Documenting Medical Records in Birth Injury Cases: Is It Necessary?
Well, when it comes to healthcare, we always expect our doctors to be perfect, especially in cases of life and death. However, they make mistakes since they are humans, like during childbirth, for babies and mothers.
According to recent CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reports, every year almost 10,000 birth injury cases occur in the US, which means at least one out of every 300. Although not every case of birth injury happens due to a doctor's fault, a poorly managed birth or a delayed C-section can be considered medical negligence or malpractice. And, here's where a birth injury lawyer comes in to help you obtain the highest possible compensation from the negligent party.
Just make sure you document all the records of the birth injury case and the medical treatment the baby and mother are receiving. Wonder why? Let us tell you.
Why Is Birth Injury Documentation So Important?
In simple words, when you want to hold on to the responsible party like doctors or nurses if any serious injuries happen to the mother due to a mismanaged pregnancy or any medical condition in the baby like cerebral palsy from a delayed C-section, you need to have accurate records of the birth injuries, the medical treatments, and the future medical procedures as solid evidence. Documenting these records will help your Brooklyn birth injury lawyer to ensure a successful lawsuit. Or else, there are chances of receiving a lower compensation amount or even a claim denial.
Here’s how documenting your birth injury records will help you in the lawsuit:
Tracking medical expenses
Birth injuries involve both immediate medical care and follow-up treatments. Documenting all the records and associated medical costs will help you receive the highest possible compensation from the negligible party. So, always keep all the bills, receipts, and documents related to medical appointments.
Determining the extent of injury
Birth injury documentation immediately after it occurs is important to obtain rock-solid proof, even if it’s so obvious. Documenting these records will provide evidence against medical malpractice, including the injury and its extent that impacts physical effects on the baby or mother for the long term, as well as the medical costs.
Showing the required evidence in court
Suppose you are filing a birth injury lawsuit with the help of an efficient and experienced birth injury lawyer in Brooklyn. You need sufficient evidence of the damage due to medical negligence to provide in court. Without any medical proof, your claims will be rejected. Documenting your birth injury case and the costs associated with it will strengthen your claims to get the compensation you deserve from the negligent party.
Settlement negotiations
Documentation of your birth injury case allows you to get a fair settlement from the responsible party and facilitate negotiation. However, you may not receive sufficient compensation for the damage if your birth injury lawyer fails to provide proper medical documentation. Here are the types of medical evidence you need to gather for documentation for a birth injury lawsuit:
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Record of injury to the mother or the baby
- Prescription records
- Expert testimony
- Photographic evidence of injury
In Conclusion
Medical documentation serves as absolute evidence in birth injury lawsuits. However, gathering them isn’t easy. And, if you need legal guidance regarding this or an expert to file a birth injury lawsuit to obtain the highest possible compensation, we can help. At Braude Injury Lawyers, we will find you the best birth injury lawyers in NYC for your case, whether it be a serious injury to the mother or cerebral palsy in the baby from a mismanaged pregnancy or delayed C-section.
Call us now for a free consultation!