What Is Birth Injury Lawyers And How To Use It
How a Birth Injury Attorney Can Help Families Get the Compensation They Need
Although advances in medicine have made childbirth safer than ever however, complications may still occur after the birth of the baby. If you suspect your child has suffered injuries to the birth that could have been prevented, contact a birth injury lawyer right away.
A firm that specializes on birth injuries will typically finance all litigation costs and only be paid when they receive compensation in your case.
Damages
While advances in medicine have made birthing safer than ever before but many mothers and their babies are still at risk of risk of injury due to a number of reasons. This includes oxygen deprivation, head trauma and infections. These injuries can lead to permanent and traumatic disabilities, including cerebral palsy. A reputable birth injury lawyer will help families obtain compensation for the lifetime medical and treatment they require.
Your attorney will request all pertinent medical records and reports related to your baby's injury. They will also engage medical experts to review the evidence and give a formal opinion about whether the medical personnel involved in the birth of your baby violated the standard of care. In a typical instance, an expert will evaluate the medical treatment offered by the defendant with the standard practices used by other medical professionals who have similar education and experience.
Non-economic and economic damages can be awarded. Economic damages cover expenses including future and present medical bills, lost income and property losses. Non-economic damages include emotional distress and pain and suffering. In rare instances, punitive damages may also be awarded. These are meant to penalize the person who is at fault and deter similar behavior in the future. They are distinct from compensatory damages given to compensate for actual losses.
Medical Experts
While medical advances have made childbirth more safe than ever before, there are still certain risks for both mother and baby. It is the responsibility of the nurses and doctors involved in the birth to act professionally, and to avoid making mistakes which could result in devastating consequences for both baby and mother's health. When they fail to follow through and cause birth injuries parents may be able to seek compensation for their losses.
An attorney for birth injuries will be in close contact with you throughout the duration of your case, from the initial consultation through to the final resolution. They will collect evidence from you, including witness testimony and medical records. They will also get expert opinions from other sources including doctors and specialists.
These experts will review all the evidence and give an opinion in writing on whether the injuries were caused due to medical negligence. This will be used by the lawyer to decide the best way to proceed.
If a medical professional agrees with you that malpractice occurred the lawyer will bring suit against the accountable parties. This includes the obstetrician who was in charge of your pregnancy, and any surgeons, nurses or hospital personnel who assisted during the delivery.
The cost of a lawsuit can be high due to the cost for expert witnesses, records, and depositions. Your lawyer will pay for these costs, and then reimburse you after they have settled your case.
Preparing for a trial
A birth injury lawyer will work every case where the baby was injured due to doctor negligence, before or during or shortly after delivery. The lawyer will take into consideration two factors when analyzing the case to determine if there evidence of medical negligence and how severe the injury is.
Often, attorneys consult with medical experts to determine whether medical malpractice led to the injury. Experts will examine all documentation related to birth, pregnancy, and medical treatment for injuries. They will also be able evaluate the effects of the injuries on the child as well as their future.
The experts will help the lawyer to determine which medical providers should be included in the lawsuit. The lawyer will send a formal letter to the medical providers and their insurance companies and ask them to respond to the claim. A reputable birth injury lawyer will be able to negotiate with insurance companies and be prepared to bring the case to trial if necessary.
Parents may be entitled to damages for past and future medical expenses related to the injuries of their child. You may also be entitled to damages for the pain and suffering you have endured. These damages can be significant, especially if the child's injuries are severe. A reputable birth injury lawyer will increase the amount of money awarded to parents.
Insurance Companies
Although a lawsuit for birth injury law firms injuries can't undo the harm that was done to your child, it could be used to pay for future medical expenses, the cost of therapy, home modifications and on-going support. The costs could seem overwhelming, but a knowledgeable birth injury lawyer will work with several experts to determine the financial effects on your family from the injury you sustained and how much compensation you are entitled to.
To claim a birth injuries you must first establish that your doctor and your child had an professional relationship, and that they violated this relationship by committing a negligent act prior to or during the time of your child's birth. It is easy to demonstrate this by looking up your hospital bills and medical records.
Once this is established, the lawyer will need to determine what specific actions the doctor performed that were negligent and how these affected the health of your child. A birth injury lawyer will know what to look for and where you can get the medical records and expert witness testimony to demonstrate your case.
A competent birth injury attorney will take care of all the complexities of your case. They should never require you to pay out of your pocket to seek justice. They must be able to work on an ad-hoc basis. This means they will only get paid when they win your case and their fee is a percentage from the settlement or award.