We rely on medical professionals to take care of our child and watch out for their best interests. However, medical errors can cause grave injuries to children, leading to lifelong medical complications. If your child sustained injuries due to errors or omissions from medical staff or facilities, you may be able to file a pediatric malpractice lawsuit against them.
You can rely on an Elizabeth medical malpractice lawyer from O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble to be your legal advocate. Our firm focuses primarily on medical malpractice claims and has substantial experience litigating cases involving injuries to infants and children.
We understand that harm to a child is a uniquely devastating experience, so let us seek justice and answers on your and your child’s behalf. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a pediatric malpractice lawyer in Elizabeth.
Why You Should Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice claims are difficult to pursue due to the complexity of medicine and medical standards. Successfully pursuing a claim requires understanding both the relevant medical issues and the legal landscape of liability for medical injuries.
Our firm is more than equipped to handle these challenges and represent your child’s best interests. Our founding attorneys are all board-certified trial attorneys in New Jersey, and our team collectively shares over 200 years of legal experience.
We can:
- Answer your questions about pediatric malpractice
- Gather medical records of your child’s treatment and prognosis
- Investigate for signs of physician misconduct
- Look for errors on the part of the medical facility or staff
- Find and interview expert witnesses about pediatric malpractice issues
- Track your expenses and losses
- Negotiate settlement offers with insurance companies
- Litigate your case in a formal trial
We will use every available resource and strategy to promote your child’s well-being to the greatest extent possible. You can rely on us to provide personalized legal assistance tailored to the unique legal contours of your case.
Pediatric Malpractice Is a Result of Negligence
Pediatric malpractice is a subtype of medical malpractice focusing on harm done to children by medical professionals. Children have different biology and bodies than adults, so they require specialized care that is attuned to their unique developing needs. When care for children is substandard, it can cause drastic injuries.
Common types of negligence that can constitute pediatric malpractice include the following:
- Diagnostic error. Doctors may fail to diagnose conditions and issues that are often missed in children, like sepsis or appendicitis.
- Medication error. Doctors and hospitals might give your child the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage.
- Ignoring symptoms. Medical professionals may ignore or fail to notice obvious symptoms because they think the child is unreliable.
- Not monitoring vitals. Failing to monitor vital signs can lead to complications down the road.
- Surgical errors. Surgical errors and improper in-office procedures can cause issues like infection and other illnesses.
A physician is negligent if they breach accepted standards of medical care and cause injury.
Proving a physician or other medical professional was negligent often involves the use of expert testimony. A qualified expert can provide evidence that the medical professional in question violated accepted standards of care.
Compensation for Neonatal Malpractice
When a physician is negligent in providing care to a child, the long-term consequences can be severe. Illnesses developed as a child can drastically change the course of your child’s life and have a negative impact on their long-term well-being. Compensation for pediatric malpractice extends to all injury-related losses related to your child’s condition.
A pediatric malpractice attorney in Elizabeth can pursue compensation for the following types of losses:
- The cost of emergency and stabilizing medical treatment
- Future medical expenses like surgery, rehabilitation, or PT/OT
- Loss of your child’s future earning potential due to disability
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress
- Loss of parental income from taking off work
- Atypical injury-related expenses
Injuries from pediatric malpractice can cause lasting injuries that follow your child for the rest of their life. With our help, you can pursue the financial compensation necessary to pay for your child’s treatment and set them up for a flourishing life.
How Long Do I Have to Sue for Pediatric Malpractice?
NJRS 2A:14-2 normally gives you two years from the injury date to file a claim for medical malpractice. However, the rules for children are more generous.
For general pediatric injuries, the two-year clock doesn’t start until the victim turns 18. However, for injuries involving minors, New Jersey law requires the claim to be filed before the child’s 13th birthday.
Because these rules are strict, you should act as soon as you suspect an error has occurred. Contact our Elizabeth pediatric malpractice attorneys today so we can start collecting the evidence we need to hold medical professionals liable for the harm they caused to your child.
Contact an Elizabeth Pediatric Malpractice Lawyer From OPLN
The consequences of pediatric malpractice can alter the trajectory of your child’s life. The pressure and uncertainty of managing everything can take its toll on your family. O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble is here to take the legal burden off your shoulders, giving you the space to prioritize what’s important.
If your child has been harmed by medical malpractice, contact us online or reach out to us by phone. A pediatric malpractice lawyer in Elizabeth can answer all your questions and assess the next steps to take in your case.
Consultations are free, so there is nothing to lose by getting in touch.