How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live an active and full life by providing access to care and equipment, as well as support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy attorneys palsy stem from medical negligence. This can be caused by an absence of medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labour and delivery or other occurrences.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can help improve a child's abilities. Doctors determine CP by observing the child's movements, muscle coordination and tone. They may refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Cerebral palsy affects every person differently. It can be mild, with no impact on a child's ability function, or severe enough to cause impairments throughout the body. It can be characterized by a floppy (floppy neck) head as well as stiff or uncontrolled muscles and walking difficulties, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy only affects one side of a child's body, it is known as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is known as diplegia. The severity of CP could result in locked in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This may limit a person's movement and make it difficult to speak and eating.

Birth-related medical errors are one of the main causes of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be cautious when delivering the baby as damage to the brain could result in serious consequences. A doctor may be held liable for malpractice if a medical mistake causes cerebral palsy or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or not being able to monitor and escalate an arduous labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they will most likely display a variety of physical symptoms. They could be characterized by tight joints or stiff joints, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues could include intellectual disability, speech delays as well as hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain of an infant. It is most commonly seen during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as sitting up, crawling or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulty swallowing and may require a feeding tube.

Several factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP, including infections like toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a massive lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is the main cause of CP.

Symptoms can be mild or severe based on the type of. Spastic cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most frequent type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as athetoid choreoathetoid, choreoathetoid) is characterised by a uncontrolled and slow writhing of the legs, arms, and body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which has a shaky, jerky movement) or paraplegic CP that affects the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy may differ, most sufferers of the condition experience stiffness and loss in muscle control. They may also have problems with balance and coordination. The type of issues they experience will depend on the region of the brain that was injured as well as the degree of the injury.

Many people with CP require specialized physical therapy that helps them to improve their muscle tone and mobility and stretch and strengthen their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve discomfort and help prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments could be considered.

CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems that include hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis may also be present. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, which decreases life expectancy.

Speech and language therapy can be used to help children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help them to discover new ways of communicating and could involve signing language, communication boards or voice synthesizers.

The use of medications can relax stiff or cerebral palsy attorneys overactive muscles to reduce abnormal movement, alleviate pain, and to control seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialist care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the physical and mental consequences of your child's condition, as well as on any losses or expenses you may have incurred. This could include lost earnings because you had to take a break from work to take care of your children, house modifications and transportation expenses.

Depending on the extent of your child's injury, your lawyer may hire an expert in disability services to draft a 'life care plan' that clearly defines their needs starting from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will allow you to calculate the most accurate amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump sum and regular annual payments, that can be adjusted to keep pace with inflation.

You should be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal action isn't a gimmick. It is a recognition that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.