A cerebral palsy lawyer in Chicago will provide you with the legal support you may need after getting your baby diagnosed. A cerebral palsy diagnosis can mean years of stress and medical bills. But negligent medical professionals should be responsible for the damage they’ve done. If you’re a victim of medical malpractice, you may be eligible for compensation.
A cerebral palsy lawyer who serves Chicago might be able to help you file a claim for things like the cost of your child’s equipment, medical expenses, and other losses. We can take care of the legal details while you focus on caring for your child.
A mother plays with her baby with cerebral palsy. A cerebral palsy attorney in Chicago can help her get compensation for medical bills.
For a free legal consultation with Chicago Cerebral Palsy lawyer, call 1-800-222-9529
How a Chicago Birth Injury Attorney Can Help
A Chicago birth injury attorney 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.
Our lawyers will gather documents and hire medical experts to investigate what happened during your treatment. We will work to prove that your child’s brain damage 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 attorneys know how to push back. We can calculate your damages, including future medical expenses, and we can even help you sue a doctor without malpractice insurance. But most importantly, we can negotiate with your insurance provider so you get the compensation you deserve.
Representing You in Court
It’s unlikely, but if the insurance company won’t negotiate, and your case goes to trial, our law office will fight to recover as much compensation as possible.
Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
How Cerebral Palsy Can Impact Your Child’s Life
Your child’s experience will depend on the severity of the injury to his brain and the damaged regions of the brain. Every person’s cerebral palsy is unique. Even twins with cerebral palsy can have very different outcomes.
Cerebral Palsy 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.
How Much It Can Cost to Care for a Child With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong medical condition. A child with cerebral palsy will become an adult with cerebral palsy. 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, like that requested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
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. Birth injury attorneys in Chicago can work with you to overcome your financial hurdles.
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Medical Negligence Can Cause Cerebral Palsy
According to the CDC, birth injuries can occur from events during pregnancy, 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 caused by negligence include:
- Infections during pregnancy. The mother has an infection like German measles that injures the baby’s brain.
- 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 or other events contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy.
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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, for eight years to file their claim, according to 735 ILCS 5/13-212. That is because many symptoms of cerebral palsy and other conditions are only noticeable years after birth.
That doesn’t mean you should wait to get in touch with a Chicago birth injury lawyer. You should pursue a claim as soon as possible so it’s easy to find enough evidence to prove the fault of negligent doctors.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is one of the most common motor disabilities in children. It is a neurological condition that affects movement and posture. There are many types, and different patterns of motor impairment characterize each one.
This condition can be caused by premature birth or maternal infections. And complications during the birth process, such as deprivation of oxygen and medical equipment malfunction.
The main types are:
- Spastic. This is the most common type, characterized by muscle tightness, poor coordination, slow reflexes, and difficulty with voluntary movements.
- Dyskinetic. It is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary spasms and uncontrollable movements.
- Ataxic. Ataxic cerebral palsy can cause problems with balance, coordination, and depth perception, along with shaky movements and difficulty with precise motor skills.
- Mixed. Some victims may exhibit a combination of symptoms from different types of cerebral palsy.
Even though it is also a birth injury, Erb’s palsy is not considered cerebral palsy, but if your baby was diagnosed, we can also offer legal support. Remember the severity of each case is different, and there are many subclassifications.
A thorough evaluation by medical professionals is necessary to get an accurate diagnosis. But discussing your legal situation with a birth injury lawyer is also important.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Discovering potential health concerns in your newborn can be a source of worry, and staying informed is important. When it comes to cerebral palsy, early detection can make a significant difference.
While the symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, there are some signs that parents can watch for in newborns:
- Abnormal muscle tone. You may notice 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 and involuntary movements.
- Excessive irritability or fussiness. They may appear irritable more often than other babies or cry excessively without an apparent reason.
- Unusual posture. For instance, when 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 showing no 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.
Talk to a Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Today
When your child has a disability, providing the quality of life they deserve can be a struggle. 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 on call 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.
Call or text 1-800-222-9529
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