases the statute of limitations is usually two and a half years from the date of the negligence or mishap.
However, there are exceptions for injuries suffered by infants. New York law, for example, permits a longer statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims for a child. The deadline is extended to 10 years following the date of birth for the child.
A skilled birth injury lawyer is familiar with the specifics of each State's statute of limitation. They will also know about any particular issues in a birth injury law firms injury case. A majority of birth injury cases involve significant economic damages. This includes future loss of income, or the loss of life expectancy, and the future and past medical costs. Economic damages are not subject to caps that are too high and thus increase the potential value of the birth injury case.
A skilled birth injury lawyer will be well-versed in the process of negotiating and settling claims with insurance adjusters. They will be able to spot the low-ball settlement offer and respond with a fair amount. In some cases settlements can be made without the need for court. In other instances, a trial may be necessary to receive the compensation you deserve.