What is a birth injury lawyer?
Birth injury lawyers are a subset of personal injury attorneys who help pursue legal justice for newborns affected by preventable injuries.
Many birth injuries can be severe and leave children physically and/or mentally disabled for their entire lives. Lifelong treatment may be needed to manage symptoms in these cases.
Sadly, some families struggle to pay for medical expenses. According to a study by Massachusetts General Hospital, around 40% of families struggle to pay for costs associated with their child’s disability.
Thankfully, a birth injury lawyer can pursue money on a family’s behalf to cover the cost of lifelong treatments. Lawyers can also hold negligent health care workers accountable for harming a baby.
Birth injury lawyers can:
- Build a case against the doctors or nurses who delivered the child
- File the case within the appropriate court of law
- Gather supporting evidence, including witness testimonies and medical records
- Help families receive financial compensation
Some birth injury cases award millions of dollars to families suffering from the effects of severe birth injuries.
If you believe your child suffered from a birth injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Get a free case review today to see if you qualify.
Birth injuries and medical negligence
While each case is different, some birth injuries could have been prevented with proper medical care.
Medical professionals have years — if not decades — of experience delivering babies. They should know how to safely prevent birth injuries or the dangerous conditions that may cause them.
Unfortunately, health care professionals sometimes make easily preventable mistakes that cause birth injuries. When this happens, it may be considered medical malpractice. Birth injury lawyers can hold medical professionals responsible for these negligent actions by filing a lawsuit.
Situations that may be considered medical negligence during childbirth include:
- Failure to monitor signs of fetal distress
- Failure to monitor or treat maternal infection
- Failure to detect or treat oxygen deprivation (asphyxia) or lack of oxygen to the brain (hypoxia)
- Failure to perform a necessary C-section (cesarean section)
- Improper use of delivery tools such as forceps or vacuum extractor
- Use of excessive or unnecessary force on the child’s head, neck, shoulders, or arms as they exit the birth canal
An experienced birth injury lawyer can help prove your child’s injury was caused by medical negligence in a court of law to help your family win compensation.
What types of cases do birth injury lawyers handle?
Birth trauma lawyers handle personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice lawsuits. These lawyers represent families filing claims for many types of birth injuries.
Some cases that birth injury lawyers handle include:
- Brain damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Erb’s palsy or brachial plexus injury
- Infant hematoma
- Intrauterine fetal demise
- Kernicterus
- Severe jaundice
- Spinal cord injuries
A birth injury lawyer can assess your specific case to see if you are qualified to take legal action for your child’s injuries. From there, your lawyer can start building a case to help get compensation for medical bills and other expenses.
You do not need a formal diagnosis to get a free consultation with a lawyer. Our trusted team of registered nurses and patient advocates can help determine if you are eligible.
What to look for in a birth injury lawyer
When looking for a birth injury lawyer, make sure you feel comfortable and trust they will do everything they can to help you win your case.
Do not feel obligated to work with the first lawyer you contact. Make sure you find a birth trauma lawyer who has the right qualifications and experience to ensure your claim is in good hands.
Learn about the characteristics of a top birth injury lawyer below.
Experience
It is important to work with a lawyer who has handled other birth injury cases similar to yours. If your lawyer has no prior experience with birth injury lawsuits, they may not know how to get the most amount of money possible in your case.
Working with an experienced lawyer who specializes in birth injury claims can give you the best chance at winning financial compensation.
National reach
Many birth injury lawyers work at national law firms that handle cases across the country. These law firms also have local offices to help families in different locations.
Birth trauma lawyers with national reach also know the statute of limitations in each state, which can help ensure your lawsuit is filed in a timely manner.
No upfront costs
Top birth injury lawyers do not charge any upfront costs. An experienced birth trauma lawyer will provide you with a free case evaluation and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they will not collect any legal fees unless you win your lawsuit.
Resources
Birth injury lawyers also have access to valuable resources such as medical databases to help strengthen your claim.
Experienced staff members such as nurse case managers, medical experts, and others can help prove your child’s brain injury could have been prevented with proper care from health care providers.
Finding a birth injury lawyer
Medical professionals are expected to provide high-quality care and prevent any injuries during the birthing process. Sadly, small medical mistakes can lead to years of intensive treatment such as surgery, medication, and different types of therapy.
If your child suffered a severe and preventable birth injury, you should not have to pay for expensive medical treatment. Thankfully, a birth injury lawyer will fight on your behalf to obtain compensation that can cover medical bills and other costs related to a birth injury diagnosis.
If you believe your child’s birth injury was preventable, you may be able to work with a lawyer right now. Get a free case evaluation to see if your family qualifies.