How To Know If You re All Set For Birth Injury Lawyers
How a Birth Injury Attorney Can Help Families Get the Compensation They Need
Complications are still possible during and after a child's birth despite advances in medical technology making it more secure than ever. If you believe your child suffered a preventable birth injury, speak to an experienced birth injury attorney immediately.
A firm that specializes on birth injuries will typically advance all litigation expenses and only be paid when they receive an award in your case.
Damages
While advances in medicine have made childbirth much safer than it used to be however, many mothers and infants are still at risk for injuries due to a variety reasons. This includes oxygen deprivation, head trauma and infections. These injuries can lead to lasting and severe disabilities such as cerebral palsy. A good birth injury attorney can assist families in obtaining the compensation they require to fund lifelong care and care.
Your attorney will ask for all medical records and reports related to the injuries sustained by your baby. He or she will also engage medical experts to review the evidence and provide an opinion regarding whether the medical experts involved in the birth of your baby breached the standard of care. In a typical case, an expert will examine the medical care offered by the defendant with practices typically accepted by medical experts with similar experience and training.
Damages can be awarded for economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages include medical costs as well as lost income and property damage. Non-economic damages include emotional distress, suffering and pain. In rare cases, punitive damages may also be awarded. These are intended to punish the at-fault party and prevent similar conduct in the future. They differ from compensatory damages, which are awarded to cover actual losses.
Medical Experts
While medical advances have made childbirth safer than ever, the procedure still involves some risk for both mother and child. It is the responsibility of doctors and nurses who are involved in the birth to behave in a professional manner, and to avoid mistakes that could have disastrous consequences for both baby and mother's health. When they fail to do so and cause birth injuries parents can seek compensation for their losses.
A birth injury attorney will work closely with you for the duration of your case, starting from the initial consultation through to the final resolution. They will collect evidence from you, such as witness testimony and medical records. They will also get expert opinions from other sources, including doctors and specialists.
They will look over the evidence and give a formal opinion as to whether the injuries resulted from negligence on the part of a medical professional. The lawyer will then use this information to determine the best way to proceed.
If the medical expert agrees that malpractice was committed the lawyer will file an action against the accountable parties. This typically consists of the obstetrician who was responsible for the delivery and pregnancy and any nurses or surgeons who assisted during the birth as well as the hospital in which the birth took place.
The cost of a lawsuit can be high due to the many fees like those for documents, expert witnesses, and depositions. Your lawyer will advance these costs and then reimburse you when they have won a settlement on your behalf.
Preparing for trial
A birth injury lawyer will work every case where the baby was injured as a result of doctor negligence, before or during or shortly after delivery. In analyzing the case the lawyer will look at two things: whether there is evidence of medical negligence and the extent of the injury.
Attorneys often consult with medical experts to determine if the injury was caused by medical malpractice. Experts will carefully review documents from the pregnancy, the child's birth and the medical treatment received for the injuries later. They will also be able assess the impact of the injuries on the child as well as his or her future.
The experts will assist the lawyer in identifying which medical professionals are to be named as defendants 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 good birth injury attorney will know how to negotiate with insurance companies and be ready to bring the case to trial if necessary.
Parents could be entitled to damages for past and future medical expenses resulting from the injuries sustained by their child. You could also be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. The amount of damages could be substantial in the event that the child's injuries are severe. A good birth injury attorney will be able to maximize the amount of money paid to the parents.
Insurance Companies
While a birth injury lawsuit can't undo the harm that was done to your child, it may pay for future medical expenses and the cost of therapy, home modifications and on-going support. The costs could seem daunting, but a skilled birth injury lawyer will collaborate with a team of experts to assess the financial impact on your family due to a specific injury and how much compensation you are entitled to.
The first step in a birth injury claim is to establish that the doctor who handled your case had an professional relationship with you and your child and that they violated that relationship by acting negligently either prior to or after the child's birth injury law firm. This can be easy to prove by obtaining your medical records and hospital bills.
After this is established the lawyer will have to determine the specific actions that the doctor performed that were negligent and how these affected your child's health. A birth injury attorney will know what to look for and where to obtain the medical records and expert witness testimony needed to establish your case.
A good birth injury attorney will handle all the complexities of your case and will never ask you to pay out of pocket to pursue justice. They should be able and willing to work on an ad-hoc basis. This means that they only get paid when they win your case and their fee is a proportion of the settlement or award.