How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can have profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can help them live a full and active life by providing access to care and equipment, as well as support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This can be due to inadequate care during pregnancy, or problems during birth, or other occurrences.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can improve a child’s abilities. Doctors diagnose CP based on the child's movements, muscle tone and coordination. They can refer a child to specialists such as pediatric orthopedists, neurologists and physiatrists to assist in managing symptoms and increase the quality of life for children.

Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on a child's abilities, or it can be severe and cause impairments to all body parts. The signs include Floppy head (floppy neck) muscles that are stiff or inflexible that is difficult to walk or has difficulties with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy is only affecting one side of a child's body, it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, it is known as diplegia. A severe CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition with spasticity in muscles that restricts the person's movement and can lead to difficulties in speaking and eating.

Childbirth-related medical errors are an often-repeated cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be aware when delivering babies because brain damage can result in serious consequences. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain damage that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held responsible for malpractice. This includes a lack of planning or performing a C-section in a hurry or failing to supervise and escalate the complexity of labor.

Symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they'll likely exhibit a range of physical symptoms. These may include stiff or tight joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement and issues with balance and posture. Other problems can include speech delays, intellectual disability as well as hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to an immature brain. This occurs most often in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in reaching milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a typical sign of CP. Children suffering from CP might also have trouble swallowing and may require a feeding device.

Many factors can contribute to a brain injury that leads to CP. This includes infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a massive lack of oxygen) during labor or delivery is a leading cause of CP.

Based on the type of cerebral palsy, the symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy attorney palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled motions of the legs, arms and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which has a shaky, jerky movement) or paraplegic CP in which the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral Palsy attorneys palsy differ, the majority of people suffering from the condition are required to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they face is determined by what area of the brain was injured and the extent of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy which helps them improve their mobility and muscle tone and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also ease the discomfort and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments can be considered.

CP is caused by musculoskeletal issues that include hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis may also be present. These conditions can cause major mobility problems which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

Other treatments can include speech and language therapies for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help them learn new ways of communicating and could include sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to reduce abnormal movements, reduce seizures, and ease pain. These drugs can be taken by mouth or directly into the muscles affected, or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim can result in compensation for your child to pay for special care, equipment and treatment. The amount will be determined on the mental and physical consequences of your child's condition and any expenses or losses you may have incurred. This could include loss of earnings due to the fact that you have to quit work to care for your children, home modifications and transportation expenses.

Your lawyer could hire an specialist in disability care according to the degree of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft an "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child from the moment they are diagnosed until they reach the age of adulthood. This will help you calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This usually takes the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments which can be index to keep up with inflation.

It is important to be aware that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition of the fact that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of providing care during labor, pregnancy and the birth.