When a baby receives a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, it can be a devastating emotional situation for a family. If that diagnosis was the result of medical malpractice, the situation becomes frustrating. You and the baby did nothing wrong, yet a doctor or nurse behaved negligently, resulting in a lifetime disability for the baby and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical expenses for the family.
If someone else caused the injury to your baby, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills and pain and suffering. Call our Illinois Cerebral Palsy Lawyers at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation with a Berwyn cerebral palsy lawyer.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is one of the most common physical disabilities a child or baby may suffer. Damage that occurs in the brain before birth, during the birthing process, or after the birth can lead to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
With cerebral palsy, the area of the brain that controls motor functions is damaged. This injury can occur from natural causes, or it may occur from a mistake a birth doctor or nurse makes in caring for the baby and the mother.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can have a number of symptoms associated with it. Sometimes, the parent may not notice cerebral palsy symptoms until the baby is more than a year old. Other times, symptoms will be noticeable after a few months.
Some common signs of severe cases of cerebral palsy include:
- Failing to hit developmental milestones as a baby
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty crawling
- Difficulty with manual dexterity skills
- Seizures
- Mental impairment, including some degree of mental retardation
In mild cases of cerebral palsy, a child may have a slight limp. He or she may be able to walk without a walker or braces, but the walk seems uncoordinated.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy Before Birth
A baby may suffer an injury to the motor skills portion of the brain while still in the womb. The baby may have an infection in the spinal cord or the brain, for example, that may cause the formulation of the brain to be abnormal, leading to cerebral palsy.
Should the baby have suffered an event in the womb that led to an obstructed oxygen flow to the brain, he or she also could be born with cerebral palsy.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy During Birth
During childbirth, the baby may suffer an injury that leads to cerebral palsy. This situation is the most common case where a doctor’s negligence could lead to a lawsuit.
Injuries that may occur during childbirth include:
● The baby suffers a head injury
● Misuse of instruments during the birth, such as forceps
● Obstructed oxygen to the brain of the baby, such as during a long childbirth process
Additionally, cerebral palsy may occur as a result of preterm birth. This circumstance is a common cause of cerebral palsy.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy After Birth
Although it is rare, cerebral palsy may occur after the child is more than a month old. A baby that suffers a significant infection in the brain, including meningitis, could develop cerebral palsy after birth. A shaken baby or a baby who falls to the ground and suffers a head injury also may develop cerebral palsy.
Berwyn Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Seeking Damages
Hiring a Berwyn cerebral palsy lawyer is the first step toward filing a lawsuit against the medical personnel who caused the injuries that led to the diagnosis of cerebral palsy for your baby.
When you hire the Birth Injury Lawyers Group to represent your interests, we will work to find evidence that errors occurred in the medical care provided before, during, or after the birth of your child. We will seek the maximum potential recovery to which you are entitled.
Call us today at (800) 222-9529. You could receive a financial award from the doctor’s malpractice insurance company, which will help you with the expense of carrying for the child with cerebral palsy.
Understand that each state has its own statute of limitations around seeking compensation for injuries the baby may suffer during the birthing process. Our lawyers are familiar with the laws in each state.
Understanding When Negligence Has Occurred
Sometimes, it can be challenging to figure out exactly which party is responsible for the injuries that led to your baby’s cerebral palsy diagnosis. During the birthing process, dozens of different medical personnel care for the mother and the baby.
Sometimes, the person responsible could be a general care physician the mother saw in the early stages of her pregnancy. Other times, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) who was involved in the mother’s pregnancy care and the delivery of the baby may have caused the injuries to the baby.
With a Berwyn birth injury lawyer on your side, determining who is at fault becomes an easier process. The attorney will study the facts in the case, interview witnesses, and read the medical reports to determine when and where the negligence occurred.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
We Will Fight for Your Rights
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we understand that receiving financial damages is not going to fully compensate you for the injury your baby suffered during childbirth.
However, bringing a lawsuit with a Berwyn cerebral palsy lawyer on your side is an important path to follow for many families in this situation. A judgment in your favor can help you receive funds for the years of medical care the child needs while dealing with cerebral palsy. Additionally, the lawsuit holds the party who caused the injury responsible.
Call us today at (800) 222-9529. Our lawyers can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."