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Birth injuries that lead to cerebral palsy are sometimes preventable if not for careless medical mistakes made by healthcare professionals. If you believe your child’s disability could have been prevented with better medical care, contact a qualified Delaware cerebral palsy lawyer to help fight for compensation for your child.
When Do I Need a Delaware Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?
If you think you have a medical malpractice case connected to your child’s disorder, a Delaware cerebral palsy lawyer can assist and let you know if you have a valid complaint and lawsuit.
If you are unsure of the state laws concerning cerebral palsy medical malpractice cases, an experienced lawyer can guide you through the intricate process and pursue justice on your behalf.
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Get Help NowAdditionally, if your child has been denied access, for example, to special education services, you should retain a lawyer. An attorney specializing in disabilities and civil rights under federal and state laws is the right professional to help you.
How Can a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Help My Family?
Professional Delaware cerebral palsy lawyers are skilled in legal matters, but they also have specialized expertise in disabilities, civil rights, birth injuries, and medical malpractice. This combination of knowledge will help your family make a strong case and file a lawsuit with the best chance of success.
The right lawyer can help your family take on powerful insurance companies with top-notch legal teams backing medical centers and doctors. They can help you recover damages and get the money for your child’s lifelong care. They can also help ensure your child’s rights to education and equal opportunities.
Without this assistance, the intricate laws tend to get overwhelming. The right lawyer will provide advice and guidance.
Medical Malpractice Laws in Delaware
One of the biggest reasons parents of children with cerebral palsy hire law firms is to get justice and compensation. Your child’s disability may have been caused by medical malpractice, but the laws regarding these kinds of cases are extensive and complex.
For instance, a lawyer will help you file a lawsuit within Delaware’s statute of limitations. This law states that you must file within two years of the negligent incident or when you discovered it. You could lose the chance to get compensation if filing late.[1]
Another relevant law to understand requires that you or your lawyer must file an affidavit of merit before you can start a malpractice case. This is a signed statement from a qualified medical professional that indicates your case has value.[2]
The law can be limiting for genuine victims of malpractice, but in other ways, Delaware laws favor patients. For instance, there is no cap on the amount you can seek from a defendant in a case.
Delaware Disability Rights
You may also find that laws regarding the rights of people with disabilities are confusing. It can be challenging to know if your child has been discriminated against or if they are being denied access at school or in other situations.
A lawyer specializing in disability rights can help you figure it all out.
Both federal and state laws protect people with disabilities from discrimination. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act ensures broad rights and access to both children and adults with disabilities.[3]
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees disabled children get individualized education services that match what other students receive to the extent possible.[4]
How Much Compensation Can I Get for Cerebral Palsy in Delaware?
Compensation amounts vary by individual case and their circumstances. There are no guarantees, but your lawyer can estimate the amount you might get in a lawsuit. These examples from expert cerebral palsy lawyers in the state give you an idea of what is possible.
Cerebral palsy lawyers in Delaware have won numerous cases for their clients. They have helped them seek justice for their children who were harmed by medical malpractice and also helped them win the compensation that will help cover their costs of care for years to come.
$3 Million for Infant Arm Paralysis
One of these cases was filed in 2014 after a baby was born with permanent paralysis in one arm. The obstetrician who delivered the baby pulled too hard when the shoulder was stuck in the birth canal.
The drawing and stretching ultimately damaged the baby’s nerves, leading to the arm, causing disabilities that the child will live with forever.
The jury agreed that the doctor was negligent and awarded the family $3 million.[5]
$6.5 Million for Delaware Baby with Jaundice
In another case, a newborn baby developed jaundice in 2003. The medical staff neglected to treat the condition, which, if untreated in a baby, can cause brain damage.
The child had brain damage, developed cerebral palsy, and died within a few days. The jury awarded the family $6.5 million after agreeing that the baby was discharged from the hospital too soon.
How to Find the Right Lawyer for Your Child
These cases are unfortunate, but they do highlight what the right lawyer can do for families who have suffered because of medical negligence. To find a lawyer to help your child, search for professionals specializing in malpractice and birth injuries.
You need this expertise, not a general lawyer, to go against big insurance companies and their legal teams.
Check with other parents with disabled children for recommendations and contact the state bar association to find lawyers with the right experience and a solid reputation.
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, but it doesn’t mean your child can’t have a good life.
Hiring a good Delaware cerebral palsy lawyer will ensure your child gets the justice he or she deserves and the compensation to provide the best care.
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Get Help NowReferences
- The Delaware Code Online. (n.d.). Title 18. Insurance Code. Insurance. Chapter 68. Health-Care Medical Negligence Insurance and Litigation, Subchapter VI. General Provisions.
Retrieved from: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title18/c068/sc06/index.html - Morton, H. (2021, August 11). Medical Liability/Malpractice Merit Affidavits and Expert Witnesses. National Conference of State Legislatures.
Retrieved from: https://www.ncsl.org/financial-services/medical-liability-malpractice-merit-affidavits-and-expert-witnesses - ADA National Network. (n.d.). What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
Retrieved from: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada - U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). About IDEA.
Retrieved from: https://sites.ed.gov/idea/ - Delaware Online. (2017, September 28). Big Awards in Delaware Malpractice Cases.
Retrieved from: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2017/09/28/delaware-malpractice-cases/712236001/