A cerebral palsy lawyer may be able to help your family recover compensation following a birth injury that results in the development of cerebral palsy. The only way to have a good understanding of your chances of success is to discuss the facts of your case with an attorney. Here are some basic tips about finding a cerebral palsy attorney to handle your case.
The Consultation is Free
Personal injury attorneys generally meet with clients for free on the first visit. This is part of a contingency agreement, which means that the lawyer doesn’t get paid unless you win your case. The meeting will give them a chance to hear your story and to get an idea of what other information they need, if there is any missing. They’re not going to give you legal advice at these consultations, but they will explain your options, give you their professional opinion, and either offer or decline to take your case.
The Meeting is Confidential
Attorneys do not divulge the information that you’ll be sharing with them at these consultations; they’re confidential. If you’re worried about this, just ask the attorney for verification that the consultation is confidential to set your mind at ease.
There are Time Limitations
There are time limits (statute of limitations) on how long you have to sue after your child has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. This is why you should consider talking to an attorney sooner rather than later. Once the limit passes, you cannot sue the doctor, healthcare provider or anyone else. If nothing else, the attorney can tell you how long you have to decide during your consultation.
There’s No Obligation
Actually getting a lawyer to work for you requires a lot of signatures and consent. The consultation does not mean that you’re accepting the lawyer as your counsel or that they’re offering to take you on as a client. It’s a chance for you to give them information and for them to determine if they’re the right lawyer for you. Unless otherwise specified, there’s no obligation that comes with telling a lawyer about your situation.
You don’t usually have to sit down with a lawyer to figure out how long you have to sue. You may want to try contacting them by phone or email just to find this out. Since there’s no obligation in meeting with the attorney, however, it makes sense to go see them if at all possible. That way, you’ll have all the information you need to determine whether or not you want to pursue a claim.
Above all else, make sure you work with an attorney with experience handling cerebral palsy birth injury cases. Nothing is more important than experience.