Hearing that your newborn baby has meningitis is a terrifying experience. This severe infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord is a life-threatening medical emergency. Even when treated, it can leave a child with devastating, lifelong injuries like Cerebral Palsy, hearing loss, or epilepsy.
If your newborn has been diagnosed with meningitis, it is crucial to consult a meningitis lawyer as soon as possible.
Having a meningitis lawyer advocate for you can significantly impact the outcome of your case.
Our meningitis lawyer team is here to support families through these challenging times.
In the aftermath, you are left with grief and a burning question: “Could this have been prevented?” The heartbreaking answer is often, yes. Birth-related meningitis is frequently caused by a medical professional’s failure to follow basic standards of care. When your child has been harmed by this negligence, a meningitis lawyer can help you find answers and fight for justice.
At CP Family Help, we understand the profound impact of a neonatal meningitis diagnosis. Our legal team is dedicated to investigating the causes of these preventable tragedies and securing the resources families need for a lifetime of care.
How Medical Negligence Leads to Birth-Related Meningitis
Neonatal meningitis is most often caused by a bacterial infection passed from the mother to the baby during labor and delivery. The most common culprit is Group B Streptococcus (GBS).
The standard of care for preventing GBS meningitis is clear and simple, yet failures are all too common. Negligence can include:
- A doctor’s failure to screen the mother for GBS during pregnancy.
- Failure to administer IV antibiotics to a GBS-positive mother during labor.
- A delay in diagnosing and treating the symptoms of meningitis in the newborn (fever, lethargy, poor feeding, irritability).
When these failures occur, the consequences can be catastrophic. A meningitis lawyer specializes in proving that this breach in the standard of care directly caused your child’s brain injury.
Seeking the help of a meningitis lawyer can provide you with the necessary resources for your child.
5 Questions to Ask a Lawyer After Birth-Related Meningitis
A good meningitis lawyer will help clarify the complex legal processes involved.
Your first meeting with a lawyer can feel intimidating. Being prepared with the right questions can help you feel empowered and confident that you are choosing the right advocate for your family. Here are five essential questions to ask.
Understanding the role of a meningitis lawyer is essential for your case.
1. How will you determine if my baby’s meningitis was preventable?
Choose a meningitis lawyer who specializes in these types of cases for the best outcome.
This is the most important question. You need to know how the law firm will investigate your case. A good answer from an experienced meningitis lawyer should sound like this:
“Our first step is to conduct a thorough investigation, at no cost to you. We will immediately obtain all medical records, including your prenatal care, labor and delivery notes, and all of your baby’s neonatal charts. We will specifically look for evidence related to infection screening, such as your GBS test results. Then, we will have these records reviewed by our network of independent, world-class medical experts including obstetricians, infectious disease specialists, and neonatologist to determine if the standard of care was breached at any point.”
2. What is your firm’s experience with meningitis and Cerebral Palsy cases?
You need a lawyer who understands not just the law, but also the complex medicine. A strong answer will highlight the firm’s specific focus on birth injury law.
Listen for them to talk about their experience with cases involving GBS, their understanding of how meningitis causes brain damage like periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), and their success in handling cases that result in a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. A firm that primarily handles car accidents will not have the niche expertise required to win these complex cases.
3. How will you calculate the full cost of my child’s lifelong needs?
A legal claim is not about what you have already spent; it is about securing your child’s entire future. An experienced lawyer will explain the concept of a life care plan.
Their answer should include: “We don’t just guess at the numbers. We work with a team of life care planning experts, doctors, therapists, and economists to create a detailed, evidence-based plan. This document will map out every anticipated cost for your child’s lifetime, including all future medical treatments, physical and occupational therapies, adaptive equipment, home modifications, special education, and even in-home nursing care if needed. This is how we ensure the compensation we demand is enough to last.”
4. What is our role in the lawsuit, and what do you handle?
Many parents fear a lawsuit will be a stressful, full-time job for them. A compassionate lawyer will reassure you that their role is to carry the burden for you.
Your meningitis lawyer will outline the costs involved in pursuing your case.
Speaking to a meningitis lawyer can help clarify the next steps for your case.
A good answer will be: “Your role is to focus on being a parent and caring for your child. Our role is to handle everything else. We manage all the legal paperwork, all communications with the hospital’s lawyers and insurance companies, and all the stress of the litigation process. We will keep you informed every step of the way, but we want you to be free to concentrate on your family’s well-being.”
Consulting a meningitis lawyer can answer many of your pressing questions.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a meningitis lawyer for support and guidance.
Engaging a meningitis lawyer can provide you with peace of mind during this difficult time.
5. How much does it cost to hire you?
A meningitis lawyer can help you understand your rights and options moving forward.
Find a skilled meningitis lawyer who can guide you through the legal process.
This is a critical question for any family facing mounting medical bills. The answer should be simple and clear.
A reputable meningitis lawyer will immediately explain the contingency fee model: “You pay absolutely nothing upfront. We fund the entire cost of the case from filing fees to paying for expensive medical experts, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. We only get paid a percentage of the settlement or verdict we win for you. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing. You will never have to write us a check.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We understand you have many questions during this difficult time. Here are some answers to common concerns.
The hospital treated my baby’s meningitis. Can we still have a case?
Yes. The legal case is often not about the failure to eventually treat the infection, but about the delay in diagnosing and treating it. That delay is often what allows the bacteria to cause permanent brain damage.
How long do we have to file a lawsuit?
You don’t need proof to make the initial call. It is the lawyer’s job to find the proof. All you need is a reasonable suspicion that your child’s injury could have been prevented. We will do the work to find the answers.
What if I don’t have proof that the doctor made a mistake?
You don’t need proof to make the initial call. It is the lawyer’s job to find the proof. All you need is a reasonable suspicion that your child’s injury could have been prevented. We will do the work to find the answers.
Speak With an Experienced Meningitis Lawyer Today
If your child suffered from birth-related meningitis, you deserve a clear understanding of what happened and why. Holding a negligent medical provider accountable can provide a sense of justice and the financial security your child needs to have the best possible quality of life.
The legal team at CP Family Help is here to listen to your story with compassion and provide the expert guidance you need. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can help your family.
