The long-term costs of a birth injury can be substantial. While birth injuries typically lead to immediate medical bills for new parents, the long-term costs can severely impact the financial well-being of a family. When deciding whether to talk to a lawyer about filing a birth injury claim, it is important to take these long-term costs of a birth injury into account.
These include not only financial costs, but non-financial costs as well. Disabling and disfiguring birth injuries can have profound impacts on children’s lives. These are costs for which parents can (and should) seek just compensation on behalf of their children—and talking to a birth injury lawyer is the first step in the process.
What are the costs parents need to consider when deciding whether to take legal action related to their child’s birth injury diagnosis? Common long-term costs associated with a serious birth injury include:
From physical deformities and nerve damage to cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy, all types of serious birth injuries can require ongoing medical care. Over the course of a child’s lifetime, the costs associated with this care can far exceed what most parents can afford to pay. Even with health insurance, the lifetime medical costs associated with birth injuries can present a significant financial burden. Medications, medical supplies, and other care-related expenses can add to the lifetime costs of birth injuries as well.
In many cases, children who have been diagnosed with birth injuries will need multiple forms of therapy in order to cope with the effects of their injuries on a day-to-day basis. While a child’s therapy needs may change over his or her lifetime, the costs of therapy alone can easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars per year. For children who need physical, occupational, and cognitive behavioral therapy to manage their conditions, the annual costs can be far greater.
Along with medical care and therapy, children who have been diagnosed with birth injuries may require in-home care and support services as well. If your family will need to hire an in-home nurse or caretaker in order to meet your child’s needs on a daily basis, this is another example of the long-term costs that your family may be entitled to recover after a child’s birth injury.
Children who have been diagnosed with birth injuries will often have special education needs. From the costs of hiring an in-home tutor to the costs of transportation for your child to attend a school that has the staff and resources required to meet his or her needs, these are also long-term costs of a birth injury that new parents may need to consider when making decisions about asserting their legal rights.
When suffering a birth injury means that a child will never be able to pursue a career or will only be able to work in a limited capacity, Illinois law entitles the child’s parents to seek financial compensation for his or her loss of lifetime earning capacity as well. Similar to financial compensation for the out-of-pocket costs associated with life-altering birth injuries, financial compensation for the future loss of income resulting from a serious birth injury can be substantial.
Beyond the financial costs associated with birth injuries, Illinois law also entitles parents to seek financial compensation for their children’s pain, suffering, and emotional distress. If your child has been diagnosed with a life-altering birth injury, our lawyers can help you understand what constitutes “just compensation” for the non-financial costs of your child’s diagnosis.
The long-term costs of a birth injury can also include the loss of companionship, consortium, and enjoyment of life. If your child will face social challenges, if your child will never be able to have an intimate relationship, or if your child will struggle with the effects of his or her diagnosis every day of his or her life, these are also consequences for which financial compensation may be available.
Has your child been diagnosed with a life-altering birth injury? If so, we strongly encourage you to contact us for more information. We are passionate about helping families in serious birth injury cases.
The long-term costs of a birth injury can have a significant impact on the life of your child and the lives of your family. It is crucial to talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at (312) 982-0588 for a FREE case evaluation. We help clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
