Unfortunately, sometimes, the joy and anticipation surrounding the arrival of a new baby is overshadowed by birth-related injuries, which can have long-lasting effects on both the newborn and the family. At Crandall & Pera Law, LLC, we offer compassionate and skilled legal services to families in Columbus who have faced such challenging circumstances. Reach out to our experienced Columbus birth injury lawyer.
- Why Choose Crandall & Pera Law, LLC in Columbus for Birth Injury Cases?
- Compensation for Birth Injuries in Columbus
- Where Can Birth Injuries Happen in Columbus?
- Common Birth Injuries We Handle in Columbus
- Fighting for Your Rights Against Insurance Companies
- Steps to Take Following a Birth Injury in Columbus
- Crandall & Pera Law, LLC: Your Advocates in Columbus Birth Injury Cases
Why Choose Crandall & Pera Law, LLC in Columbus for Birth Injury Cases?
Our firm's experience in managing birth injury cases in Columbus is backed by a rich history of over 50 years in injury law, including more than 250 five-star reviews and a series of successful outcomes. This track record is a testament to our commitment to justice for our clients in Ohio.
Here are some examples that highlight our dedication:
- $4.65 Million Settlement: In a significant case against a Cincinnati hospital, we secured $4.65 million due to nurses' failure to act on critical warning signs during delivery. Our investigation revealed that records were falsified to hide their negligence, leading to a resolution on the eve of the trial.
- $4.6 Million Settlement: We obtained this amount for the family of a woman who tragically passed away due to negligent care during her second pregnancy. This compensation helped her husband and children cope with their loss and secure their future education.
- Confidential Settlement in a C-Section Case: We successfully represented a mother who suffered fatal injuries due to a mistake in her C-section procedure.
While each case is unique, these examples demonstrate our unwavering dedication to our clients' needs.
Accessible and Compassionate Legal Support in Columbus
Located conveniently in Columbus at 35 East Gay Street #226, near the Center of Science and Industry and the Columbia Museum of Art, our offices are easily accessible for those needing legal assistance with birth injury cases.
We understand the emotional and financial burdens these injuries can impose, and we strive to offer both empathetic support and robust legal advocacy.
Compensation for Birth Injuries in Columbus
In Columbus, birth injury cases can vary greatly but generally include compensation for:
Medical Expenses
When a family faces a birth injury, the immediate and future medical expenses can be overwhelming. This includes hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and any specialized medical treatments that the child may require. In many cases, the need for medical care extends far beyond the initial hospitalization, potentially lasting for years or even a lifetime.
Our firm seeks to ensure that these costs are fully covered, relieving families of the financial burden and allowing them to focus on their child's health and recovery.
Rehabilitation Costs
Children with birth injuries often require extensive rehabilitation and therapy. This can include physical therapy to improve mobility and strength, occupational therapy to assist with everyday tasks, and speech therapy for communication challenges. The goal of these therapies is to maximize the child's independence and quality of life.
We work to secure funding for these essential services, recognizing that they are crucial for the child's development and well-being.
Long-Term Care
Some birth injuries result in conditions that require long-term or even lifelong care. This can range from part-time assistance to full-time care in a specialized facility.
Our firm seeks compensation to cover these costs, ensuring that the child has access to the necessary support throughout their life.
Pain and Suffering
Birth injuries can lead to significant physical pain and emotional distress, not only for the child but also for the entire family. Compensating for pain and suffering is a way to acknowledge these challenges.
While it's difficult to put a monetary value on these experiences, we strive to ensure that our clients receive fair compensation for the physical and emotional turmoil they have endured.
Loss of Income
In cases where a birth injury leads to long-term or permanent impairment, the child's ability to earn income in the future can be affected. Additionally, parents may need to reduce their work hours or stop working altogether to care for their children.
We seek compensation for these lost earnings and the potential impact on future income, ensuring that the family's financial stability is preserved.
Disability and Impairment
Compensation in this category addresses the changes in the child's ability to lead a normal life. This includes limitations on their activities, challenges in daily functioning, and any dependence on assistive devices or technology. The goal is to ensure that the child has the resources needed to lead a fulfilling life despite these challenges.
Punitive Damages
In cases where the healthcare provider's conduct was particularly egregious or reckless, you can seek punitive damages. These are not just about compensating the victim; they are also about punishing the wrongdoer and deterring similar negligent actions in the future.
Our firm pursues these damages when appropriate to send a strong message about the consequences of medical negligence.
Wrongful Death Compensation
In the most tragic circumstances, a birth injury can result in the loss of a child's life. Wrongful death compensation seeks to provide some measure of relief for the unimaginable loss suffered by the family.
This can include funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and the emotional pain and suffering endured by the family. Our compassionate approach aims to respectfully address these sensitive issues while seeking justice for the family.
Legal Fees and Costs
Pursuing a birth injury claim can involve high legal expenses. These can include court fees, costs for expert witnesses, and other expenses related to building a strong case. Our firm ensures that these costs are factored into the compensation so families do not bear the financial burden of seeking justice.
Where Can Birth Injuries Happen in Columbus?
Birth injuries can occur in various healthcare facilities in Columbus, Ohio.
Some of the major hospitals and medical centers in the area include:
- University Hospital - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center: As the flagship patient care facility of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, University Hospital is a 900-bed hospital known for offering the latest in medical care, research, and technology.
- OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital: This is a 1,059-bed teaching hospital and the largest hospital in the OhioHealth system. Riverside Methodist Hospital is recognized for its comprehensive range of services and specialties.
- OhioHealth Grant Medical Center: Located in downtown Columbus, Grant Medical Center is unique in offering a full range of adult medical services and specialties. It plays a crucial role in providing healthcare to the adult population in the city.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital: This hospital is specifically focused on pediatric care, offering a range of services from surgery centers to psychological clinics. Nationwide Children's Hospital is an essential resource for child health care in Columbus.
These hospitals, along with other healthcare facilities in the Columbus area, are equipped to handle a variety of medical situations, including birth-related care.
However, birth injuries can occur in any healthcare setting, and our firm is prepared to provide legal assistance to families who have experienced such unfortunate events in any of these establishments.
Common Birth Injuries We Handle in Columbus
Our Columbus birth injury lawyers handle a wide range of cases, including:
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Brachial plexus injuries
- Kernicterus
- Complications from delayed C-sections
- Preeclampsia complications
- Stillbirths
- And more
Fighting for Your Rights Against Insurance Companies
A large part of your birth injury claim will involve dealing with insurance companies. Insurers often use different strategies to limit their liability and reduce the amount of compensation paid out.
Disputing Liability
Insurance companies frequently contest liability in birth injury cases, arguing that their insured healthcare provider was not responsible for the injury. We counter this by conducting thorough investigations, including reviewing medical records, consulting with experts, and gathering detailed testimonies.
Our approach is to establish a clear link between the healthcare provider's actions and the birth injury, leaving no room for doubt about liability.
Minimizing Damages
Another common tactic is for insurers to downplay the extent of damages, aiming to reduce the compensation amount. We address this by presenting comprehensive evidence of all damages, including medical costs, long-term care needs, and emotional distress.
By working closely with medical professionals and specialists, we paint a complete picture of the impact on the child's and family's life, ensuring that the compensation reflects the true extent of the damages.
Delaying the Claims Process
Insurance companies might intentionally slow down the claims process, hoping that the delay will pressure the claimant into accepting a lower settlement.
Our firm combats this by proactively managing the case timeline, adhering to all procedural deadlines, and holding the insurance company accountable for any unjustifiable delays. We maintain consistent communication with our clients, keeping them informed and prepared for potential stall tactics.
Offering Low Settlements
It's common for insurers to propose low settlement offers early in the negotiation process. Our firm evaluates every offer thoroughly to ensure that it truly meets the full needs of our clients.
We engage in aggressive negotiations, backed by solid evidence and legal expertise, to secure settlements that are fair and just, reflective of the actual damages and suffering experienced.
Challenging Causation
Insurers may argue that the birth injury was caused by factors other than the healthcare provider's actions, such as pre-existing conditions or unavoidable complications.
We counter these claims by leveraging expert medical testimony and detailed analysis of the birth injury's circumstances. This includes establishing a timeline of events and demonstrating how the provider's actions directly led to the injury.
Denying Coverage
In some cases, insurance companies may outright deny coverage, claiming that the policy does not apply to the incident in question. Our firm is prepared to challenge such denials.
We review insurance policies and related documents to assert the rightful coverage owed. When necessary, we are ready to take legal action to ensure that our clients are not unjustly denied the compensation they are entitled to.
Steps to Take Following a Birth Injury in Columbus
If your family faces a birth injury:
Follow Medical Advice
After experiencing a birth injury, adhere strictly to the treatment plans recommended by healthcare professionals. This includes attending all medical appointments, following through with prescribed treatments, and administering medications as directed.
Keeping a detailed record of every medical interaction is also necessary. These records should include the dates of appointments, the names of healthcare providers, the treatments received, and any recommendations or instructions given. Following medical advice not only ensures the best possible care and recovery for the child but also strengthens the legal case by demonstrating the extent of the injury and the efforts made to address it.
Document Expenses
Birth injuries often result in significant financial burdens due to medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and other related expenses. It's important to keep a comprehensive record of all these expenses.
This documentation should include detailed invoices for hospital stays, medical procedures, medications, therapies, and any special equipment needed for the child's care.
Also, keep track of ancillary costs like travel for medical appointments and any home modifications required for the child's care.
Accurate and complete records of these expenses can help ensure that you receive full compensation for the financial impact of the birth injury.
Maintain a Journal
Keep a personal journal to document the daily impact of the birth injury. In this journal, record the child's progress and setbacks, the emotional and physical challenges faced, and how the injury has affected your family's daily life and overall well-being.
This may include changes in family dynamics, emotional stress, and any lifestyle alterations necessitated by the child's condition.
Such a journal provides a more personal and detailed account of the injury's impact, which can be valuable in illustrating non-economic damages like pain and suffering in your legal case.
Gather Medical Records
Securing copies of all relevant medical records is a key step in building a strong legal case. This includes prenatal records, records of the birth and any complications, notes from pediatricians, and any subsequent medical evaluations or treatments.
Make these records comprehensive and include detailed accounts of the medical care provided. These documents serve as evidence, helping to establish the facts of the birth injury case, including any negligence or missteps on the part of healthcare providers.
Seek Legal Consultation
Consulting with experienced birth injury attorneys, like those at Crandall & Pera Law, LLC, is essential for understanding your legal rights and options. Our legal team can provide valuable insights into birth injury cases, guide you through the process of assessing liability, and help estimate potential compensation.
Early legal consultation allows for a timely investigation of your case and the preservation of evidence and ensures that important legal deadlines are met.
Contacting a knowledgeable legal team is an important step in securing justice and compensation for your family after a birth injury.
Crandall & Pera Law, LLC: Your Advocates in Columbus Birth Injury Cases
Our firm is committed to supporting families in Columbus affected by birth injuries. We provide a free case evaluation and will guide you through every step of this difficult journey.
If you have experienced a birth injury in Columbus, don't hesitate to contact us. Our experienced Columbus personal injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story, offer guidance, and support you during this challenging time.
Reach out today for your free claim evaluation, and let us be your advocates in seeking justice and fair compensation.
Contact our Columbus office now at (614) 702-2623, and let us start fighting for your rights and the well-being of your family.