How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has an impact on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to the equipment, care and assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be caused by the lack of medical attention during pregnancy, issues during birth, or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however, early diagnosis and treatment may improve the child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP based on a child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They might refer a child to specialists such as neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists who will assist in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for children.

cerebral palsy lawyer palsy affects everyone differently. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's ability however, it can also be severe and cause impairments across all areas of the body. Symptoms can include a floppy (floppy neck) head as well as stiff or uncontrolled muscles that are difficult to walk, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia; on both sides, it's diplegia. Severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that causes muscle spasticity, which restricts a person's movements and leads to issues with speech and eating.

Childbirth-related mistakes made by doctors are one of the main causes of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be cautious when delivering babies as brain damage could result in serious consequences. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for malpractice. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or inability to supervise and escalate the complexity of labor.

Symptoms

If your child has cerebral palsy, he / she will likely have an array of physical symptoms. The symptoms can include stiff or tight muscles or joints, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with posture and balance. Other issues can include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing issues.

Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered by a degeneration of the brain, which is usually seen in early childhood or infants. A delay in achieving milestones such as standing up, crawling or walking is a typical sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulty swallowing and may require feeding tubes.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to a brain injury causing CP. This includes infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella during pregnancy; high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A significant lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during labor or delivery is the main cause of CP and bleeding in the brain due to blood vessels that are damaged or blocked.

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

Treatment

Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy can differ, most people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness, as well as a decrease in muscle control. They may also have issues with coordination and balance. The type of issues they suffer from depend on the area of the brain which was injured and the degree of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP need special physical therapy that can increase their mobility, muscle tone, and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also ease the pain and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises, or other treatments may be incorporated.

Musculoskeletal issues like hip dysplasia, patella alta, cervical stenosis and scoliosis are common in CP. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues and reduce life expectancy.

Speech and therapy for language may be used to help children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can assist them to learn new ways of communicating and may involve sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

Medications can be used to relax stiff or overactive muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, alleviate pain, and to control seizures. These medications are taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.

Compensation

If your Cerebral Palsy attorneys palsy case is successful, you could be compensated to pay for your child's medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has had on them, as well as any expenses and losses you've had to pay. This could be a loss of earnings due to the fact that you have to take a break from work to take care of your children, home modifications and transport expenses.

Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability-related care in accordance with the severity of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" that details their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This will help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump-sum as well as regular annual payments which could be indexed to keep pace with inflation.

It is important to understand that the compensation awarded for a successful legal matter is not a quick cash payout. It's an acknowledgement that injustice was committed, all because medical professionals did not fulfill their duty of providing care during labor, pregnancy and the birth.