Erb's Palsy Litigation

Legal action following your child's injury to the brachial plexus could aid you and your family find closure. The process of litigation is complicated and requires a skilled lawyer.

A successful lawsuit could grant your family compensation for child's medical bills and future treatment. Find out more about the Erb's palsy litigation procedure.

The Legal Process

The most frequent reason families file an Erb's palsy lawsuit is to obtain compensation for medical expenses and other losses. The amount of money offered in a settlement depends on the specific situation of your child and the extent of their injuries, but it could easily reach the thousands of dollars.

Many Erb's palsy lawsuits are settled out of court. The lawyers representing both the plaintiff and defendant collaborate to negotiate an agreement that is acceptable to both parties. This can significantly shorten the legal process and prevent your family from having to appear before a judge or jury. However, if the family is unable to reach the terms of settlement, you'll need to go to trial. This can take a lot of time, but could also result in a bigger amount.

The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that control movement within the arm. Forcing the head, neck, arms or Erb's Palsy lawsuit shoulders during labor and delivery -for example, when doctors employ forceps or vacuum extractors excessively -- can harm these nerves, causing Erb's palsy. The injury is often prevented. Families bring lawsuits to hold negligent healthcare providers accountable for the harm they cause. They also seek to increase awareness about this birth injury which could have been avoided. In the past these lawsuits have allowed families to obtain an appropriate financial settlement to help their child get back on path.

Mediation or Arbitration

If your child was injured by an injury to the brachial area during pregnancy due to medical negligence, an Erb's palsy settlement could help you pay for his or her care. This could include surgery, therapy as well as assistive devices and treatment.

Many lawsuits are settled out of court. This lets plaintiffs receive their an amount of money faster and avoids the possibility of a court ruling to overturn a jury verdict. Your lawyer and the hospital's attorneys will likely seek to negotiate a settlement before the trial starts.

If you are unable to reach a settlement the case will be taken to arbitration. A neutral third party will listen to both sides and decide who is the winner of the case. This type of hearing is more informal than a court trial however it is vital to present witnesses and other physical evidence.

It is also necessary to have copies of all your legal documents and witnesses to present them at the hearing. You can either invite your witnesses to the hearing or give statements through video conferencing. You must ensure that all your witnesses are aware they must attend the hearing by submitting subpoenas prior to the hearing. Additionally, you should keep your witnesses' addresses and contact numbers on file in case they're called as a witness in the future.

Complaint to the Court

Many children suffering from erb's palsy attorneys Palsy are able to overcome physical limitations by regular physical therapy. Some may require surgery to repair torn or damaged nerve fibers. However, a significant proportion of children are not able to recover to any measurable degree and will be forced to live with the effects of this birth injury for the rest of their life. Parents who believe that their child's Erb's syndrome was the result of negligence by a medical professional during the birth process have the right to seek an appropriate amount of compensation for their child's injuries.

Your lawyer will collaborate with doctors who specialize in treating this condition to develop a lifetime cost of living estimate. This determines the amount you are entitled to receive from your Erb's palsy settlement. Your lawyer can also help you obtain copies of your child's medical records and determine if the doctor who performed your child's birth had a history of similar malpractice cases.

If your lawyer has a clear understanding of your child's injuries and the extent of the injuries, she will file a lawsuit against the defendants. Both sides will go through the discovery process that involves exchanging evidence like expert opinions, depositions, medical documents, and so on. This is a crucial aspect of your legal proceeding because it gives both sides the chance to develop their arguments. It can take as long as a year to arrive at a settlement.

Settlement

When your Erb's palsy lawsuit is successful, your lawyer might be able to get compensation that covers medical expenses and future costs for treatment, including adaptive devices and physical therapy. You could be awarded damages resulting from emotional trauma or loss of quality of life.

Your lawyer will have to collect evidence to prove the negligence that caused the brachial plexus injury to your child that could include medical documents, witness statements and expert testimony. Once your lawyer has gathered the evidence, he will file a lawsuit against the defendants. These are usually the medical professionals who delivered your child. The defendants are given a specified amount of time to respond to the suit, and during the discovery phase both sides will gather more evidence to support their assertions.

Most lawsuits are settled out of court, rather than going to trial due to the fact that it is cost-effective for everyone involved. However, if your attorney is confident they can win in court, they might decide to take the case to an appeals court verdict. A successful verdict in an injury lawsuit for birth can provide families with a sense justice and help raise awareness to prevent these kinds of injuries from happening again in the future. However, if your verdict is not in your favor it is possible to appeal the decision. This could take a bit longer, but it can increase the amount you receive.