Medical professionals spend years studying in college and working in the field to ensure they are providing the best medical care possible to patients. However, they are humans and prone to making mistakes. Unfortunately, these mistakes can have devastating consequences.
Errors that occur during child delivery can cause birth injuries that affect the child’s length and quality of life. These injuries can cause health problems and disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, and permanent brain damage. These issues can have a profound effect on a child’s mental and physical development as well as generate a host of medical and financial challenges for the family.
Although it can’t reverse the circumstances that caused the birth injury, filing a lawsuit against the responsible party can help the family collect compensation to pay for medical treatments and assistive devices to help the child overcome the challenges of his or her condition. The first step to achieving this outcome is to hire a birth injury attorney in Houston.
Once the lawyer agrees to take your case, he will file papers with the court, notifying the defendant of your intention to sue. The defendant will either hire an attorney or have one appointed by the medical facility the person’s works for or the malpractice insurance company. Afterwards, the attorney for the defendant will file a response to the lawsuit.
Depending on the case, there will be a period of discovery. Medical files and other evidence will be acquired, and witnesses—such as nurses and other doctors—to the event will be interviewed. Medical experts may also be consulted for assistance with interpreting the evidence. The purpose of this process is to determine whether the harm done to the child was the result of negligence or wrongdoing on the part of the defendant.
After the evidence has been collected, the parties will either negotiate a settlement or go to trial. In either case, it’s a good idea to have a knowledgeable and experienced birth injury attorney in Houston on your side, representing your interests. The attorney will work hard to present the evidence in the best light and fight to get your family the compensation it needs.
If your child has been harmed by the actions of medical staff, contact a birth injury attorney today to explore your options. To hire an attorney for a personal injury claim, contact Van Wey, Metzler & Williams today.