How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can have an impact on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to have a fulfilling life by giving them access to equipment, treatment and support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This could be due to the lack of prenatal care, problems during labor and birth or other incidents.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can improve a child’s capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's movement, muscle coordination and tone. They can refer the child to specialists like pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists to assist in managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently. It can be mild having a minimal impact on a child's ability to function, or severe and result in impairments throughout the body. The symptoms can include a Floppy head (floppy neck) as well as a stiff or uncontrolled muscle that is difficult to walk or has problems with speech and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's called diplegia. The severity of CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity, which restricts a person's movements and leads to problems with speech and eating.

The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is a common reason for CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be extra cautious when giving birth to babies since brain damage can have serious consequences. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain damage that causes cerebral palsy, south bend cerebral palsy attorney the doctor could be held responsible for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely display a variety of physical symptoms. These symptoms could include stiff or tight muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with posture and balance. Other problems include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and hearing and vision problems.

The symptoms of south Bend cerebral palsy attorney palsy result from damage to an immature brain. This is usually the case during the infancy years of childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as standing up, crawling or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children with CP may also have difficulties swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that triggers CP or CP-related conditions, including infections such as rubella, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is the main cause of CP.

The symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the type. The most common type of cerebral palsy is spastic tempe cerebral palsy lawyer paralysis, which is defined by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled motions of the arms, legs and the body. Other types of CP can include ataxic palsy, which is characterized by a shaky motion or paraplegic cerebral palsy, in which legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy differ, the majority of people with the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have issues with coordination and balance. The type of movement issue that they experience is based on the brain region that was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy that allows them to improve their muscle tone and mobility as well as stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also help relieve pain and prevent contracture. Braces, south bend Cerebral Palsy attorney exercises, or other treatments can be included.

CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These can cause major problems in mobility, which decreases life expectancy.

Speech and language therapy can be used to aid children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can assist them to discover new ways of communicating and could involve signing language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

These medications are used to limit abnormal movements, decrease pain, and control seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid around the spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be based on the psychological and physical impacts that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any costs or losses you have incurred. This could include loss of earnings due to having to take a break from work to care for your children, home adaptations and transportation expenses.

Based on the degree of the injury to your child the lawyer might recommend hiring a specialist in disability care to develop a "lifecare plan' that defines their needs from the time of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will allow you to calculate the most accurate compensation amount. It is typically in the form of a lump-sum and regular annual payments, which may be indexed to keep pace with inflation.

It is important to know that the amount of compensation you receive for a legal case that is successful is not a quick cash payout. It's a way of acknowledging an unfairness that was caused by medical professionals failed to perform their duty of care during labour, pregnancy and birth.