Birth Injury Lawyers

Parents who believe their child was injured at birth caused by medical malpractice could be entitled to compensation. It is a complicated process to file a claim and has deadlines that include the statute of limitations or deadlines.

A lawyer for the family can help them review medical records, get expert opinions and build an evidence-based argument. They can also handle communication with insurance companies and negotiate a fair settlement.

Preventable Birth Injuries

Unfortunately, a lot of birth injuries that occur could have been prevented. Whether due to medical negligence or a natural complication, certain injuries cannot heal themselves and can cause life-long complications for the injured child. Some injuries may require expensive treatment options that may be not covered by insurance. The first feelings a parent experiences are usually anger and frustration. They may also experience sadness and shock. They may also wonder how this occurred and if the injury could have been avoided.

A birth injury may be caused by any incident that occurs before or after birth. Some birth injuries are obvious like a skull injury or spinal cord injury. Certain conditions will become apparent as the child ages. Lack of cognitive development and motor growth are signs of brain injury from a birth injury that could have been avoided.

Certain birth injuries can be avoided through regular OB/GYN appointments and careful monitoring of the pregnant mother. Parents should evaluate their risk factors and choose the doctor best suitable for their needs. In addition, the physician must listen to the mother and take her concerns into consideration during labor and delivery. The doctor should also know the time when a C section is required and be able perform one in a safe manner.

Medical Malpractice

A baby's injury at birth can ruin the hopes of parents who have been waiting for this day for many years. Even a seemingly minor medical error could lead to costly treatment for a long time and a lost future for the child.

The best birth injury attorneys will scrutinize medical records to determine if negligence occurred during the birthing procedure. They will then work with medical experts to show that the negligence on the part of the health care professional led to the child's injuries.

Many lawyers provide a free evaluation of your case. These attorneys operate on a contingent fee basis. This means they are not paid until they are successful in winning your case. The top law firms in the country also have access databases of medical information and a team that includes nurse case managers, medical experts and other staff members who can assist in proving your case.

It is best to hire an attorney as early as you possibly can. If you delay until your child is an adult to bring a lawsuit, you will have much less time to develop an effective claim, and the medical documents that support your claim may be long past due. If you do not act swiftly in time, you could miss the time limit for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in your state.

Medical Bills

The medical bills of babies suffering from brain injury, spinal cord injury or other birth injuries that are preventable can be astounding. A successful legal case could help reduce some of these expenses. A settlement or jury award could help pay for medical bills for your child including future ones and also lost earnings due to having stay at home to take care of an injured baby. It can also help with emotional trauma.

When choosing which attorney to select for your case, you should inquire about how many cases they handle at a time and what their success rate is with these kinds of claims. It is also important to take into account their years of malpractice legal experience, since this can affect how they perform in court and when dealing with corporate insurers.

It is also a good idea to inquire about the medical experts who will be working on your case and what their perspective is regarding the potential reasons for the child's injury. Medical experts can provide a unique perspective and can often make a difference in winning an action for medical malpractice.

Additionally, parents should be sure to ask how much a lawyer normally charges for their services. A birth injury lawyer should charge on a contingent fee basis, like many personal injury attorneys. This means that they only get payment if they get an award of financial compensation for the client.