The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy lawsuits paralysis has profound effects on the life of the child as well as that of their family. Compensation can allow them to live an active and fulfilling life by providing access equipment and assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy arise from medical negligence. This could be due to a lack of prenatal care, problems during labour and Cerebral Palsy delivery or other events.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however early diagnosis and treatment may improve the child's capabilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the tone of a child's muscles and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists, like pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy in a different way. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's ability function, or severe and cause physical impairments throughout the body. The signs include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled that are difficult to walk, or having difficulty speaking and other functions. If a child only has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. On both sides, it's known as diplegia. The severity of CP may lead to a locked in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This may limit the person's mobility and create difficulties with speech and eating.

Birth complications are a frequent reason for CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be careful when delivering babies because brain damage may cause serious harm. If a medical error causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the physician may be held liable for negligence. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a Csection urgently or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he / she will likely have various physical symptoms. The symptoms can include stiff or tight muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with posture and balance. Other issues include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain of an infant. It usually occurs during infancy or the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling can be a sign of CP. Children with CP may also have difficulty swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

Numerous factors can contribute to the development of an injury to the brain that causes CP and other conditions, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure in pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a massive lack of oxygen) during delivery or labor is the most common cause of CP.

Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common form. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP could include ataxic cerebral palsy, characterized by a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy where legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy vary, most sufferers of the condition have to deal with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have problems with coordination and balance. The type of movement problems they have depend on the area of the brain that was injured as well as its extent of the injury.

Many people with CP require specific physical therapy in order to increase their mobility, tone of muscles and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also ease pain and prevent contracture. It can include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.

Musculoskeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia, patella alta, cervical stenosis, scoliosis are common in CP. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, which reduces the lifespan of a patient.

Speech and therapy for language can be used to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help them to discover new ways to communicate and may involve sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to stop abnormal movements, ease pain, and control seizures. These drugs can be taken orally or injected directly 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. This will be based on the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to any losses and expenses you've had to pay. This could include the loss of earnings because you have had to take a break from work to take care of your child, home modifications and transportation costs to transport your child to and from appointments.

Your lawyer may hire an specialist in disability care according to the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will write an "life care plan" that outlines their needs from the moment of diagnosis until they become adults. This can help you determine an exact amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments that can be adjusted to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You must be aware that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It is a recognition of injustice that occurred because the medical professional failed to perform their duty of care in labour, pregnancy and delivery.