What are economic damages in a birth injury lawsuit?

In birth injury litigation, economic damages are often the most straightforward to quantify. These damages cover actual financial losses incurred as a result of the injury.

Medical expenses constitute a significant portion of these damages, including costs related to immediate treatment following birth. Additionally, long-term care needs are calculated as well, including:

• Surgeries
• Rehabilitation therapies
• Medications
• Assistive devices

Projected future medical expenses should be meticulously calculated based on expert testimonies to ensure lifetime coverage for ongoing medical needs.

Lost income is another crucial aspect of economic damages. Parents may face reduced earning capacity due to taking time off work or reducing hours to care for their injured child.

In some cases, if the child’s ability to earn income in adulthood is compromised by a severe disability resulting from the birth injury, this prospective loss must also be considered when calculating recoverable economic damages.