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 a full life with access to equipment, treatment and support.

Many cases of Cerebral Palsy attorney palsy result from medical negligence. It can be caused by the lack of medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labor and delivery or other events.

Causes

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

Cerebral palsy affects all people differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the child's capabilities or severe and cause impairments in all body areas. It can be characterized by an oversized (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only the child's body, then it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, then it's called diplegia. The severity of CP could result in a locked in (spastic) condition, which is characterized by muscle spasticity. This may limit the person's mobility and result in difficulty speaking and eating.

Birth-related medical errors are the most common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives, and nurses should be extra cautious when giving birth to babies because brain damage may cause serious harm. If a medical mistake results in oxygen deprivation or other brain damage that causes cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy, the doctor may be held liable for malpractice. This includes a lack of planning or performing an urgent C-section or failing to control and escalate a complicated labor.

Symptoms

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

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's maturation. This occurs most often in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, or walking can be an indication of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.

Many factors can contribute to a brain injury that leads to CP. This includes diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is the leading cause of CP.

Based on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most frequent type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled flailing movements of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy that has an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy where the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

Although cerebral palsy symptoms vary, the majority of people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness and decrease in muscle control. They may also have problems with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they suffer from is dependent on the area of the brain that was injured and the degree of the injury.

Many people with CP require specific physical therapy that assists them to improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve the pain and prevent contractures. It may include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.

CP is caused by musculoskeletal issues that include patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis are also common. These can cause major problems in mobility, which reduces life expectancy.

Speech and language therapy can be used to aid children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways to communicate and could include signing language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to reduce abnormal movements, ease seizures, and ease pain. These medicines can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles, or into the fluid that surrounds your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy lawyers palsy claim could result in compensation for your child to pay for specialist care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has had on them, in addition to any costs or losses you've had to pay. This could include lost earnings due to having to stop working to care for your children, house modifications and cerebral palsy attorney transportation expenses.

Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability care, depending on the severity of the injury to your child. The specialist will create an "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child starting at the time of diagnosis until they reach the age of adulthood. This will help you determine an exact amount of compensation. This usually takes the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which may be indexed to keep pace with the rate of inflation.

It is important to be aware that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It is a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and delivery.