Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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Contact a Virginia cerebral palsy lawyer if you suspect your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical negligence. An experienced attorney can review your case, file a lawsuit, and help you recover compensation. They can also help you if your child has faced discrimination.

Do I Need a Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?

You may not be sure whether or not your child is a victim of medical malpractice, but an experienced lawyer can answer that question. A qualified attorney has the experience, expertise, and connections needed to investigate the incident.

With evidence of medical negligence, you’ll need a knowledgeable lawyer to help you navigate the legal process, which can get quite intricate if you’re not well-versed in malpractice laws.

You need to begin a medical malpractice lawsuit as soon as possible because it can take time to resolve. A lawsuit not only holds a hospital or doctor accountable but can also help you recover damages.

A lawyer in a malpractice case is needed immediately, but you may also need this legal expert in the future.

Your child may face discrimination; for instance, you may need to draft relevant legal documents to ensure your child’s care, and you may have to fight for things like special education services or inclusion.

How Can a Lawyer Help My Family?

Choosing the right Virginia cerebral palsy lawyer to help you with these legal decisions and actions can help you in several ways.

• Most importantly, they provide the expert information and guidance you need to make the right choices for your child’s best interests.
• The right lawyer gives you the best possible chances of winning a medical malpractice lawsuit and having good outcomes for your child.
• In addition to helping you win a settlement or a jury trial for medical malpractice, a lawyer can help you go up against government groups, schools, and other organizations to ensure your child has access, opportunity, a good education, and is free from discrimination.
• The right lawyer will give you peace of mind and help you make a good life for your child.

Medical Malpractice Laws and Disability Rights in Virginia

Begin to explore the laws regarding malpractice lawsuits in Virginia, and you will see how important it is to have a legal expert on your side. Every state has laws regarding personal injury lawsuits. The laws are complicated and often favor the defendants rather than the victims.

Statute of Limitations

For instance, you may not know that you are limited as to when you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. In Virginia, the limit is two years from the negligent act.

You may be allowed to file one year from when you discovered the negligent incident but no longer than ten years after it actually occurred. There may be exceptions made for minors.[1]

How Much Compensation Can I Get for Cerebral Palsy?

Your lawyer will discuss compensation amounts with you, but there are no guarantees. You can generally get compensation for cerebral palsy that covers medical expenses, home care, lost wages, and other economic losses.

Virginia law limits how much money you can recover for non-economic damages, like pain and suffering. The cap increases yearly to account for inflation. By 2030, the limit will be $2.95 million.[2]

Affidavit of Merit

Before starting your case, you must file it along with a certificate of merit. A certificate of merit is a document signed by a qualified medical expert that states that your case is valid and not frivolous.[3]

Disability Rights

For disability rights, your lawyer may rely on federal laws, like the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, which entitles your child to a free and appropriate education.[4]

It may also be relevant to refer to the state’s Virginia Human Rights Act. Your lawyer will know which laws apply in any given situation.

Virginia Cerebral Palsy Cases

Virginia cerebral palsy lawyers fight all kinds of injustices, helping disabled individuals and their families in various types of lawsuits. One recent case involves a child born at a hospital in Virginia funded by the federal government.

The baby was born with brain damage and cerebral palsy due to delays in inappropriate treatment. The family’s lawyer reached a settlement agreement to award the family $9 million, but they are now battling the Department of Justice to ensure the settlement goes through.[5]

In another case, a law firm worked with the family of a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy after being born at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital.

The case is not against the hospital. The family’s legal team fought for damages through the Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program.

The program was created to compensate families and reduce malpractice cases against doctors. The family’s argument centered on the fact that the program forced them to apply for Medicaid funding but that this was not the proper way to get compensation.

The family’s lawyers negotiated a settlement that forced the state program to repay the federal government and the family of the disabled child.

How to Find a Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Many lawyers in the state are fighting cases like these, trying to get justice and compensation for their clients. If you still need to find the right lawyer for your family, act quickly and select the best possible legal team for your needs.

• Most importantly, don’t settle for a lawyer without a specialty in birth injuries and medical malpractice. To get the best outcome, you need a lawyer specializing in disability and birth injury cases.
• The state bar association should be able to help you find lawyers with the right area of expertise, but it will be up to you to interview, ask questions, and get references to make the best choice.
• You may also want to get recommendations from people who have been in similar situations, parents who have disabled children, or advocacy groups for people with disabilities.

You will face many challenges as you raise your child with cerebral palsy. The legal problems can be much easier if you have the right lawyer as your advocate.

Find the best Virginia cerebral palsy lawyer to help you file a lawsuit, draft legal documents, make financial decisions, and get the justice and compensation your child deserves.