You should contact a lawyer soon after an umbilical cord birth injury diagnosis. There are numerous advantages to establishing your relationship with a law firm as quickly as possible. This relationship allows them to go to work for you even if they cannot file your legal claim for several months.
Most birth injury medical malpractice firms provide free case consultations to the families of umbilical cord accident victims. If your baby received this or another related diagnosis, you can speak with our firm to represent your family.
Once you sign with an attorney at our firm, they can go to work protecting your rights, handling communications related to your case, and ensuring you meet all applicable deadlines.
Your Attorney Will Handle All Aspects of Your Birth Injury Claim
Soon after an umbilical cord birth injury diagnosis, you should contact a lawyer because they can go to work immediately to manage your case. Their contributions will significantly reduce the stress on you, help you know what to expect, and allow you to focus on your child’s treatment and recovery exclusively.
They will protect your right to take legal action, including handling all communications with the doctor or hospital, their legal team, and their medical malpractice insurer.
They will also ensure you meet any deadlines in your case. Ultimately, there is a statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. These vary based on state law, generally between one and seven years. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), many also have exceptions that allow you to toll the deadline when the victim is a child.
Getting started early also allows the attorney to build a stronger case. It may be possible to recover evidence early on that is unavailable later. For example, eyewitnesses will have a sharper memory of events soon after they happen, and details will likely be lost later.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
It Is Important to Understand Your Child’s Injuries and Prognosis
In some cases, your lawyer must wait to file your claim until they have a better understanding of your child’s injuries and prognosis. You do not want to seek a settlement based on your child’s current health status, only to learn later they have more significant injuries related to their umbilical cord birth injury.
It is possible that you will not have a complete picture of your child’s condition, treatment plan, ongoing needs, and overall prognosis until they are a toddler or even older. For example, cerebral palsy can occur in children who suffered an umbilical cord birth injury.
Cerebral palsy is a motor disorder that often goes unrecognized until after the child’s first birthday. This age typically is when they develop gross motor skills, and their deficits become apparent. It is also expensive to treat. You would not want to leave these future care expenses on the table during a settlement negotiation.
According to the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, the average cost of managing cerebral palsy in 2014 was $10,368 for an ambulatory child and $43,687 for someone who is nonambulatory.
When Parents Generally Contact Lawyers About Birth Injury Cases
There are some typical times when parents reach out to speak with birth injury lawyers about their legal options. If you find yourself in these circumstances, it may be time for a free case review.
The most common time for parents to call an attorney is after their child receives a diagnosis. They could have suffered an umbilical cord birth injury or a related condition, including:
- Epilepsy
- Cerebral palsy
- Cognitive disability
- Other serious disabilities or developmental delays
Soon after receiving a diagnosis is a perfect time to establish a relationship with a birth injury attorney and explore your options for holding the doctor, hospital, or another liable party accountable. Our law firm will provide confidential and complimentary case evaluations. Our team represents families like yours on a contingency basis, with no upfront costs.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Speak with a Team Member from Our Firm Today for Free
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, our team will discuss your case with you today for free. We have someone available to assess the strength of your case based on the details of your child’s birth, injuries, and diagnosis.
We can answer your questions and explain your rights. We can also help you understand the next steps you can take to navigate the claims process and seek compensation for your child’s current and future treatment, as well as other expenses and losses.
Call (800) 222-9529 now to learn more during your complimentary consultation.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."