A child’s birth is an amazing event that parents look forward to for months, but things occasionally go wrong. The baby can suffer an injury that, depending on the circumstances, might lead to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
If your baby received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, call an Illinois cerebral palsy lawyer with the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation. We may be able to get you the compensation you deserve.
Understanding a Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a type of brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles. This disorder restricts the person’s ability to maintain a steady balance or the proper posture, making it difficult to walk.
Cerebral palsy often appears in the first few years of life. Once the symptoms appear, they typically do not become worse as the child ages.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but doctors will recommend courses of treatment that can help the victim have an easier time functioning with the disorder.
The Primary Signs of Cerebral Palsy
When a child has cerebral palsy, a number of symptoms will appear. The primary signs of cerebral palsy include:
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty standing up straight
- Difficulty with writing
- Difficulty with manual dexterity skills
- Mental impairment
- Seizures
Not every child will have all of these symptoms, but the child normally will have more than one of them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in about 75 to 85% of cerebral palsy cases, the child will have spastic cerebral palsy, which means the muscles become stiff. This type of cerebral palsy makes movement extremely awkward for the child.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
How Cerebral Palsy Affects a Baby
In a baby with cerebral palsy, the area of the brain that controls movement does not develop properly. Some babies are born with cerebral palsy, but an injury during childbirth can also be the cause.
Developmental Milestones and Cerebral Palsy
With cerebral palsy, a few signs may appear before the baby turns three years old. Some signs will even appear in the first few months of the baby’s life. The baby may be slow to hit developmental milestones, including:
- Smiling
- Rolling over
- Sitting up
- Crawling
- Walking
A baby younger than six months may struggle to hold his head up when the parent lifts him, or the baby may have stiff legs that attempt to cross when the parent lifts him.
Treating Cerebral Palsy
Although no cure exists for cerebral palsy, doctors can use a few methods of treating the symptoms, including:
- Using braces to help with balance
- Using a walker
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy is related to an injury that a doctor’s negligence caused during childbirth, you could be eligible to pursue recovery for pain and suffering for your child and family.
An Arlington cerebral palsy lawyer will be able to help you determine whether negligence occurred in your case. The lawyers at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group will seek to recover the compensation you and your bay are entitled to receive. Call us at (800) 222-9529 so we can begin working on your behalf.
Arlington Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Providing Care for a Child With Cerebral Palsy
Parents who have a child with cerebral palsy will face a difficult future. The child will need years of medical care and therapy equipment, like walkers and braces. These medical costs can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses.
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy takes an emotional toll on the family, too. Parents will be facing years of special education classes, physical therapy appointments, and specialized medical care. Some families will also end up with significant debt to care properly for the child.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Seeking Legal Counsel
During the birthing process, a doctor may behave negligently, causing an injury to the baby that may lead to cerebral palsy. If this occurred, you have the right to seek compensation for the baby’s pain and suffering and your family’s emotional distress.
Some of the mistakes a doctor could make during the birthing process that can lead to cerebral palsy include:
- Depriving the baby of oxygen for too long
- A head injury after the birth
- Using an instrument improperly, such as forceps
- A prolonged labor lasting longer than 18 hours
Cerebral palsy also may occur because of a birth defect, such as an infection before delivery that could inhibit the normal growth of the brain. In a case like this, a doctor would not be liable.
Receiving Financial Compensation
Seeking financial damages from the responsible party can help you with the costs of caring for your child with cerebral palsy.
We understand that financial compensation cannot make up for the injury your child has suffered. However, by bringing a lawsuit against the party that caused the injury, you can hold the doctor responsible for his or her actions. Hopefully, this lawsuit will prevent other people from suffering a similar injury during birth.
An Arlington cerebral palsy lawyer will be able to negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Additionally, a cerebral palsy lawyer knows how to represent your interests in court should the case go to trial without a satisfactory settlement.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
Let Us Start Working on Your Behalf Today
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, our mission is to gain answers for our clients that have suffered an injury during childbirth. We will study the facts in your case, helping you determine whether medical errors led to the injury and the diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Once you hire us, an Arlington cerebral palsy lawyer will be able to answer your questions and discuss your concerns regarding your birth injury situation. Call us today at (800) 222-9529. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we will not accept payment until the case is settled.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."