Kansas City Pediatric Injury Lawyers Discuss the Long-Term Effects of Birth Injuries
As a parent, you want nothing more than to ensure your child receives the best possible care. In addition to focusing on their immediate treatment and well-being, it’s also important to consider the potential long-term effects of the injuries they suffered during labor and delivery. To promptly take steps to ensure their needs will be adequately provided for, it’s important to consult with a birth injury lawyer right away.
At Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet, we understand the challenges families face after medical malpractice, both immediately and into the future. Our Kansas City pediatric injury attorneys have vast experience helping families affected by birth injuries seek compensation and justice that encompasses the potential long-term impact on their child’s development and future needs.
Common Long-Term Effects of Birth Injuries
Some medical issues during or after delivery resolve quickly with proper diagnosis and treatment, but this isn’t always the case. Many birth injuries have long-term impacts that may require expensive treatments and ongoing care in addition to negatively impacting quality of life. Here are some different complications many of our clients face.
Physical Development
Birth injuries often impact a child's development in ways that may not be immediately apparent. Children may experience muscle weakness, coordination difficulties, or mobility challenges that become more noticeable as they grow. Some children require ongoing physical therapy and assistive devices.
Cognitive Function
Many types of birth injuries affect brain development, potentially leading to learning disabilities or developmental delays. Your child may need special education services, occupational therapy, or other support throughout their academic journey.
Medical Requirements
Regular appointments, medications, and therapeutic interventions frequently become routine. Some children need multiple surgeries or treatments as they grow, requiring ongoing coordination between various health care providers.
Understanding Your Child's Future Care Needs
It’s often difficult for parents to look beyond the immediate challenges facing their baby and family, but the statute of limitations for a Missouri birth injury makes fast action necessary.
That’s why working with an experienced Kansas City pediatric injury lawyer from the beginning is so important. Our compassionate and knowledgeable legal advisors will help you determine what your child's needs may be after a birth injury and work on your behalf to seek appropriate compensation and access to services to enable their quality of life. Here are some of the key services your family might require.
Long-Term Care Planning
Evaluating your child's future involves considering their potential needs as adults. Depending on the impact of their birth injury, it’s critical to account for ongoing medical care, living assistance, and vocational training, as well as financial planning for lifetime care.
The Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet team helps families prepare for long-term care needs by:
- Communicating with the hospital and other potentially liable parties about the injury to your child on your behalf.
- Working with life care planning experts to identify future medical and support needs, which may include medical care, therapy, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and educational support.
- Calculating the full financial impact of lifelong care requirements through consultation with medical and economic experts.
- Pursuing compensation that accounts for future surgeries, therapies, and medical equipment.
- Creating special needs trusts to protect access to government benefits.
- Connecting families with financial advisors who specialize in managing settlements for children with disabilities.
Early Intervention Services
Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes for children with birth injuries. Missouri's First Steps program supports children from birth to age three, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Our legal team partners with you during the application process so your child receives appropriate services. For example, we can help with:
- Collecting relevant medical evidence to demonstrate that your child has a qualifying condition.
- Providing application support and assisting with appeals if necessary.
- Advocating for appropriate services for your child.
- Working to maximize coverage by coordinating private insurance, Medicaid, supplemental programs, and funds from legal settlements.
Educational Support
The Kansas City public school system offers special education services, but parents often must advocate for appropriate accommodations. Understanding your child's rights under Missouri education law helps ensure they receive the necessary support.
Our Kansas City pediatric injury law firm can help you navigate your child’s educational rights by:
- Explaining federal and Missouri special education laws that protect children with disabilities.
- Assisting you in obtaining and reviewing educational evaluations.
- Helping you advocate for appropriate accommodations in your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- Ensuring school districts provide required services and support staff.
- Connecting your family with educational advocates and specialists who can attend IEP meetings.
How Our Kansas City Birth Injury Law Firm Offers Reliable Guidance
Missouri law provides specific protections for families affected by birth injuries, and the Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet team is here to help you move forward in a manner that meets your child’s best interests. We’ll provide compassionate support, trusted guidance, and unwavering dedication to protect your family’s rights to the appropriate compensation and support services that ensure your child receives the care they need, now and in the future.