If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), you might be overwhelmed by unfamiliar medical terms and unsure where to turn for support. You may wonder what caused it, what treatment options are available, and how you will manage medical bills and daily needs.
If you have concerns that medical negligence may have contributed to your child’s condition, a Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer can explore your legal options. Our firm specializes in birth injuries, and our attorneys can fight for the compensation your child deserves.
A Chicago birth injury lawyer from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can be a powerful advocate. We’ve recovered over $750 million in damages and awards to help families in need. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
How a Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help
A cerebral palsy lawyer can sit down with you and your family to examine the legal options for your birth injury lawsuit. We’ll decide your next steps with you, then work on your claim so you can focus on caring for your child without worrying about how you’ll pay for medical care.
Gathering Evidence of Medical Malpractice During Delivery
It’s essential to provide evidence that proves fault in your child’s birth injury case. Without showing that you are the victim of malpractice, there is no chance to recover compensation for damages through a medical malpractice claim.
Our Chicago cerebral palsy attorneys will gather documents and hire medical experts to investigate what happened and if medical errors occurred during your treatment. We will work to prove that your child’s birth injury was due to a negligent party.
Tallying Damages to Calculate Your Compensation
Insurance companies want to pay you as little money as possible. They’ll use tactics like denying your initial claim or using your words against you to reduce your settlement.
Our experienced lawyers know how to fight back. We can calculate your damages, including future medical expenses, and, most importantly, negotiate with the responsible party’s insurance provider to ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Discovering potential health concerns in your newborn can be a source of worry, and staying informed is important. Early detection and proper prenatal care can make a significant difference.
While the symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, there are some signs that parents can watch for in newborns with a neurological disorder:
- Abnormal muscle tone: You may notice shaky movements or that your baby’s muscles appear too stiff or floppy. That can be observed during activities like picking up objects or holding their head steady.
- Lack of muscle coordination: Your baby may struggle with tasks like reaching for objects or bringing their hands together, as well as involuntary movements.
- Excessive irritability or fussiness: They may appear irritable more often than other babies or cry excessively without an apparent reason.
- Unusual posture: Your baby assumes unusual postures, such as arching their back or continuously keeping their limbs in a tight position.
- Lack of visual tracking: Difficulty following objects with their eyes or a lack of interest in colorful toys can be an early sign of cerebral palsy.
However, those symptoms can also be associated with other conditions, and it’s crucial to talk to a qualified medical professional to get a diagnosis.
Still, talking to a cerebral palsy attorney is also important to ensure you recover compensation for your baby’s development, lifelong care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation treatments.
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Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Understanding the potential causes of cerebral palsy can be a natural part of the grieving and questioning process after receiving this diagnosis for your child. It’s important to remember that each situation is unique, and a doctor will be able to provide a more specific explanation in your child’s case.
Here’s a general overview of some common causes and types of birth injuries:
Lack of Oxygen (Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy)
This occurs when your baby’s brain is deprived of oxygen before, during, or shortly after birth. Oxygen deprivation at birth can cause learning disabilities.
It can happen due to various complications during pregnancy or labor, such as placental abruption (when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall prematurely), difficult labor with prolonged pushing, or problems with the umbilical cord.
Brain Injury During Delivery
Sometimes, injuries during a difficult delivery, such as from prolonged use of forceps or a vacuum extractor, can cause damage to the developing brain.
Medical professionals have a standard of care they must follow during childbirth, and a Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer can help investigate if this standard was met.
Infections
Maternal infections during pregnancy or shortly after birth that can inflame the brain, like meningitis or encephalitis, can also be contributing factors.
It’s important to note that not all cases are caused by medical negligence. In some situations, unknown factors or complications during pregnancy may play a role. Suppose you have concerns that medical mistakes might have contributed to your child’s condition.
In that case, a cerebral palsy lawyer in Chicago can offer a free consultation to discuss your specific situation and explore your legal options.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy affects movement, muscle coordination, and posture in different ways for each child. The specific type your child has will influence their symptoms and level of care they require. Here’s a breakdown of some common cerebral palsy types:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy
This is the most frequent type, causing muscle stiffness and tightness. Spasticity can affect one side of the body (hemiplegia), both legs (diplegia), or all four limbs (quadriplegia). A Chicago cerebral palsy attorney can help you understand the specific challenges your child might face based on the affected areas.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
This type primarily affects balance and coordination. Children with ataxic cerebral palsy may experience problems with walking, reaching, and grasping objects. Their movements might be jerky or unsteady.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
Also known as athetoid cerebral palsy, this type is linked to damage to the basal ganglia. It is characterized by involuntary movements such as tremors, muscle jerks, or writhing motions, and the severity and frequency of these movements can vary greatly.
It’s important to remember that these are just general categories, and many children with cerebral palsy have a combination of symptoms from different types. A medical professional can provide a specific diagnosis for your child and recommend a personalized treatment plan.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
How Cerebral Palsy Can Impact Your Child’s Life
Your child’s experience will depend on the severity of the injury to their brain development and the damaged regions of the brain. Every person’s experience is unique, and even twins can have very different outcomes.
Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition that can affect a child’s mobility, communication, and coordination. Brain damage in specific areas can impair a child’s cognitive processes. A CP diagnosis can also mean your child will experience chronic pain and muscle spasms for the rest of their life.
Living with cerebral palsy presents a unique set of challenges for each child and their family. The severity of the condition can vary greatly, impacting everything from daily activities to long-term care needs. Here’s a glimpse into what life with cerebral palsy might entail:
Physical Limitations
Depending on the type and severity, a child might experience difficulties with movement, muscle control, balance, and coordination. This could affect tasks like walking, talking, eating, and dressing independently.
Physical and occupational therapy can be crucial in helping children develop skills and strategies for managing their limitations and increasing their independence.
Speech and Communication
Some children with cerebral palsy may have difficulty forming words or expressing themselves clearly. Speech therapy can help them develop alternative communication methods, such as using sign language or assistive technology devices.
Learning and Development
Children with cerebral palsy may have varying learning needs due to their intellectual disability. Early intervention and specialized educational programs can ensure they receive the support they need to reach their full potential.
Emotional and Social Well-Being
Living with a chronic condition can be emotionally challenging for children. Social interaction may be difficult due to physical limitations or communication barriers. Support groups and therapy can help children cope with emotional challenges and develop social skills.
Lifelong Care
Many children with cerebral palsy require ongoing medical treatment, therapy, and support services throughout their lives. The financial burden of this care can be significant for families.
A Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer can explore legal options, such as medical malpractice lawsuits, to help recover compensation for these ongoing costs.
The Cost to Care for a Child With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong medical condition. Proper care can be expensive. Over a lifetime, the costs can be astronomical. You will not always be there to take care of your child. They will likely need financial assistance and access to treatment.
Some of the overwhelming medical expenses of cerebral palsy can include:
- Doctors, hospitals, and operations
- Physical, occupational, and speech and language therapy
- Respiratory therapy and equipment
- Mobility equipment like wheelchairs and adapted vehicles
- Home modifications like ramps and lift equipment
These are a few examples of the additional costs of raising a child with cerebral palsy. If you are the victim of malpractice, you may be able to recover compensation to pay for these damages. Our cerebral palsy attorneys in Chicago can work with you to overcome your financial hurdles.
The Impact of Cerebral Palsy on Families
Receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis for a child can have a profound impact on the entire family unit. Here’s a look at some of the challenges families might face:
- Emotional Strain: Parents may experience a range of emotions, including grief, anger, fear, and uncertainty about the future. Coping with the diagnosis and the ongoing challenges of caring for a child can take an emotional toll.
- Financial Burden: The medical bills associated with cerebral palsy can be overwhelming. Therapies, medications, assistive technologies, and specialized equipment can cause significant financial strain.
- Logistical Challenges: Daily life can become more complex when caring for a child with cerebral palsy. Transportation, scheduling appointments, coordinating therapies, and managing household tasks can feel overwhelming.
- Social Isolation: Caring for a child with special needs can be isolating. Parents may find it difficult to maintain social connections or participate in activities they once enjoyed. Support groups can connect families with others facing similar challenges and provide a sense of community.
- Sibling Impact: Brothers and sisters of children with cerebral palsy may have their unique challenges. They might feel overshadowed, worried, or confused about the situation. Open communication and ensuring their needs are met are crucial.
Medical Negligence Can Cause Cerebral Palsy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth injuries can occur from events during pregnancy, prenatal care, labor, delivery, or soon after birth.
However, birth injuries are caused by medical malpractice in some instances. If a medical professional fails to meet a standard of care before, during, or after delivery, your child may be the victim of medical malpractice.
Examples of birth complications and risk factors caused by negligence include:
- Traumatic brain injury: The child suffers head trauma during labor and delivery from the incorrect use of vacuum extraction or forceps.
- Oxygen deprivation: A lack of oxygen can arise during prolonged labor or if the baby gets stuck in the birth canal or choked by the umbilical cord.
- Postnatal issues: Medical staff fail to treat conditions shortly after birth, such as a newborn experiencing seizures or having untreated jaundice, damaging brain cells.
Our cerebral palsy lawyers in Chicago can assess your case to see if one of these risk factors contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Birth Injuries in Illinois?
Usually, Illinois personal injury lawsuits have to be filed within two years of a malpractice incident. However, Illinois law allows parents of children who are the victims of birth injuries eight years to file their claim, according to 735 ILCS 5/13-212. That is because many symptoms of a cerebral palsy birth injury and other conditions are only noticeable years after birth.
That doesn’t mean you should wait to contact a medical malpractice attorney. You should pursue a claim as soon as possible so you can easily find enough evidence to prove the fault of negligent doctors.
What if I Suspect Medical Negligence May Have Contributed to My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
A Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer can offer a free consultation to discuss your situation. They can explore legal options, such as medical malpractice lawsuits, to recover compensation for lifelong medical care, ongoing costs of care, loss of income, and the emotional and physical impact on your child and family.
Talk to a Chicago Cerebral Palsy Attorney Today
When your child has a disability, providing the quality of life they deserve can be a struggle. Fair compensation for their injuries could open a new chapter in your family’s life, one in which you don’t need to worry about how to pay for medical bills and treatments.
The Illinois attorneys from Birth Injury Lawyers Group are here to help you take action with your medical malpractice lawsuit. We have the experience and the knowledge to get you what you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."