Cerebral palsy is a permanent disorder that leads to varying forms of weakness or paralysis in different parts of a patient’s body. It is a common childhood disorder and has no known cure. Treatments for it focus on helping the patient live with the symptoms and are usually required for as long as the patient lives. The illness itself can range in severity and in the symptoms that it causes depending on which part of the brain and to what degree injuries were sustained.
If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you are not alone, and we are here to help. The Houston cerebral palsy lawyer will investigate the cause of your child’s injuries at no upfront cost, and we can help you determine how, when, and to what extent your child suffered brain injuries. The Birth Injury Lawyers Group works exclusively on birth injuries of these types, so call us to learn more.
Understanding Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is not a single disorder. It is actually a collection of illnesses that affect movement, posture, and voluntary muscle control. It can develop if the parts of the brain responsible for controlling these functions are damaged or injured in any way or if they develop abnormally during gestation. It is a common illness with an incidence rate of about three per 1,000 births and it has no cure.
Anything that damages the brain’s motor centers can cause cerebral palsy, including violence, child abuse, slips and falls, vehicle accidents, and more. When we talk about birth-related cerebral palsy, we must also include birth complications and other risk factors that can cause a newborn infant to sustain gray matter injuries that lead to the development of cerebral palsy. If a doctor misdiagnoses or incorrectly treats a newborn or injures one during delivery, the baby may develop cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy can manifest in different ways, and it is usually measured on a scale of one to five, with five representing the highest level of disability. The parents are usually the first ones to identify the telltale signs of the disorder. If a baby has trouble rolling over, sitting, crawling, or walking even after passing the relevant age milestone, this may indicate brain issues that warrant an investigation.
Depending on the extent of the injuries in question, a patient may have a mild, moderate, or serious case of the disorder. With mild cases, the patient can usually sit, stand, and walk without much difficulty. With severe cases, a patient may be completely incapacitated and may require 24-hour supervision and assistance.
Although the underlying injuries that cause cerebral palsy do not change over time–once the brain is damaged or develops abnormally, the issues tend not to worsen–the symptoms that are caused can change. For example, in infancy, a child may be unable to suck or swallow. This can lead to malnutrition over time, which can then lead to weakness, low bone density, misaligned joints, an inability to walk, further weakness, and limited independence as the individual grows older.
Did your child miss key growth or developmental milestones? If yes, or if he or she was born in an emergency or a complicated birth, you should test him or her for cerebral palsy. Diagnosing the type, location, and extent of brain injuries is the all-important first step you must take before you initiate corrective treatments or rehabilitation for your child.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Treatments and Care of Cerebral Palsy Patients
There is no known cure for cerebral palsy. The best course of action is to help the patient overcome the symptoms and disabilities that it causes. A multidisciplinary team is usually involved in the care and treatment of patients. Rehabilitation programs designed by the likes of surgeons, pediatric specialists, neurologists, speech and learning counselors, and social workers can help your child learn to cope with and potentially overcome his or her disabilities.
Beyond rehab and therapy, surgery, medications for controlling jerky movements or relaxing the muscles, the use of assistive devices, and specialized teaching and training programs can help your child live as full and independent a life as is possible given his or her condition. Texas cerebral palsy attorney can connect you to the care and treatment centers that can help you initiate these treatments for your child. Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group for a free consultation.
The Woodlands Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
The Benefits of Legal Counsel
You may wonder what there is to gain from pursuing a malpractice claim against a doctor, a medical team, or a care facility after-the-fact once your loved one has already sustained irreparable damages. There are many reasons you should not give in and should instead seek all the awards and damages that the law allows you to. Consider the following:
- Cerebral palsy is a permanent illness, and the care costs can quickly add up.
- Care and treatment facilities may not be available in your hometown, forcing you to travel, pay for accommodation, and spend nights away from home during treatment.
- Most treatments are needed every few months such as muscle relaxant injections, and some are needed more frequently, such as therapy and counseling.
- It can be exceedingly difficult to manage a civil malpractice case on your own while tending to an injured or disabled loved one.
- Managing a case can also be difficult given the fact that medical terms, insurance rules, and malpractice laws can be very complex.
- Meeting filing deadlines, negotiating with at-fault defendants identified in your claim, and obtaining the evidence needed to prove your case is a full-time job.
Let us help you. We are here to lessen your burden and help you seek the damages you are entitled to.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Call The Woodlands Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
A cerebral palsy attorney will help you ascertain when, how, and to what degree your child suffered birth injuries. We will assist you in seeking any compensation you have the right to pursue under the law and we will prove doctor negligence if it was involved in any way in your child’s case.
Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 for a free cerebral palsy case evaluation.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."