Birth Injury Lawyers

Parents who believe that their child was injured at birth due to medical malpractice may be entitled to compensation. The process of filing a claim can be complicated and is subject to deadlines that include the statute of limitations.

A family lawyer can help review medical records, get expert opinions and create an evidence-based case. They can also handle communications with insurance companies and negotiate an acceptable settlement.

Prevention of Birth Injuries

Sadly, a lot of birth injuries that happen could have been avoided. Some injuries, whether caused by negligence in the medical field or a natural issue, do not heal and can lead to life-long complications. Some injuries will also require expensive treatments that aren't covered by insurance. The first emotions parents experience are typically anger and frustration. They might also experience sadness and shock. They might also be wondering what happened and if the injury could have been avoided.

Birth injuries can be caused by any event that takes place prior to, or during the birth. Some birth injuries are obvious like a skull fracture or damage to the spinal cord. Others will become apparent as the child gets older. The lack of cognitive development and motor skills are indicators of brain injury from a birth injury that could have been avoided.

Certain birth injuries can be prevented by monitoring the mother during pregnancy and by regular OB-GYN visits. Parents should consider their risk factors and choose a doctor who is most appropriate for their requirements. Additionally, the doctor should listen to the mother and take her opinions into consideration during labor and birth. The doctor must be competent and willing to perform C sections in a C section with care.

Medical Malpractice

A baby's injuries at birth could ruin the hopes of parents, who have been waiting for this day for years. Even a minor medical error could cause years of costly treatment, and a lifetime of loss of potential for the injured child.

The top birth injury lawyers will review medical documents and other evidence to determine if there was any mistakes made during the birthing process. They will then work with medical experts to demonstrate that this negligence by the medical professional caused your child's preventable injuries.

Many attorneys will offer an initial free case assessment and offer services on a contingent fee basis, which means they are not paid until they succeed in winning your case. The top national law firms also have access to huge databases of medical records and an entire team of nurses, case managers as well as medical experts and other staff members who can help you strengthen your case.

It is best to engage an attorney as early as you can. If you wait until your child is an adult to bring a lawsuit then you'll have less time to develop a strong claim and the medical evidence supporting your claim could have expired long ago. If you don't act quickly, the time limitation for filing a claim for medical malpractice in your state may have passed.

Medical Bills

The medical costs for a baby with a spinal cord injury, or other birth injuries that can be prevented could be shocking. Fortunately an effective legal claim can help cut down on some of the costs. A settlement or jury award could cover your child's future and current medical costs, lost wages resulting from having to stay home to care for the injured baby, as well as emotional stress.

When selecting an attorney it is crucial to determine the number of cases they handle at any given time and their rates of success in these types of claims. It is also crucial to consider the length of their experience in the field of malpractice law as it can impact how they do in court, or when negotiating with corporate insurance companies.

It is also a good idea to inquire about the medical experts who will be working on your case and what their view is on the likely causes of the child's injuries. Medical experts can provide an important viewpoint and often make the difference in winning a medical malpractice case.

Finally, parents should be sure to inquire as to how much a lawyer typically charges for their services. A birth injury lawyer will charge on a contingent basis, similar to most personal injury attorneys. This means they will only receive payment if they get an award of financial compensation for the client.