A How-To Guide For Birth Defect Claim From Start To Finish
How to File a Birth Defect Lawsuit
Modern technology and medicine have dramatically reduced the risks of childbirth. However, birth defects or injury still occurs frequently.
A birth defect lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses of your child as well as educational costs and other losses. To pursue such an action, you must prove that a medical professional did not meet the standard of care prior to pregnancy or delivery.
Damages
Pregnancy is among the most exciting and stressful moments in the life of a parent. Parents want their children to be perfect, and doctors try to do all they can to prevent birth defects from happening. Medical negligence and carelessness can increase the risk of birth defects and injuries. If this happens an astonished family might want to pursue justice via a birth defect lawsuit.
A successful birth defect lawsuit can result in damages for a multitude of different things. These include a victim's pain and suffering, loss of consortium, medical expenses and lost earning capacity. The amount of damages a person suffers will depend on the degree of their child's health and the extent that it has affected with their daily life.
Birth defects and birth injuries can be caused by a number of causes that include environmental exposures. Studies have proven that pesticides, such as lead and fungicides as well as paints, heavy metals and heavy metals can increase the risk of birth defects. Birth defect lawyers have brought lawsuits against companies that exposed workers to toxic chemicals, as well against pharmaceutical companies who have manufactured drugs that could cause birth defects in fetuses such as DES.
If you suspect that medical negligence caused the birth injury or birth defect, you should consult a lawyer for birth defects immediately. In some states, you have only one year to file a lawsuit claiming medical malpractice. If you wait, it could mean that your child won't get the justice they deserve.
Statute of limitations
A statute of limitations is a law that establishes the time limit for a person to file a civil action. If a claimant fails to file by the deadline, they will lose the right to collect damages from a defendant. Birth injury cases have more complex statutes of limitations than other types of medical malpractice claims.
A lawsuit is typically filed against the hospital or doctor that caused an injury to a patient during labor and delivery. These cases are sometimes known as birthing injuries suits or wrongful birth lawsuits, however Florida's laws allow parents to file a malpractice lawsuit in the event of the death of an infant.
In a medical malpractice lawsuit the injured party must prove that the doctor at fault did not follow the standards of care and consideration another medical professional would have utilized in similar circumstances. This includes failing diagnose a serious illness, such as low oxygen levels during childbirth which can lead to cerebral palsy and brain damage.
The first step to file a birth defect lawsuit is to speak with a skilled attorney. Most attorneys offer free consultations and reviews of cases to potential clients. If the attorney believes a client has a valid case, they will review medical records and appoint experts to review the case. They will also help prepare documents and file the medical malpractice lawsuit in time.
Expert Witnesses
In a case involving birth injuries it is crucial to have experts who can explain medical practices and procedures to a jury. However, expert witnesses aren't easy to work with as they have to carefully review huge quantities of information and make decisions based on the facts rather than opinions. Additionally, they must be able to testify regarding facts that might conflict with their opinions.
In the Daubert case the plaintiffs' experts argued that Bendectin had caused the birth defects of their child. The judge concluded that the evidence was at the "cutting edge of research in science, where reality meets theory and the certainty transforms into probability." However the judge did believe there was enough evidence that Bendectin increased the chance of developing birth defects.
The Daubert ruling was a setback for the plaintiffs, who had suing pharmaceutical companies to get justice. There are many ways that the injured party could pursue a birth defect lawsuit.
A Philadelphia birth defect lawyer can assist victims in determining if they have a case. A lawyer can assist plaintiffs determine if they are qualified to file an individual lawsuit or a class action. In certain instances a lawyer may make a birth injury claim as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). Please fill out the form below to get a confidential and free consultation with an attorney.
Representation
Modern technology and recent advances in medicine may have reduced the chance of complications arising during pregnancy and childbirth but they're still not completely eliminated. If a birth defect injury occurs, and birth Defect lawsuit the cause was preventable parents can pursue legal action to pay for the costs associated with treatment.
Medical negligence claims are typically based on a doctor's failure diagnose or treat a condition. For instance, a physician may fail to conduct an ultrasound examination or make a mistake during surgery, resulting in a birth defect, such as spina bifida. Other causes for a birth defect lawsuit include inadequate medication for the mother or exposure to chemicals or other environmental dangers while the baby is growing in the womb.
A birth defect can affect any part of a newborn's body. It can affect their health, performance and appearance. In certain instances, a birth defect can severely reduce a baby's life expectancy or result in an enormous amount of medical expenses.
Contact an attorney for birth defects immediately if you believe the birth defect or injury was caused by medical negligence or carelessness during labor or birth. A lawyer can assist you discover your options and submit a claim before the statute of limitations expires. A lawyer might also be capable of negotiating an agreement on behalf of you with the responsible parties for the injuries your infant sustained.