According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there were 78 students with cerebral palsy in Erie County during the 2017-2018 school year. That does not even account for the countless babies and adults suffering from cerebral palsy in Erie. Sadly, many of these cases were caused by birth injuries and medical negligence.
You do not have to stay silent and move on with your life after an injustice like this. If someone you love has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a difficult, ill-advised, or dangerous birth, you may be eligible for compensation.
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, our attorneys proudly fight medical negligence in Pennsylvania and numerous other states across the country. Even though we have represented countless cerebral palsy victims over the years, we still take the time to address every claim on a case-by-case basis.
To better serve your unique needs, our firm can provide multiple legal services throughout your fight for justice. Perhaps most importantly, we hope you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing there is an Erie cerebral palsy lawyer in your corner.
To learn more about our legal services for cerebral palsy victims in Erie, contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529. A team member will be standing by for your free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with Erie Cerebral Palsy lawyer, call 1-800-222-9529
The Reality of Cerebral Palsy in America
The physical and mental trauma of cerebral palsy can be devastating. Sadly, there are countless other hardships that can accompany this condition.
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps reveal the true scope of cerebral palsy around the country:
- Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability among children
- Compared to children without cerebral palsy or intellectual disabilities, children with cerebral palsy have 10x more medical expenses
- As for children with cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, they have 26x more medical expenses than unaffected children
- 41% of children with cerebral palsy have co-occurring epilepsy
- Regarding mobility, 58% of children with cerebral palsy can walk independently, 11% walk by using a hand-held mobility device, and 31% have little to no walking abilities.
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Recoverable Damages in Erie
When you take legal action against a negligent medical professional, compensatory damages may help address every aspect of your hardships, from monetary losses to physical disabilities to mental suffering and beyond.
Recoverable damages take many forms in Pennsylvania, including:
- Medical expenses from past treatments and future care
- Physical pain from procedures and long-term ailments
- Loss of income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Accommodations for permanent disabilities, including specialized orthotics, medical devices, transportation methods, and other helpful tools
- Mental anguish, including trauma from bullying, lost self-esteem, loss of companionship with loved ones, loss of enjoyment of life, and feelings of isolation
- Punitive damages, which are only granted in exceptional cases of negligence or malice. If the court decides that your case qualifies for punitive damages, they will be added onto your general damages as a form of punishment for the offender.
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High-Risk Births in Erie County
Studies from the Department of Health show that pregnant mothers in Erie County commonly exhibit the risk factors associated with cerebral palsy, including:
- 37% of births occur via cesarean section (C-section), indicating that most births occur vaginally
- 9% of births are preterm
- 8% of babies suffer from low birth weight.
Based on these statistics, it is safe to assume that medical negligence has caused many cases of cerebral palsy in Erie over the years. When medical professionals fail to keep patients safe, complications like premature labor, prolonged births, and low birth weights are not uncommon.
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Links Between Medical Negligence and Cerebral Palsy
Generally, many cerebral palsy cases occur naturally due to medical conditions, repeated births, illnesses, or biological risk factors. However, countless other cases of cerebral palsy are not only preventable, but are the direct result of medical negligence.
Research from the CDC details some of the common ways cerebral palsy can be caused by medical negligence:
- Administering or prescribing dangerous medications that cause adverse reactions
- Failing to stop the umbilical cord from wrapping around the child’s neck, or failing to remove the cord in a timely manner
- Not taking preventative measures to prevent a breech birth, which causes the baby to be born feet-first
- Using dangerous extraction tools like forceps or vacuum devices, which may injure the child’s head or cause infections
- Proceeding with a vaginal birth even though the baby is too large, or the mother’s pelvic region is too small, leading to a dangerous birth that could have been avoided with a C-section
- Ignoring the warning signs of jaundice, causing it to spread when left untreated.
If you retain an Erie cerebral palsy lawyer at our firm, our attorneys can launch an investigation into your accident using a variety of research methods and third-party experts. After we finish gathering evidence, we can present our findings to the court to help prove liability.
To learn more about determining liability in medical malpractice claims, contact a representative at the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 to receive your free consultation.
Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Fighting for Victims in Erie
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we know you could probably use one less thing to worry about during these stressful times. With an Erie cerebral palsy lawyer in your corner, you can feel to focus on your family and your future while we handle the legal aspects of your case.
Lastly, you should keep in mind that medical malpractice claims are governed by unique laws in every state. Accordingly, 40 Pa. § 1303.513 dictates a seven-year statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims in Erie, beginning on the day of the injury.
If you do not act within this deadline, you may lose your eligibility for compensation.
Our team would love to start learning more about your case today during your free consultation. To get started, contact a representative of the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529.
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