Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of related brain disorders that happen when damage occurs in the areas of the brain that are associated with motor function.
When this area of the brain sustains damage, it can affect a child’s balance. If you have received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy from a medical professional, it’s important to find a cerebral palsy lawyer in Phoenix.
Since we founded Birth Injury Lawyers Group in 2003, we have recovered over $750 million for our clients. We continue to win record-setting verdicts.
Our Arizona cerebral palsy lawyers will fight to get you maximum compensation. Call us today if your child exhibits these symptoms due to medical negligence at birth.
Our Cerebral Palsy Lawyers in Phoenix Offer Compassionate Legal Support
Robert Goldwater, the founder of our law group, is a personal injury and medical malpractice lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2002, his wife gave birth to triplets who were born nearly four months prematurely, resulting in numerous complications for all three children. As parents, they have experienced numerous struggles and wonderful victories in raising their children.
This is what sets us apart. We know firsthand the challenges and triumphs families face when dealing with complex medical issues. Our experienced cerebral palsy lawyers provide compassionate legal representation.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects how a person moves and controls their muscles. It’s caused by damage to a developing brain, often before or during birth.
This damage impacts the areas of the brain that help with movement, balance, and coordination. Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in children.
The condition doesn’t get worse over time, but the physical effects can change as a child grows. Some challenges may become more noticeable, and care needs might shift over time.
Even though cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, many children can improve with the right support. Early treatment (such as physical and speech therapy, medication, special equipment, or surgery) can help children gain independence and lead active, fulfilling lives.
Phoenix Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
Was Your Child Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy?
If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you might not know where to turn first. A lawyer from our team can guide you through the next steps. We will tell you everything you need to know to make confident decisions about your child’s future.
Children with cerebral palsy may experience a range of symptoms, such as swallowing problems, learning impairment, vision problems, speech impediments, involuntary muscle spasms, and swallowing issues. Babies who are born with cerebral palsy may not meet developmental milestones and could experience seizures.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
The most common form of the condition is called hypertonic cerebral palsy, and it occurs in 75–80% of patients who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Children who develop this type of palsy cannot relax their muscles.
Thus, they may respond to stretching by overtightening their muscles, which can adversely affect muscle flexibility and function. They may hold their elbows close to their body and their hands clenched into tight fists near the chin.
The chronic tension may overexert the associated muscles to the extent that they no longer function. A similar pattern of muscle dysfunction may also occur in the lower body. As experienced attorneys, we have handled claims with many types of cerebral palsy. You can trust us to build a strong case and advocate for your child’s future.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
You Might Have a Birth Injury Case
Medical mistakes don’t always cause cerebral palsy, but in some cases, it results from avoidable errors during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. If you suspect something went wrong, a lawyer who handles cerebral palsy birth injury lawsuits can look into your medical records, speak with experts, and determine whether medical negligence may have contributed to your child’s condition.
If negligence is involved, you may be able to seek compensation for your child’s medical treatment, therapy, equipment, and future care. You don’t have to go through this alone.
A Phoenix cerebral palsy attorney can guide you through the legal process and fight for the resources your child needs. Contact Birth Injury Lawyers Group to learn more.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain and can be the result of substandard medical care before, during, and after labor. While medical negligence can contribute to cerebral palsy, there are also many other potential causes that are unfortunately unavoidable.
Medical Negligence
Medical negligence is one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy. For example, cerebral palsy can occur if attending healthcare professionals fail to detect preventable conditions that lead to oxygen deprivation and birth injuries.
The following conditions can lead to cerebral palsy if left untreated
- Extremely low blood pressure in the mother
- Birth asphyxia
- A lacerated uterus
- A detached placenta
- An entangled umbilical cord
- Severe trauma to the baby’s head during birth
- Newborn brain hemorrhage
If your medical team failed to prevent one of the above circumstances before, during, or after your delivery, and you feel that your child’s birth injury is related to this failure to act, you may be eligible for compensation. A Phoenix cerebral palsy attorney can determine which party or parties may be liable for your child’s birth injuries.
Medical Errors
Medical errors refer to mistakes in standard medical practice by healthcare professionals that can lead to the development of cerebral palsy in a newborn. Our cerebral palsy attorneys will investigate the case and identify any instances of negligence.
Common types of medical mistakes we see in cerebral palsy cases include:
- Failure to monitor fetal distress
- Delayed C-section
- Improper use of delivery instruments like forceps
- Medication errors
- Failure to treat infections
- Inadequate neonatal care
- Improper management of high-risk pregnancies
Our cerebral palsy lawyers in Phoenix review the medical records of both the mother and child to identify any discrepancies or signs of negligence. Consulting with medical experts helps us understand the standard of care and pinpoint deviations from it.
We also interview healthcare staff, family members, and other witnesses to gather detailed accounts of the events. Additionally, Birth Injury Lawyers Group investigates hospital protocols and collects evidence to support claims of negligence.
Available Compensation to Pay for Treatment
If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you suspect it may have been caused by the carelessness of medical staff, a Phoenix cerebral palsy lawyer may be able to help you recover money to pay for the treatment of your child.
We invite parents in Phoenix whose children sustained birth injuries to contact us to discuss the events that led to their child’s cerebral palsy. A cerebral palsy lawyer in Arizona from our team is standing by to review your case.
If we can make a connection between mistakes made during delivery and your child’s injury, we will pursue compensation for any of the following expenses:
- Speech therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Surgery
- Medications
- Doctor’s visits
- Emergency transportation
- Hospitalization
- Medical equipment
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Intentional misconduct, if any
- Any other losses related to your child’s injury
You do not owe us any fees upfront. If we reach an acceptable settlement or prevail in court, we deduct our fees after that. We want to help your family in any way we can. Please tell us about your family’s life after learning of your newborn’s cerebral palsy diagnosis so we can help you file a winning claim.
We cannot tell you how much you might recover, but we can evaluate your damages to calculate an estimate. Contact our team for more information. The earlier you call, the sooner we can begin working on your case.
Treatment for Cerebral Palsy
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the cure for cerebral palsy has yet to be discovered, and there is no standard therapy for treating every type of case. There are, however, a wide variety of options available to help treat the accompanying symptoms of CP.
Physical therapy and oral medication may be recommended for treating dysfunction of the extremities. Special types of therapy may improve symptoms related to drooling and speech impediments. For children with severe muscle dysfunction, orthopedic surgery and nerve severance may be an option.
Identifying the At-Fault Party in a Cerebral Palsy Case
Multiple parties could be responsible for causing your newborn’s cerebral palsy. Given the complexity of birth injury cases, it can be difficult to correctly identify all the at-fault parties without the help of an experienced attorney.
Any of the following parties could be at fault in your cerebral palsy claim:
- Obstetricians
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Anesthesiologists
- Hospital staff
- Prenatal care providers
- Delivery room technicians
- Neonatologists
As your cerebral palsy attorneys in Phoenix, we will investigate the incident and review all the available evidence to determine whose negligence caused your child’s condition. With over 350 years of combined legal experience, we know how to build a strong case showing the defendant’s negligence.
Our Phoenix Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Will Prove Negligence in a Birth Injury Lawsuit
Negligence in a birth injury case occurs when healthcare professionals fail to provide the standard of care expected during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, resulting in harm to the newborn or mother.
When such negligence leads to injuries like cerebral palsy, it forms the basis for a birth injury claim, allowing affected families to seek compensation.
To prove negligence, your Phoenix cerebral palsy attorney will focus on the following key elements:
- Duty of care: The healthcare provider owed a duty of care to the patient. This means they had a legal obligation to provide a certain standard of care.
- Breach of duty of care: The healthcare provider failed to meet the required standard of care. This could involve errors, omissions, or actions that fell below the expected level of care.
- Causation: The breach of duty directly caused the patient’s cerebral palsy or other injuries. There must be a clear link between the provider’s actions (or inactions) and the resulting harm.
- Damages: Finally, your lawyer will quantify your damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and decreased quality of life. This helps establish the compensation you could recover if your claim is successful.
At Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we have a track record of successful case results, and we continue to win record-setting verdicts and settlements throughout the US. We know how to use the available evidence to build a winning case for our clients.
Arizona’s Statute of Limitations for Birth Injury Lawsuits
The statute of limitations determines how much time you have to file a lawsuit against the defendant. In Arizona, most medical malpractice cases must be filed within two years. However, certain situations can delay the deadline.
For example, if the victim is a minor, the statute of limitations only starts after they turn 18. Therefore, the claim must be filed before their 20th birthday.
To make sure you file all the necessary documents before the correct deadline, talk to our cerebral palsy lawyers. After reviewing your claim, we can determine the cerebral palsy statute of limitations that applies to your situation.
Failing to meet the deadline may lead to the dismissal of your case. Also, you will likely lose the chance to recover all your losses. The sooner you call our Phoenix cerebral palsy lawyers, the more time we have to strengthen your lawsuit.
Call a Cerebral Palsy Attorney in Phoenix Today
Learning that your child has cerebral palsy can be a traumatic moment, and you might not know what to do next. Birth Injury Lawyers Group will investigate your case and determine if you have a valid birth injury claim. We will help your family fight for the compensation you need for a better life.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation. During this session, you can ask any urgent questions and gain a better understanding of your options for recovering your losses.
You have nothing to lose by reaching out to our experienced Phoenix cerebral palsy attorneys, but potentially a lot to gain.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."