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How a Birth Injury Claim Works
You may be entitled to compensation when a medical professional is negligent and your child suffers injury during birth. In general, the amount money you receive will depend on a number of factors.
The lawsuit process begins with your attorney filing an complaint against the defendants. Both parties will then engage in discovery where they will exchange evidence and other information including medical records.
Medical expenses
Medical expenses related to a birth injury can vary in a significant way based on the nature of your child's injuries. Broken bones, for example may require surgery and long-term therapy. Similarly, nerve damage caused by pressure from a manual or rough handling during the delivery can cause permanent limitation and pain. birth injury law firm alhambra will analyze your child's needs and estimate the costs of treatment over a lifetime to ensure that you are compensated for your expenses.
You will have to establish that the healthcare professional was owed the duty of care, that they violated this duty and that their lapse resulted in your child's injuries. This typically requires medical experts to examine the case and offer an opinion based on their experience.
Depending on your situation, you could name multiple hospitals and healthcare professionals as defendants in the lawsuit. This includes the doctor who delivered your baby, their assistants, and the hospital where the birth occurred. Your legal team will write letters to each of these parties notifying them that a medical malpractice claim has been made and that they have the chance to settle the issue prior to filing an action.
Suffering and pain
A birth injury lawsuit can result in compensation for emotional and physical harms sustained by the child. The amount of compensation an individual family receives is contingent on the severity of the injuries and their effects on a child's daily life.
Parents must demonstrate that the medical professional or facility did not operate in accordance with the standard of care to win a claim. It means that a physician or hospital's actions or inactions led to injuries to patients. Both sides typically employ medical experts to help define the standard. Specialists like obstetricians are held to higher standards than generalist doctors.
Most birth injury cases are settled prior to going to trial. Trials can be costly, risky and lengthy. A settlement provides families with financial compensation much sooner and in a less threatening process. Settlements will ensure that the needs of the future of children are met. This may include the costs of a disability van or home modifications, as well as specialized equipment and regular medical treatment for ailments like cerebral palsy.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages are among the most severe award a jury could make in cases involving birth injuries. They are usually awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from committing similar offenses. These awards are designed to make the victims believe that their cases were considered seriously.
A New York City personal injury lawyer can help you assess the value of your claim including non-economic damages. They can also bring a lawsuit for punitive damages in the event that they are appropriate. Punitive damages are granted based on the defendant's behavior or on a remark of moral immorality. They usually amount to four times the amount of other damages.
A lawyer can assist you to win a significant award for medical expenses of your child and other financial losses. They can also file a suit for emotional trauma, as well as other damages that are not financial. Some states have caps on the amount of compensation a victim may receive. Virginia is an example. Virginia restricts damages to the cost of treatment until the victim reaches their tenth birthday. Other states have caps on pain and suffering, as well as other damages.
Damages for non-economic damages
In a majority of cases children's injuries cause long-term care. This includes medical treatments therapies, as well as other expenses. This may include the loss of future earnings if the injury interferes with the child's capacity to work and earn money. This is known as loss consortium.
Your lawyer will help you to calculate the full costs of your child's injuries which includes non-economic damages. They will collaborate with expert witnesses to build a solid case to prove the severity of your child's injuries and their effects on their life. They will also rely on expert testimony to show that the doctor violated their duty of care.
They can request access to your child’s medical records. These are essential to your case. These documents are crucial to request as soon as you can in the event of an injury to your birth. They can be lost, misplaced or destroyed. Your attorney can assist you in getting these documents as quickly as is possible.
Economic damages - Damages
A birth injury can result in a variety of costs that aren't immediately evident. These include medical expenses that have already been paid, as well as projected costs for future therapy and in-home medical treatment, medications, adaptable equipment, and transportation to and from doctor and therapist appointments.
Furthermore, a serious disability can hinder an individual's ability to earn a living wage. It can also have a ripple affect on the finances of a family. Parents may have to take a break from their work or quit their jobs completely to care for a disabled child. This could lead to loss of income.
Parents who seek a birth injury claim must keep track of all expenses and losses to determine the maximum amount they could be awarded. When a judge or jury awards damages, they must take into account a victim's lifelong needs. The greater the amount is, the more accurate the estimation of future medical costs. Non-economic damages can also be granted even though they are harder to quantify. These may include emotional suffering, distress as well as loss of quality of life and loss of consortium.