Four Parts of a Legal Claim

When a doctor, hospital or other party results in a birth injury to children, the parents should receive fair compensation for medical expenses and future support. Attorneys work with experts to construct an appeal that meets the four components of a legal claim.

The lawsuit starts when the attorney representing the plaintiff files a summons and complaint with the court. The case will then go through a period of discovery, in which attorneys exchange information, which includes depositions.

Statute of Limitations

Like any personal injury lawsuit such as birth injuries, birth injury lawsuits must be filed within a specific period of time known as a statute of limitations. After the time limit expires, victims and their families might not be able to recover financial compensation from medical malpractice.

Medical malpractice is the result of a doctor or nurse not performing according to the standards of care. In many states, the standard is to practice within their limitations of training, education, and experience. Obstetricians and medical professionals are held to even higher standards because of their unique training and knowledge.

Lawyers often seek evidence of the standard of medical care from experts who testify on behalf of clients. The experts may either look over the case files or conduct depositions of key witnesses in order to assist in proving negligence claims.

The expert witnesses can also distinguish between mistakes and malpractice. A mistake, for example is an error that any competent and reasonably skilled medical professional could have committed in the circumstances. However, the error caused harm. Medical malpractice is a more serious matter and requires an intentional act or omission which causes harm. Most birth injury lawyers apply both theories to ensure that victims receive the right amount of compensation.

A family can sue a private company such as an obstetrician or a hospital, for negligence that causes health issues for a child. Families may also file a wrongful death claim in cases where a severe birth injury results in a child's wrongful death.

Medical Records

It can be a challenge to make a claim if you or someone you know is suffering from a birth defect. A medical malpractice or personal injury attorney can help you gather the required documentation and evidence to increase your chances of obtaining the financial compensation owed.

A successful birth injury claim is based on establishing the four primary elements of medical malpractice that include duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. A skilled lawyer will work with your family in order to establish these elements utilizing medical records and other evidence including expert testimony.

In a medical malpractice case in general, a doctor is liable for his or her actions within the confines of their duties. However, a hospital can be held vicariously responsible for the negligent acts of its employees when they are acting in the course and within the within the scope of their job.

Depending on the nature of your child's injuries, they could require medical or life-care treatments for the rest of his or her life. This could mean a lot of expenses, including hospitalization as well as additional surgeries and procedures and medications such as home care, medical equipment, and other services.

The litigation process for a birth injury case can take years to finish, but an experienced legal team can speed up the process by carefully scrutinizing all the evidence and then delivering it to you promptly. The majority of birth injury lawyers offer free consultations for initial consultations, and they also offer contingency fee agreements. This means that you won't be charged any attorney's charges during the litigation process unless you win compensation.

Expert Witnesses

The medical expert witness can be an important source of information to the judge and birth injury lawsuits jury. The expert is able to analyze the particular case and identify which aspects are crucial to the clinical process. This allows lawyers to concentrate their arguments on what is important and only focus on the pertinent issues. Experts can also translate scientific and medical terms into an easy format to understand for the jury.

To establish a case for a successful lawsuit, four elements must be proved: negligence, breach, causation and damages. To prove this, New York birth injury lawyers can rely on medical records as well as other evidence. They can also identify as defendants any medical professionals who were involved in the treatment and delivery of the child including the hospital or establishment where the birth occurred. They might also be required to name the mother and any other family members who were present during the birth.

After the lawsuit has been filed after which the parties proceed with filing motions, hearings, and discovery. The exchange of medical records, birth injury lawsuits among other things, is a part of the discovery process. The discovery process can last up to a full year. In this time, parties often attempt to reach an agreement. If a settlement is not reached the case will go to trial. The process can take several years, but most cases are settled much faster.

Damages

The process of filing a lawsuit involves creating an argument to seek financial compensation. Your lawyer should be able to construct a strong case, and then undergo trial if necessary. Your lawyer typically advances all court costs and only receives attorney's fees when they can recover money for you.

Your lawyer will submit an Summons and Complaint in the county court in which the injury occurred. Hospitals, doctors and other providers of medical care become defendants. Once the lawsuit has been filed, a number of steps take place, including discovery. This is a stage during which attorneys exchange information and evidence, such as taking depositions or sworn statements from witnesses.

Causation is the most important element of a birth injury lawsuits injury lawsuit. You must prove that a medical professional did not fulfill their duty and that your child would not be hurt if they had not.

The other major aspect of an action for birth injury is proving damages. Your lawyer will seek out experts to determine your losses, from medical bills and lost income to the cost of care for your entire life and emotional stress. Your lawyer might also try to strengthen your claim by submitting results from other malpractice cases that resulted in similar injuries. Your lawyer will also take into consideration the law applicable to your particular injury, such as whether the noneconomic damages cap is applicable.