Receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for your baby can be a confusing and scary situation. Additionally, you may not be sure exactly how this condition occurred, and you may be wondering what exactly this means for your baby and your family going forward.
Cerebral palsy is a life-long condition, and you may have some significant concerns about how you will be able to care for your baby and about how you will pay for the ongoing medical care needed.
Holding a Negligent Doctor Responsible
Ultimately, you may discover that medical personnel in the delivery room made an error that caused an injury to your baby, leading to the onset of cerebral palsy (CP). In a case like this, you may want to hire a Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyer to investigate the case for you and determine whether you are eligible to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we will begin working on your case as soon as you decide to hire us. We know how difficult it can be to negotiate with the doctor’s insurer while also trying to care for your baby and help your family move forward. We take pride in defending the rights of victims from the negligence of medical personnel. For a free case review, contact us today at (800) 222-9529.
For a free legal consultation with Philadelphia Cerebral Palsy lawyer, call 1-800-222-9529
How Doctors Diagnose Cerebral Palsy
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability among children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimates that cerebral palsy affects about 1 in 323 children. Therefore, doctors should be looking for, and testing, for this condition throughout the child’s early life if the mother and newborn went through a difficult birth process.
According to the Mayo Clinic, diagnosing cerebral palsy can be difficult until the baby is at least a few months old. Some cases may not even become apparent until the child begins missing developmental milestones such as crawling and walking around 12 months of age.
Some of the ways a doctor may test for the onset of cerebral palsy include:
- Regular exam: a doctor may attempt to test the baby’s vision, hearing, and movement, looking for potential signs of cerebral palsy that would justify undertaking a greater level of testing
- Ultrasound: a doctor may use an ultrasound to examine the brain of a baby soon after birth looking for abnormalities that could indicate a health problem
- MRI: a doctor may use an MRI scan of the brain to look for lesions that could indicate damage to the brain
- EEG: a doctor may use the results from an EEG to look for abnormal brain activity that could indicate damage
Starting the Process of Filing a Malpractice Claim
Some parents may question whether they want to start the process of a medical malpractice lawsuit after receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis for their baby. Certainly, filing a malpractice claim can be a stressful process, but that is where a Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyer from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help by giving you the advice you need to proceed in the best possible way.
By undertaking a claim, you can receive financial compensation that can help you with potentially large medical bills and future medical expenses that your baby will need. Financial compensation for burdensome medical bills can be a significant emotional relief for you and your family.
Additionally, you can use the process of a medical malpractice lawsuit to ensure that the doctor who made the error and injured your baby will be held liable for their actions, hopefully preventing other families from going through the same thing. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today at (800) 222-9529 for a free review of your case.
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Potential Types of Compensation
If you and your attorney decide that enough evidence exists to move forward with your medical malpractice claim related to your baby’s cerebral palsy diagnosis, you can receive compensation for a number of items, including:
- Medical costs: which include costs you have accumulated for the baby’s care related to cerebral palsy to date, as well as an estimation of future medical bills that you will have to pay related to the baby’s care many years down the road
- Pain and suffering: which includes compensation for the pain that the baby may be suffering through with cerebral palsy
- Loss of quality of life: where the child will not be able to enjoy life as much as they could without the onset of cerebral palsy
Remember, according to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF), there is no cure for cerebral palsy, so medical costs will be ongoing and could increase in the future.
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We Do Not Shy Away from Difficult Cases
Medical malpractice cases can be especially challenging, as it takes some work to discover what actually happened and who should be held liable. As a Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyer, count on us to perform the legwork required to figure out how this condition manifested for your child. Some of the ways we can help include:
- Interviewing witnesses to the baby’s birth
- Reviewing medical records for the mother and baby
- Discussing the case with experts
- Determining whether medical personnel followed the expected procedures and techniques during the birth
- Determining the quality of life that the baby may have as they age
- Negotiating with the medical malpractice insurer on your behalf
Should the medical malpractice insurer refuse to come to a fair settlement during negotiations, we will represent your interests in court. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not receive payment until the case reaches a settlement that is satisfactory to you. Our fees come from the final settlement amount.
Contact the Birth Injury Lawyers Group at (800) 222-9529 today for a free review of your case. We know how insurance companies treat medical malpractice victims, seeking to convince them to accept a lower settlement offer than they may deserve. We will counteract those techniques, giving you an advocate who will stand by your side throughout the process.
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