Birth Injury Lawyer in Nashville

Having a baby should be a moment of excitement and hope. Parents expect their child to receive attentive, competent medical care before, during, and immediately after delivery. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. 

When a preventable medical mistake causes a newborn to suffer an injury, an experienced Nashville birth injury lawyer can help. At Wettermark Keith, our attorneys understand that these cases involve much more than financial losses. 

A serious birth injury can affect a child’s development and independence for years or even a lifetime. With over 50 years of combined experience, we know how to handle these cases. Schedule a free case review with a Nashville personal injury lawyer today.

How a Birth Injury Attorney in Nashville Can Help Your Family

When a child is injured during labor or delivery, parents may not immediately know what caused the harm. Medical records can be complicated, and determining whether an injury resulted from negligence often requires an in-depth review by qualified medical professionals.

A Nashville birth injury attorney can investigate what happened and determine whether the healthcare providers involved failed to meet the applicable standard of care. Depending on the circumstances, potential defendants could include physicians, nurses, hospitals, or other healthcare providers. At Wettermark Keith, we can help your family by:

• Investigating the circumstances surrounding your child’s birth to identify potential medical errors and responsible parties
• Obtaining and reviewing medical records, fetal monitoring strips, physician and nursing notes, test results, and other relevant evidence
• Consulting qualified medical professionals when necessary to evaluate whether the care provided met applicable standards
• Determining whether your child’s injury could have been prevented with appropriate medical treatment
• Evaluating the financial impact of the injury, including current and anticipated medical expenses, therapy, assistive equipment, and other care
• Assessing how the injury may affect your child’s future development, ability to work, independence, and quality of life
• Handling communications and negotiations with insurance companies and defense attorneys
• Preparing the necessary legal documents and pursuing the claim within applicable Tennessee deadlines
• Taking the case to trial when a fair resolution cannot be reached through settlement

Our goal is to help families understand their legal options while allowing parents to devote their attention to their child. Birth injury claims can require substantial medical and legal investigation, particularly when a child may require years of treatment or supportive care.

Understanding the Deadline for Filing a Claim in Nashville

Tennessee has specific deadlines that can affect a family’s ability to bring a health care liability claim. Under Tennessee law, the general statute of limitations for these claims is one year. If you fail to file a Nashville birth injury lawsuit before the one-year deadline has passed, you may be out of options for pursuing compensation.

However, in some cases, exceptions may apply that alter the amount of time you have to take legal action. Our experienced Nashville birth injury lawyers can review the details of your case to determine the specific deadlines that apply.

Tennessee’s Pre-Lawsuit Notice Requirements

Another important consideration is Tennessee’s healthcare liability notice requirement. Before filing a health care liability complaint, a potential claimant generally must provide written notice to each healthcare provider who will be named as a defendant at least 60 days before filing a lawsuit. 

Because failing to comply with Tennessee’s procedural requirements can jeopardize a claim, families should avoid assuming they have plenty of time simply because their child is young. The specific deadline can depend on the facts of the case, the healthcare providers involved, when the injury was discovered, and other circumstances.

We Only Get Paid if We Recover Money for Your Family

Too many parents fail to pursue birth injury claims after their child has been harmed due to concerns that they cannot afford to hire a lawyer. However, you should never let concerns about lawyer’s fees stand in your way, as our firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Under this arrangement, our fee is generally based on a pre-agreed percentage of the amount recovered for your family. This allows you to pursue a claim without paying attorney fees upfront.

Having legal representation can also help prevent families from accepting an early settlement without fully understanding the potential long-term consequences. A settlement that seems substantial today may not adequately account for decades of medical treatment, therapy, equipment, personal care, lost earning capacity, or other needs.

Insurance Companies Do Not Have Your Child’s Best Interests in Mind

After a serious injury, an insurance company may attempt to contact you and ask for a recorded statement, request medical information, or present a settlement offer. You need to remember that insurance companies have financial interests of their own. An initial settlement may not reflect the full extent of your child’s current and future losses.

Insurance companies may attempt to reduce the value of a claim by:

• Asking questions designed to obtain statements that could later be used against your family
• Seeking a quick settlement before the child’s long-term needs are fully understood
• Disputing whether the healthcare provider’s conduct caused the injury
• Minimizing future medical, therapy, and care expenses
• Asking parents to sign documents that could affect their ability to pursue additional compensatory damages

You can protect your family’s interests by allowing a birth injury attorney in Nashville to handle communications with insurers and opposing counsel. Before signing a release or accepting a settlement, consider having the agreement reviewed by an experienced Nashville birth injury malpractice group.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Birth Injury Lawyer in Nashville Today

If your child suffered an injury during labor, delivery, or shortly after birth because of suspected medical negligence, Wettermark Keith may be able to help you understand your options. With over $1.5 billion recovered for clients, we are prepared to investigate the circumstances surrounding your child’s injury and pursue the compensation your family deserves.

Contact us today to request a free case evaluation with a Nashville birth injury lawyer. We can listen to your concerns, explain the legal process, and help you understand what steps may be available to protect your child’s future.