9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Birth Injury Lawyer
Why You Should Hire a Birth Injury Attorney
If your child has suffered a birth injury resulting from medical malpractice, you could be entitled to compensation for special damages. These include past and future medical expenses, lost wages to provide care for your child, and many more.
You will need to prove the medical professionals breached their duty of care in order to win your case. Your lawyer can aid you in proving this by utilizing medical experts.
Getting Started
As parents, you could be overwhelmed with taking care of a newborn and the associated medical costs. You could also be dealing with emotional trauma due to the possibility that your child suffered an injury to their birth due to medical negligence.
You are entitled to bring an action against the hospital or doctor responsible for your child's injuries however, you'll require an experienced birth injury lawyer to create a strong case and help you get an equitable settlement. An experienced attorney can manage the communication with insurance companies and file your claim. They will also be able to ensure that you've met the statute of limitations applicable to you.
The first step is obtaining an assessment of your case free of charge from an experienced lawyer. During the consultation the lawyer will review all medical records to determine whether you have a valid claim for compensation.
A reputable birth injury lawyer will have experience handling medical malpractice cases and knows how to assess the merits of your claim. In addition, the best lawyers have a proven track of success in court. When interviewing an attorney, ask them how many cases they usually handle at a time and if they have a staff to assist them in managing their current caseload. This will give you an insight into the amount of attention your case will receive.
Medical Records - How Do I Get Them
In many cases, medical negligence during labor and delivery can cause serious injuries to infants as as their families. A successful lawsuit could help with future medical requirements of the child. While a settlement can't undo the harm done by medical staff however it can help families pay for the necessary treatments and therapies.
A reputable birth injury lawyer should be aware of the laws regarding malpractice claims in your state. They are also likely to have represented clients who have similar cases to yours. They may not provide specific details on settlements or verdicts from the past as such documents usually contain confidentiality provisions, but a skilled birth injury lawyer should be able to provide a general idea of how they have helped their clients.
Your birth injury lawyer will start by reviewing medical records to determine whether you have an instance. They may need to get expert testimony. Typically, this means consulting with other physicians to obtain an opinion on whether the doctor's actions went against the standard of medical care during your child's birth.
If your lawyer believes you have a legitimate case, they will bring a lawsuit against the defendants. This includes the nurse or doctor who delivered your child and hospital staff and anyone else involved in its birth. A successful lawsuit may get you compensation for the loss of your family's income, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and suffering.
Gathering Evidence
While advances in medicine have made childbirth much more secure than in the past, birth injury mothers and their babies still face some risk of complications. A doctor's carelessness can lead to a lifetime of medical expenses and financial burdens for families. A birth injury lawyer can help the injured party seek financial compensation from the responsible medical professionals.
A successful claim will require evidence that the injuries resulted from medical malpractice. This will require studying medical records and seeking opinions from medical experts to determine if the treatment met accepted standards of care. Medical malpractice may include birth trauma, Birth Injury obstetrical malpractices and injuries sustained during labor and delivery.
An experienced injury attorney can identify the most convincing evidence and witness testimonies to prove your case. They will also be competent to negotiate with insurance companies and file a suit in the event of need. They are aware of the tactics that insurance companies employ to cut down on settlements and are able to manage the process from beginning to completion.
A good birth injury lawyer will practice on a contingency basis that means they pay for your expenses and take a percentage if they win. This can save you money in the end because you don't have worry about paying an upfront cost.
Filing a Lawsuit
Your lawyer will file a suit on your behalf if they believe you have an unsubstantiated claim. It's important to start this process as soon as possible, as the longer you wait for, the more difficult will be to create an argument that is strong and get an appropriate amount of compensation for your child.
Your lawyer will then send a letter to the medical provider(s) informing them about your malpractice claims. The lawyer will negotiate with their insurance providers in an effort to settle the matter. A good birth injury law firm injury attorney has the knowledge and experience to understand the tactics insurers employ to reduce settlement offers.
Your lawyer could also work with financial and medical experts to determine the right amount to request in the form of a damages award. The amount you request will be based on the impact the injury has caused your family financially as well as emotionally. It will also include any ongoing medical treatments and estimates of cost of living.
If your lawyer is unable negotiate a settlement with the defendant(s) in your case, they will bring your case to trial. Typically, this occurs in front of the jury and judge who will decide the outcome of your case. A successful trial can often result in more money than a settlement.