Families look forward to the birth of a child, which is a joyful time. Mothers put their trust in their doctors to act responsibly and ensure a safe birth. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. A doctor or nurse can fail to act when necessary, or make a serious error during the birth process causing injury or even death. If your child has been injured, contact a New York City birth injury lawyer from Stephen Bilkis and Associates. We will provide you with sound legal guidance and evaluate the value of your birth injury case.
Millions of children are born with birth injury every year, often because of negligence. In fact, approximately 7 out of every 1,000 children are victim of a birth injury. There are several types of injuries that are seen more often than others including:
Cerebral Palsy: This is a neurological problem that results from a brain injury. It causes lack of muscle coordination.
Hypoxic Encephalopathy: This type of brain injury is caused by oxygen deprivation. Sadly, this injury can lead to infant death. It can cause cognitive impairment, motor skill impairment, epilepsy and developmental delays.
Erb's Palsy: This is a disorder that occurs from nerve damage to the neck and shoulder area affecting the movement and use of a child's arm.
Injuries from Forceps/Vacuum Extractors: When a birth isn't going smoothly, a doctor may use forceps or other devices to help the baby. If these instruments are used incorrectly they can cause serious and permanent injury. Some of these can include brain damage, fractures, seizures and cerebral palsy.
Broken Bones: Broken bones can occur when there has been a difficult delivery. Mishandling by a doctor can cause broken bones in a child, as their bones are softer than an older child's.
Spinal Cord Injuries: These types of injuries a be devastating and very serious. A significant spinal injury could cause permanent damage.
If your child has suffered a birth injury you need answers. The lawyers at Stephen Bilkis and Associates have been handling cases personal injury cases for decades. Our New York City birth injury lawyers have helped thousands of clients get the compensation they deserve. Our lawyers have received settlements and jury verdicts that range from twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) to sixty-nine million dollars ($69,000,000). We will aggressively pursue just compensation for your injuries, so you can focus on getting on with your life.
Determining the Value of Your Birth Injury CaseThe value of your birth injury case depends on the injury your child has, and what the prognosis is. Once this is determined, your birth injury lawyer who serves the New York City area will consider economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic Damages: These damages represent the costs connected with your child's injury. This would include things like medical care, doctor's bills, surgeries and medications.
Non-economic Damages: This is compensation for things like pain and suffering, emotional suffering, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment or quality of life. Because these damages are very subjective, the court uses a formula based on the type of injury, age of the victim, etc., to arrive at a fair dollar amount.
In a birth injury case, the child is the one that is injured, and therefore they will receive any settlement or award. You as the parent can receive reimbursement for medical expenses and what it will take moving forward to care for your child.
The value of every case depends on many factors. Here, however, are a few recent personal injury verdicts from the New York area:
Kings County, New York - $1,115,000 Verdict Plaintiff doctor made medical mistake during delivery of child.
Albany County, New York - $1,750,000 Verdict Physician performs contraindicated ob/gyn surgery.
Nassau County, New York - $2,000,000 Verdict Child with pre-existing condition treated incorrectly by medical facility.
Having a child is supposed to be a happy, blessed time. If your child has experienced an injury you are probably confused, angry and don't know where to turn. Consult with a birth injury lawyer from one of our New York City locations for guidance and a free consultation. We will discuss the value of a birth injury case, and set to work creating a legal strategy to get you the compensation you and your child deserve. We have offices throughout New York, including locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County. Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 800.696.9529.