How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has profound consequences for the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live an active and healthy life by allowing access to care and equipment, as well as assistance.

Medical negligence is often the reason for cerebral palsy. It can be caused by inadequate prenatal care, problems during labor and delivery or other events.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment can improve the capabilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP through the child's movements, muscle tone and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Cerebral palsy affects all people differently. It can be mild, with a minimal effect on a child's ability function, or severe and result in impairments throughout the body. It can be characterized by the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles and walking difficulties, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only one side of the child's body, then it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, then it's called diplegia. Severe CP may lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This could limit the person's mobility and cause difficulty with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes in childbirth are a common reason for CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be cautious when giving birth to the baby as damage to the brain may have serious consequences. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation or other brain damage that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a Csection urgently or failing to monitor and escalate the intensity of labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely exhibit a variety of physical signs. The symptoms can include tight or stiff muscles as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, and problems with posture and balance. Other problems include intellectual disabilities, speech delays as well as hearing and vision problems.

Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered by damage to the developing brain, usually during infancy or early childhood. A delay in milestones such as rolling over, sitting, walking, or crawling could be a sign of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

A variety of factors can trigger the development of a brain injury that causes CP, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is a leading cause of CP.

The symptoms may range from mild to severe depending on the type. The most commonly encountered type of Manhattan Beach Cerebral Palsy Attorney palsy can be described as spastic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic miami cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the legs, arms and body. Other types of CP include ataxic elm grove cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP in which the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy can vary, a majority of sufferers have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They might also have problems with balance and coordination. The type of problems they have depend on the area of their brain which was injured and the severity.

Many people with CP need special physical therapy that can improve their mobility, tone of muscles and stretch their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve the pain and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises, or other treatments could be considered.

CP is caused by musculoskeletal issues like patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These can cause significant issues in mobility, which reduces life expectancy.

Other treatments can include speech and language therapy for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help them discover new ways of communicating and may include sign language, communication boards or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to reduce the abnormal movement, reduce pain, and control seizures. These medications can be administered orally, or directly injected into the affected muscles or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you can receive compensation to help cover the cost of medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be based on the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any costs or losses you have incurred. This could include lost earnings because you had to quit work to take care of your children, home modifications and transport costs.

Based on the severity of your child's injury Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability issues to write a "life care plan' that meticulously defines their needs from the time of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. It is typically in the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments which could be indexed to keep pace with inflation.

You should know that the compensation for a successful legal case is not a monetary windfall. It's a way of acknowledging an unfairness that was caused by medical professionals did not meet their duty of care in pregnancy, labour, and birth.