What Does A Birth Injury Settlement Cover?
There are as many as 20,000 medical malpractice lawsuits filed in the U.S. each year. Of those, approximately 25% involve obstetrics and gynecology, including preventable cerebral palsy. A birth injury lawsuit can be a complex and stressful undertaking. For families who experience a traumatic birth injury, a lifetime caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be expensive, exhausting, and difficult. The purpose of a cerebral palsy lawsuit is to help ease some of the challenges that these families face. Compensation from a birth injury lawsuit settlement should cover:- Medical expenses. Any costs associated with medically treating the child from birth to the present as well as projected expenses in the future. This may include medications, rehabilitation, surgeries, hospital and clinic visits, medical equipment such as wheelchairs or walkers, and more.
- Special educational needs. Children with cerebral palsy often have special educational needs including tutors, speech therapists, physical and/or occupational therapists, or private schooling.
- Assistive technologies and home modifications. Assistive technologies such as hearing aids, computers, typing aids, or eye tracking devices are often needed to help a child with cerebral palsy. Additionally, families may need to modify their home or vehicles to accommodate the child’s needs.
- Caregiver expenses. A child with cerebral palsy may require ongoing nursing care or daycare services when family members are unable to provide medically necessary care or are unavailable.
- Lost wages and future earning capacity. Children who have suffered a birth injury may be limited in their ability to work and earn a living and thus, their future earning capacity may be diminished or even nonexistent.
- Pain and suffering. Emotional distress and even trauma can manifest in a variety of ways that impacts a family’s finances, including lost income, job loss, relationship issues, mental health issues, and more.
