Welcoming new life to the world is among the most special and precious experiences that any of us will ever have. It’s meant to be a time of joy and jubilation. But that’s all premised on the hope that everything will go right. Fortunately, most babies’ births do happen without incident. Occasionally, though – and perhaps more often than many parents realize – things go wrong. Doctors make mistakes. Complications go undetected until irreparable harm has been done.
As experienced Connecticut birth injury lawyers, we’ve encountered heartbreaking instances of medical negligence and error – including during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn care. Birth injuries are particularly troubling because they impact their victims at the very beginning of their lives. Often, the injuries cause problems for years to come, and they may even be permanent.
The information we share here isn’t intended to worry expectant parents. It’s important to know, though, that doctor error is no once-in-a-blue-moon mishap. Families face the catastrophic consequences of medical malpractice and birth injury all around this country, every single day.
We offer passionate and aggressive legal advocacy to birth injury victims and their families. We know how to maximize their recoveries and put them in the best possible position for success, whether in a settlement or a trial. If you or your precious baby has suffered unfairly because of a medical professional’s negligence, please contact us today.
While some birth injuries are unavoidable, the reality is that obstetricians, midwives, and other medical professionals often have an opportunity to prevent these injuries. Indeed, many birth complications occur as a result of a doctor’s inexperience or carelessness. Never assume that you don’t have a case, or that your injuries were “just an accident,” without consulting a legal professional first.
Common causes of birth injuries in Connecticut include:
When doctors, nurses, hospitals, or healthcare providers fail to meet their profession’s high standards of care, they can be held accountable for the suffering that the parents and infants are likely to face in the future. Most often, that means financial compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, financial loss, and long-term complications associated with the birth injury.
As Connecticut birth injury attorneys, our job is to help parents recover the full compensation they’re owed. Hospitals, physicians’ groups, and insurance companies can make the path to justice a challenging one. But with an experienced legal team on your side, you can hold those parties accountable without having to fight a battle on your own. We’ll fight it for you.
Every birth injury lawsuit is different, just as every newborn baby is. The kinds of damages you could seek on your child’s behalf may be entirely different from what another family needs to recover. With that said, examples of damages that might be available in your birth injury claim include:
While there is no hard “cap” on how much money you can demand for non-economic damages stemming from a birth injury, Connecticut General Statutes §52-228c does require a judge to review and approve any jury award for damages exceeding $1,000,000.
Help from skilled legal counsel can be important not just in getting paid fairly, but also in complying with the various restrictions that state law places on medical malpractice claims. To start, your Connecticut birth injury attorney can help you complete a “reasonable inquiry” into your claim before formally filing suit. This process, in a nutshell, involves getting at least one qualified medical expert to sign an affidavit swearing under oath that they believe your case has merit.
Additionally, under C.G.S. §52-190c, all civil claims over medical negligence must go through at least one mediation session. During this session, a third-party mediator will attempt to help both sides of the case reach a settlement agreement without court involvement. This is strictly required unless you and the medical professional(s) you’re suing agree to go through an alternative form of dispute resolution. A seasoned lawyer can provide more information on how this works and what options are available to you.
If your family is left reeling or financially devastated after a birth complication that you suspect could have been avoided, please get in touch with our Connecticut birth injury attorneys as soon as possible.
These cases can be challenging on so many levels, and you can expect the negligent parties to put up a considerable fight. That’s why experienced representation matters so much. Our firm has won one hard-fought birth injury victory after another. We believe that we could make a significant difference with your claim, too.
Our knowledgeable Connecticut Doctor’s injury lawyers understand that medical mistakes can be devastating, leading to a lifetime of disability, ongoing medical treatments, and hardship. Our experienced lawyers will be tireless advocates for you and your family and will aggressively fight to ensure all responsible parties are held accountable and that you receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.
Contact an attorney at our offices in Stamford, Bridgeport, or Danbury, so that we can discuss what happened, the applicable laws, and your best legal options moving forward. Statutes of limitations apply, so call us today to get started.
Berkowitz Hanna
