If the malpractice of a doctor or facility has caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you may be eligible to seek compensation. A cerebral palsy lawyer who serves Rockford, Illinois, may be able to help. Your claim can include the cost of medical expenses, ongoing care, and other losses.
Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 for a free case review. While we handle your legal matters, you can devote yourself to caring for your child.
What Can Cause Cerebral Palsy
Because cerebral palsy usually does not get diagnosed until the child is two years old, your lawyer will look through your medical records to determine what contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy. This information will allow your lawyer to create the foundation for a case against the liable party and work towards getting you compensation for your child’s condition.
Some of the events that can lead to cerebral palsy include:
- Prenatal Conditions. If the mother has an illness (such as rubella) during the pregnancy, the growing fetus can sustain damage to brain tissue and develop cerebral palsy. An injury to the mother during the pregnancy (such as a car accident or fall) can cause head trauma or a lack of oxygen to the fetus.
- Head Trauma During Labor and Delivery. In an emergency, a doctor may use vacuum extraction or forceps during the birth process. If the doctor makes an error, the baby can sustain a skull fracture or another type of head trauma.
- Lack of Oxygen During Labor and Delivery. When things go wrong during labor and delivery, the infant’s oxygen supply can get blocked, causing damage to their brain tissue. A very large baby, an infant in a breech position, or lengthy labor can involve a decreased flow of oxygen to the baby.
- Inadequate Afterbirth Care. Preventive measures must be taken soon after the child is born to avoid the contraction of any illness that may cause brain damage. These illnesses can include seizures or jaundice.
The Birth Injury Law Group can determine what factors caused your child to develop cerebral palsy and hold the liable parties responsible.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Different Types of Cerebral Palsy
Most people with cerebral palsy may be diagnosed with one or more of these conditions:
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy. About three out of four instances of cerebral palsy are the spastic type, according to the Center for Disease Control. The clenched muscles and awkward positions can cause frequent pain. The legs often “scissor” over each other. The arms and legs might draw up and not come to rest.
- Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy. In this type of condition, the person’s muscle tone might be too tight one day and too loose the next. The muscle tone might cycle from one extreme to the other multiple times a day. This results in uncontrollable muscle movement that limits basic self-care skills.
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy. A person with this condition might have an unsteady gait and balance issues. They may struggle to coordinate and control their hands to perform fine motor functions.
- Mixed Cerebral Palsy.An individual with more than one type of the conditions listed above has mixed cerebral palsy.
No matter what type of cerebral palsy your child has been diagnosed with, our team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can work to determine what costs your child’s care may incur and file a claim to cover these expenses. To learn more about what our team can do for you, call (800) 222-9529 for a free consultation.
Rockford Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
How Cerebral Palsy Can Impact Your Child’s Life
Cerebral palsy can encompass a vast spectrum of severity and impairment. One person with cerebral palsy may be able to live independently and walk with only minor difficulty. Another person with this condition might need one-on-one care 24 hours a day to breathe, eat, and survive. Symptoms of cerebral palsy may include:
- Poor fine motor skills
- Difficulty breathing, speaking, or hearing
- Variations in muscle tone, either too flaccid or rigid
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Difficulty swallowing or eating
- Poor balance
- Delays in the development of muscle movement
Living with these complications can be very difficult. There is no cure for cerebral palsy and maintaining a healthy quality of life can take years of therapy and ongoing medical treatment.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
What We Can Do for You
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group is committed to helping families fight for their rights in the aftermath of a life-changing error made by a medical professional. When you decide to let us pursue compensation for your family, we take on the challenges of the legal system. This includes:
- Filing your documents in an orderly fashion to meet various deadlines
- Investigating the circumstances surrounding your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis
- Estimating a value for the costs of your child’s condition
- Helping your child get appropriate medical treatment
- Negotiating a settlement on your behalf
- Representing you in court, if necessary
A Rockford cerebral palsy lawyer with the Birth Injury Lawyers Group will work tirelessly to defend your rights to fair compensation in your time of need. Any lawyer that works with your family will be knowledgeable in the nuances of your state’s birth injury laws to get you the payment you deserve.
"Our Birth Injury Lawyers have recovered over $750+ Million on behalf of our clients."
Damages in a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit
Living with cerebral palsy can be expensive. The costs can add up year after year. Some of the damages in these lawsuits can include:
- Medical expenses for doctors, hospitals, surgeries, lab work, prescription drugs, and treatment
- Equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers, splints, and breathing machines
- Home modifications, including ramps, lifts for transfers, accessible bathrooms, and stairlifts
- Adapted vehicles
- Ongoing care, such as a home nurse or physical therapist
- Financial support, if your child will not be able to support himself through gainful employment
- Pain and suffering
It is important to track your child’s medical condition starting from the moment of their diagnosis. These medical documents will make it easier for our team to begin building a legal case and pinpoint the cause of negligence on behalf of the medical practitioner or facility. Contacting our team can also help ensure that you do not miss the statute of limitations that may apply to your state. A member of our staff can let you know what this means for your case.
Contact the Birth Injury Lawyer Group Today
For many children, cerebral palsy is an avoidable condition. You may have questions for what this legal process can entail and want to speak to a professional regarding your options. For a free case review, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."