The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound effects on the child's life as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can enable them to lead a full and active life by providing access to treatment and equipment, as well as support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This can be caused by a lack of prenatal care, complications during labor and delivery, or other incidents.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's abilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the child's muscle tone, movement and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in a unique way. It can be moderate and have only a slight impact on the abilities of a child however, it can also be severe and cause impairments in all areas of the body. The symptoms could include a floppy head (floppy neck) stiff or uncontrolled muscle, difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's diplegia. In severe cases, CP could result in a locked in (spastic) condition, which is characterized by muscle spasticity. This may limit a person's movement and cause difficulty with speech and eating.

Childbirth-related mistakes made by doctors are a leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when delivering babies since brain damage can have serious consequences. If a medical error causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held accountable for malpractice. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy lawsuits palsy, he / she will likely have a combination of physical symptoms. These could include stiff or tight joints as well as a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain's immature state. This is usually the case during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling could be a sign of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding device.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the brain injury that causes CP. These include diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is the main cause of CP as is bleeding in the brain caused by blocked or broken blood vessels.

Depending on the form of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the legs, arms and body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy, which has shakey movements, or paraplegic cerebral palsy, in which the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy differ, the majority of people suffering from the condition are required to deal with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of problems they have depend on the region of the brain which was injured and the severity.

Many people with CP require specialized physical therapy to improve their mobility, flexibility, and muscle tone, and stretch their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve discomfort and prevent contracture. It could include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.

Musculoskeletal disorders like patella alta, hip dysplasia, cervical stenosis, and scoliosis are prevalent in CP. These can cause major problems in mobility, which reduces life expectancy.

Other treatments can include speech and language therapy for children who are unable to communicate effectively. It can help children develop new ways to communicate. This may include sign language, communication board, or voice synthesizers.

These medicines can be used to stop abnormal movements, reduce seizures, and ease pain. These medications can be taken orally, or directly injected into the affected muscles, or into the surrounding fluid of 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 of compensation will be based on the physical and mental impact of your child's condition as well as any expenses or losses that you might have incurred. This could include the loss of income because you had to quit work to care for your children, home adaptations and transport costs.

Based on the degree of the injury to your child the lawyer might recommend hiring an expert in disability care to develop a "lifecare plan' that carefully details their needs from the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will allow you to calculate the most accurate compensation amount. This typically will be lump sums as well as regular annual payments that are adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You should know that the compensation awarded for a legal case that is successful is not a cash-flow opportunity. It's a recognition of the injustice that occurred due to the fact that a medical professional did not fulfill their duty of care in labour, pregnancy and the delivery.