How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound implications on the life of the child as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can enable them to lead a full and active life by providing access to treatment and cerebral palsy attorney equipment, as well as assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy attorney palsy stem from medical negligence. It can be caused by a lack of prenatal care, problems during labor and delivery, or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can improve the capabilities of a child. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the muscle tone of a child and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Every person suffers from cerebral palsy in a different way. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's function, or severe and cause impairments throughout the body. Some of the symptoms include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled, difficulty walking, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only one side of a child's body, then it is known as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is referred to as diplegia. The severity of CP can cause a locked in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. This may limit the person's mobility and result in difficulty speaking and eating.

Medical mistakes during childbirth are one of the main causes of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when giving birth to a baby because damage to the brain may cause serious harm. A physician could be held accountable for malpractice if a medical error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or failing to supervise and escalate an intense labor.

Symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he or is likely to have several physical symptoms. The symptoms can include stiff or tight muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movements, as well as issues with posture and balance. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. It is most commonly seen in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones, such as rolling over, standing up, crawling or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulty swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to an injury to the brain that results in CP. These include diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella during pregnancy; high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is a major cause for cerebral palsy attorney CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain from blood vessels that are damaged or blocked.

Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, the symptoms may vary from mild to severe. The most prevalent kind of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy, which is manifested by muscles that are stiff. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow writhing movements of the legs, arms and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy law firm palsy (which has a shaky, jerky movement) or paraplegic CP, where the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, the majority patients with the condition experience stiffness and a loss in muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of problem that they experience is based on what area of the brain was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require specific physical therapy that assists them improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also ease the pain and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises, or other treatments might be incorporated.

CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These can cause significant issues in mobility, which can reduce the lifespan of a patient.

Other treatments may include speech and language therapies for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can assist them to learn new ways of communicating and may involve sign language, communication boards or voice synthesizers.

The use of medications can relax overactive or stiff muscles and reduce abnormal movement. They also reduce pain and seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you can receive compensation to help pay for your child's medical attention, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will depend on the mental and physical consequences of your child's condition, as well as on any losses or expenses you may have incurred. This could include lost earnings due to you having to work less to take care of your children, house modifications and transport costs.

Depending on the degree of the injury to your child, your lawyer may hire an expert in disability services to develop a "lifecare plan' that outlines all their needs from the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This will help you calculate a more accurate compensation sum. This is usually in the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You should be aware that the compensation resulting from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's an acknowledgement of wrongdoing that occurred because medical professionals did not perform their duty of care in pregnancy, labour, and birth.