The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy will have an impact on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a fuller life, with access to equipment, treatment and support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This could be due to inadequate medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labor and birth or other incidents.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the child's muscle tone and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve quality of life.

Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild, with a minimal effect on a child's ability to perform, or it can be severe and cause physical impairments throughout the body. The signs can include a Floppy head (floppy neck) and a muscles that are stiff and uncontrolled and walking difficulties, or issues with speech or other functions. If a child's condition is cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's known as hemiplegia; on both sides, it's called diplegia. The severity of CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition that causes muscle spasticity that restricts a person's movements and leads to problems with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes in childbirth are a frequent cause of CP. Midwives, doctors, and nurses should be cautious when delivering babies because brain damage may have serious consequences. If a medical mistake causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held responsible for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or failing to monitor and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they'll likely exhibit a range of physical signs. These symptoms may include tight or stiff muscles, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with posture and balance. Other issues could include intellectual disability, speech delays and vision and hearing issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to an immature brain. This is usually the case in the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, walking, or crawling can be a sign of CP. Children suffering from CP might also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

A variety of factors can trigger the development of a brain injury that leads to CP that can be caused by infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is the leading cause of CP.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the type. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent form. Dyskinetic cerebral Palsy attorney palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow flailing movements of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy that has an unstable motion and paraplegic cerebral palsy attorneys parsy in which legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy are different, the majority of sufferers of the condition have to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of problems they experience is dependent on the area of the brain that was injured as well as the degree of the injury.

Many people with CP require special physical therapy to increase their mobility, flexibility, and muscle tone and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also ease the pain and help prevent contractures. It could involve exercises, special braces, or other treatments.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues, which reduces life expectancy.

Other treatments can include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This may help children learn new ways of communicating. These may include sign language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.

These medicines can be used to stop abnormal movements, reduce pain, and prevent seizures. These medications can be taken orally or injected directly into the muscles affected, or into the fluid that surrounds your spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you can be awarded compensation to cover the cost of special care, equipment, and treatment. This will be determined by the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has had on them, in addition to any expenses and losses you have incurred. These might include loss of income due to having to leave work in order to take care of your child, home modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Your lawyer might hire an expert in disability in accordance with the severity of the injuries to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child from the moment of diagnosis until they turn adults. This can help determine an accurate amount of compensation. This is usually in the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which can be index to keep up with the rate of inflation.

You should be aware that the amount of compensation you receive from a legal case isn't a quick buck. It is a recognition that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals didn't fulfill their duty of medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.