Abnormalities in the development of the brain and direct physical injury to the brain can lead to cerebral palsy (CP). In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cerebral palsy is the most common childhood motor disability in the United States. How CP presents will depend on the nature and extent of the injuries sustained, but it can affect a person’s ability to walk, talk, learn, and control their limbs. It can also impair vision and hearing.
The Causes and Effects of Cerebral Palsy
Brain damage and developmental abnormalities resulting in cerebral palsy can be traced to several causes and risk factors, including:
- Gene mutations or environmental factors may disrupt the development of the brain during gestation or soon after delivery.
- Trauma, physical impact, infections, and inadequate oxygen supply can cause damage to the connections and synapses in the brain, especially in the brain’s gray matter. The cerebral cortex, which controls motor functions, is comprised of gray matter.
- Ruptured blood vessels or brain bleeds in the baby before, during, or soon after birth.
- Negligence, malpractice, or delivery room errors that result in an injury to a baby’s undeveloped brain.
For more information contact our cerebral palsy lawyer today.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Medical Errors and Delivery Room Negligence
As is true for all medical cases, the care team responsible for treating and managing a patient must be vigilant and ready to act in response to emergencies. They must also preplan their care and be on alert for many different factors. When it comes to delivery cases, these factors include the mother’s blood pressure, the baby’s position in the womb, the results of pre-delivery tests administered to identify potential issues, and screenings for bacterial or viral infections.
Furthermore, if a birth complication does occur, members of the delivery team must have the necessary skills and experience to perform the emergency procedures required to protect the health and wellbeing of the mother and her child. This includes knowledge of best practices and safe operational techniques in the use of assistive devices such as vacuum extractors and forceps. These are tools that are often used to remove a baby from the mother if the baby becomes stuck inside the birth canal.
Doing all of this is known as the duty of care. In an emergency, we expect the medical team to know what to do, when, and how. Failure to screen or test for potential issues, incorrectly reading or interpreting test results, failing to take preventive measures when needed, or incorrectly administering care in any way can lead to a birth injury. If it does, an Edison cerebral palsy lawyer may be able to hold your child’s doctors responsible for the damages that they cause to your child.
Edison Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
How We Can Help
Receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for your child will forever change your life. Questions that the parents of a child with cerebral palsy often ask include:
- How will our child recover?
- Can our child live a normal life?
- What treatments are available, and how much do they cost?
- Who was responsible for the injuries that our child sustained?
In the aftermath of a CP diagnosis, you need to determine the type and extent of your child’s injuries and begin rehabilitative treatment or therapy as soon as possible. You also need to factor in the cost of such treatment, not to mention care schedules with other members of the family, time off from work, visits to the doctor and therapy specialists, and filing insurance claims to help cover the damages that the CP diagnosis inflicted upon your family.
This is where an Edison cerebral palsy lawyer can help. The team at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group helps patients and families suffering from a cerebral palsy diagnosis. If your case warrants a claim for medical malpractice or negligence, we can file a case on your behalf, negotiate a settlement with the at-fault parties responsible for your child’s injuries, and represent you in court if your case goes all the way to trial.
We can also help you identify and quantify the damages that you may be entitled to seek for compensation. When it comes to cases involving birth injuries and cerebral palsy, these damages usually include one or more of the following:
- The cost of medical care, such as surgery, therapy, doctor’s visits, medications, and diagnostic tests.
- The cost of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, crutches, or changes to the home to facilitate your child’s disabilities.
- Lost income from days missed at work due to caring for your child.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
We Are Here To Help You
Has your child received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy? If yes, you may want to call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529. We offer free case evaluations at no upfront cost and take cases on a contingency-fee-basis. We only recover attorneys’ fees if we win a compensation payout or a settlement for you.
An Edison cerebral palsy lawyer can help you learn more about your legal rights as they pertain to protection from medical negligence, how to file a claim, the steps you must take to ensure your family’s financial security, and what to expect as your case progresses. Time limits known as statutes of limitation apply to cases of medical negligence, and they vary based on your circumstances, so you will want to act as soon as possible so that we can evaluate your case and quickly move to evidence collection if your case warrants a claim.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."