When someone else's actions lead to your injuries, that person is considered to be negligent. If those injuries led to costs such as medical bills and lost wages, then you might want to consider filing a personal injury case. After all, most personal injury cases hinge on proving negligence. Your first step will be to contact a personal injury attorney, but before you do that, you might want to browse this website and learn a little more about personal injury law and personal injury attorneys, in general. We've provided plenty of helpful articles to ensure you are well-informed, so start reading.
Common Symptoms of a Birth Defect
Every parent hopes that their child is born perfectly healthy and with no developmental delays. Unfortunately, some children are born with defects that are not apparent immediately. If you're wondering if your child was born with a defect, there are several warning signs to look out for. Then, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of a birth defect attorney.
Speech
Your child might struggle with a speech impediment. However, speech delays are also common with toddlers and are not necessarily a sign of a birth defect. You should have your child visit a specialist to find out if the speech delay is the result of a birth defect. A birth defect attorney may help you receive compensation for bills from speech therapists.
Vision
Birth defects can lead to blindness or reduced vision. Your child might need a strong glasses prescription or may even need a seeing-eye dog. If this is the case, you'll need help from a birth defect attorney to seek compensation for any future expenses.
Social and Emotional Skills
A child suffering from social or emotional problems as a result of a birth defect may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering. Your child might also need extensive therapy or medication to cope with their emotional problems. An attorney can help you understand if you have a case.
Thinking and Cognitive Skills
Some children develop learning disabilities as a result of a birth defect. This can lead to a child needing a lifetime of care as they may not be able to care for themself. A settlement through a birth defect lawsuit can help pay for these expenses.
Motor Skills
Some children are born with defects that prevent them from moving. Your child might need a wheelchair or a prosthetic to be able to walk and perform daily tasks. Poor motor skills might also cause your child to be in pain. A lawyer will help you build a case if you're seeing motor defects in your child.
Global Developmental Delay
Oftentimes, defects will lead to health problems in all of these areas. This is typically referred to as a global developmental delay. Some birth defects are immediately apparent and you can expect others to show up by the time your child is two.
Doctors can usually detect defects within the first three months of pregnancy. Therefore, your doctor could be held responsible for your child's defects and you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills and future medical bills
- Lost wages
However, to receive any of these benefits, you may need to fight for them. Therefore, it's essential to work closely with a birth defect attorney.