Top Ardsley, NY Birth Defect Lawyers Near You

Is Your Child Suffering from a Birth Defect?

If your child has a birth defect, an Ardsley birth defect attorney can help you analyze the type of birth defect and its potential cause. He or she can give you pertinent facts that will help you decide whether or not to pursue an action based upon your child’s birth defect.

Liability for a Birth Defect

A birth defect is a congenital disorder or disease that develops during infancy while the child is still in the mother’s womb. Because this is caused by many outside factors, defects are generally not from labor and delivery. A doctor or other hospital staff may be liable for not recognizing a potential birth defect and working to minimize the effects or notify the parents. This type of medical negligence may allow you to collect damages. A skilled birth defect attorney can help you determine your rights.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

• How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
• How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
• What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

How to Prepare for Your Initial Consultation

Prepare for your consultation by writing down notes of your understanding of the case, jot down questions and concerns for the attorney, and gather your documents. Remember that you are trying to get a sense of whether the attorney has your trust and can help you address your legal issues. Questions should include how the attorney intends to resolve your issue, how many years he/she has been practicing law and specifically practicing in your area, as well as how many cases similar to yours the attorney has handled. It can also be helpful to broach the subject of fees so that you understand the likely cost and structure of your representation by a specific attorney and/or legal team.

How to Find the Right Attorney

• Determine the area of law that relates to your issue. Attorneys specialize in specific practice areas around legal issues within the broad field of law.
• Seek out recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues. A successful attorney or practice will typically have many satisfied clients.
• Set up consultation appointments to get a better understanding of your case as well as gauge your comfort level with different attorneys. Find the attorney who is the right fit for your needs.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.