Cerebral palsy is a highly common motor disorder. It is not actually one illness or disability but is a collection of movement disorders that include poor posture, a lack of coordination, delayed mental development, and an inability to move the head, arms, or legs in certain ways. The underlying root cause of cerebral palsy is not known. However, we know that it can be linked to maternal obesity, premature birth, low birth weight, and physical damage, trauma, or abnormal development in the parts of the brain that control movement.
Damage and abnormal development in these “motor control centers,” as they are known, can be caused by gene mutations, the incorrect use of assistive devices while delivering a baby, doctor inexperience, viral or bacterial infections, and toxins. Your doctor can help you understand the causes of your child’s condition, but if a birth injury was involved, you should contact an experienced birth injury attorney to assist with your case. Speak with our Paradise cerebral palsy lawyer in Nevada for legal guidance.
More on Cerebral Palsy
The brain is comprised of different layers, and within each layer, there are brain centers that are responsible for the body’s various functions. The inner layer of the brain is called white matter, and the outer layer is called brain matter. The outer layer contains the brain centers that control movement, memories, vision, balance, and a number of other important functions. Damage to this layer is permanent and cannot be undone. Once damage occurs, it usually does not worsen, so cerebral palsy is sometimes referred to as a non-progressive disorder.
Cerebral palsy can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. “Cerebral” pertains to the brain, and “palsy” pertains to weakness or paralysis. It can develop if there is damage of any type to the cerebrum, which is an important part of the brain’s outer layer. As already mentioned, damage to these brain centers can happen at any time, such as in a vehicle accident, a slip and fall, or as a result of contact sports injuries or outdoor activities.
However, cerebral palsy is usually associated with newborns and infants. This may be because the outer layers of the brain with which the condition is related are more susceptible to damage before, during, and after birth. Studies have shown that nine out of 10 cerebral palsy cases develop before a baby is born, and the root causes of the condition are still under investigation. However, for the patients who suffer it after birth, birth injuries and medical malpractice can cause it.
For more information contact our cerebral palsy lawyer.
Other ways that cerebral palsy can be caused are:
- Physical trauma, including a drop from a height, that damages parts of the brain
- Abnormal brain development caused by genetic disorders, fever, or drug abuse
- Internal brain bleeding or a stroke that damages important parts of the brain
- Inadequate oxygen supply, also known as hypoxia, can lead to brain cell death
- Physical issues in the womb, such as a ruptured placenta, umbilical cord entanglement, and issues with maternal blood pressure
- Negligence can cause cerebral palsy if a baby’s head is squeezed during delivery, if screenings and tests to detect fetal distress are not performed or performed incorrectly, or if there are administrative or medication errors that negatively impact the mother or her baby
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Signs and Symptoms
Parents and caretakers are usually the first ones to notice or identify health issues in a child that has cerebral palsy. Depending on how severe the brain damage in question is and how old the patient is, we may see a wide range of symptoms that include all of the following:
- An inability to suck, chew, or swallow
- An inability to control the head or mouth
- Awkward walking, running, or jumping
- An inability to move the arms, hands, or fingers in certain ways
- In infants, abnormal scooting on the buttocks as opposed to crawling on all fours
- An awkward gait
- Slow mental development
These are the early warning signs that may indicate cerebral palsy. However, as a patient grows, these symptoms can change. For example, mouth sores may develop as a result of excessive drooling, compounded by feeding and eating issues. These issues, in turn, can lead to malnutrition which can then lead to low bone density and frequent fractures and bone breaks. A patient who suffers these issues may suffer frequent hospitalizations, time away from family, social isolation from the community, frustration, depression, and anxiety.
Paradise Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
We Are Here to Help
If your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by birth injuries or medical malpractice, we offer our services to you at no upfront cost. It is not always easy to connect a specific event or action–or negligent inaction–of an at-fault party to the damages and subsequent illnesses and disorders that your child experiences, but that is what the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can do for you.
We will work to ensure that you are able to file for as high a compensation or damages payout as you are legally entitled to by law, and we will do this by:
- Gathering evidence in support of your claim.
- Interviewing the doctor and medical team responsible for prenatal and postnatal care to identify when, if at all, actions that led to an injury occurred.
- Obtaining the testimony of medical professionals to prove that the actions you’ve identified did in fact lead to the health issues and injuries that your child suffered.
- Quantifying the value of all damages and losses that accrue to your child’s condition, including but not limited to testing and diagnostic fees, treatment and care fees, rehabilitation and therapy fees, medication and surgery costs, and assistive device expenses.
The Birth Injury Lawyers Group works on a contingency-fee basis. This means we only collect if you win your case, and we work to ensure that you and your loved ones have the coverage you need and deserve to successfully make as complete a recovery as is medically possible. Do not hesitate and contact us today at (800) 222-9529.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."