No parent expects to have their baby suffer a significant injury during the birthing process, yet thousands of birth injuries happen each year at the hands of medical professionals. If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after an injury at birth, you may be entitled to seek financial compensation to cover the costs of your child’s care.
This brain disorder, often shortened to CP, affects the portion of the brain that controls muscle movement. If a child suffers from CP, they may face a lifetime of difficulties and mounting medical costs.
If you suspect that medical malpractice led to your child’s CP diagnosis, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with Cicero Cerebral Palsy lawyer, call 1-800-222-9529
Symptoms of CP
CP includes a broad spectrum of symptoms that may not be present in every child. In fact, over 50% of patients living with CP can walk unassisted. However, many children with CP also have co-occurring conditions. 41% of children with CP have epilepsy, and 6.9% are on the autism spectrum. These diagnoses can impact their quality of life and their ability to perform many tasks needed for living independently.
Other noticeable signs of CP include:
- Muscle rigidity or flaccidity
- Inability to control muscles needed for speech
- Arms drawn into a tight position
- Legs crossing or scissoring
- Chronic pain
- Lack of balance and coordination
- Involuntary movements
- Paralysis on one side of the body
There are other physical conditions a child with CP may exhibit. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group can use their resources to determine the exact cost of your child’s care and factor that amount into your claim. For more information, call us today at (800) 222-9529 for your free consultation.
Cicero Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
What Causes CP
Many children born with CP develop this condition in the womb for reasons science cannot explain. However, some children develop CP after a traumatic birthing process during which they were deprived of oxygen or suffered brain damage. Additionally, sometimes infections contracted by the mother during pregnancy can damage the growing fetus’s brain tissue and lead to a CP diagnosis later in life.
Some instances that cause CP include:
- The mother contracting German measles or other bacterial infections
- The improper use of medical equipment, such as forceps or a vacuum extractor
- The baby being deprived of oxygen due to being stuck in the birth canal or having the umbilical cord around their neck
- Low birth weight
- The mother being injured during pregnancy during a car accident or other traumatic event
There are other ways that your child could have developed CP. Medical professionals assume a high duty of care when providing for a mother and child during pregnancy and delivery. Failing to prevent an otherwise healthy fetus from developing a lifelong disability breaches this duty of care. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help you understand what evidence is needed to prove medical malpractice in your claim.
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Diagnosing CP
It can be difficult for a doctor to properly diagnose CP during the first year of a child’s life. Most children are not formally diagnosed with CP until they are about two years old. A doctor may suspect the possibility of CP until the baby is missing some common developmental milestones. They then may choose to run a series of tests to diagnose CP, including:
- Cranial ultrasound: This may be done early in the child’s life, giving the doctors a preliminary look at the health of the baby’s brain.
- MRI: A scan of the child’s brain will be able to identify lesions that could point to a serious problem.
- EEG: Sensors can record the electrical activity in the baby’s brain to look for abnormalities.
- Blood tests: Genetic or metabolic abnormalities can be spotted by testing for genetic conditions that may cause CP.
- General exam tests: Doctors will test the child’s vision, hearing, speech, and movement, looking for signs of brain damage.
Your child’s doctor may conduct additional tests to check for abnormalities. It is important to hold onto any medical documents pertaining to your child’s diagnosis of CP, as this may prove helpful when building a foundation for your claim.
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How a CP Lawyer Can Help
If your child has been diagnosed with CP and you believe it is the fault of a negligent doctor, hiring our team can help you in several ways, including:
- Evaluating the circumstances of the delivery of the child
- Reading all medical documents related to your case
- Creating and implementing an argument suggesting medical malpractice
- Interviewing medical experts to determine if proper procedures were followed
- Representing you in court should we not be able to reach a settlement offer
We can perform additional duties other than those listed here. We will also provide you with up-to-date information regarding your claim’s procession so that you can be informed of the legal proceedings.
Negotiation Process
Many times, compensation in a CP case is negotiated between your representative and the defendant’s representative. This process occurs outside of the framework of the court system, meaning the case may never go to trial.
However, if the defendant’s lawyer refuses to come to an equitable agreement on the settlement, the case may go before a jury.
Your birth injury lawyer will present all evidence of medical malpractice and negligence that has been gathered. Your compensation settlement may cover the cost of:
- Past, present, and future medical bills
- Ongoing physical therapy
- Medical equipment (such as a wheelchair)
- Pain and suffering for the child
- The loss of future earning potential for the child
- The loss of quality of life
- Changes to the parents’ employment status while caring for the child
You may receive damages for items other than those listed here. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group believes that your family should not have to go into debt to support your child’s condition.
Let Us Protect Your Right to Seek Damages
A CP diagnosis can overshadow the joy and excitement surrounding the birth of your child. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help. We can investigate all the facts in your case, reading medical reports and interviewing those who were present at the birth of your child. We will use this information to determine which parties should be held responsible for your baby’s injuries and CP diagnosis.
We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means we do not accept payment until the case is settled. Our goal is to fight for the compensation you need to provide for your child. Call the Birth Injury Law Group today at (800) 222-9529.
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