How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound effects on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and fulfilling life, with access to equipment, treatment and support.

Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. This could be due to a lack of prenatal care, issues during labor and delivery or other events.

Causes

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

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild, having a minimal impact on a child's ability function, or it can be extremely severe and cause physical impairments throughout the body. Some of the symptoms include an oversized (floppy neck) head as well as stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If a child only has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's known as hemiplegia. When it happens on both sides, it's called diplegia. A severe CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity that limits the person's movement and can lead to difficulties in speaking and eating.

Medical mistakes in childbirth are an often-repeated reason for CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when delivering babies because brain damage can have serious consequences. A physician could be held accountable for malpractice if a medical mistake causes cerebral palsy or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence in scheduling or performing an urgent C-section, or the failure to monitor and escalate a complicated labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they will most likely exhibit a variety of physical signs. This could include tight joints or Cerebral Palsy stiff joints or muscles, a limp, involuntary movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other problems include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision problems.

Cerebral palsy symptoms are caused due to damage to the young brain, usually in the early years of childhood or in infants. A delay in milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, walking, or crawling may be an indication of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to have trouble swallowing and might need feeding tubes.

Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP that can be caused by infections such as toxoplasmosis, rubella or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is a major cause of CP, as is bleeding in the brain that results from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the type. Spastic oxnard cerebral palsy attorney palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered form. Dyskinetic muncie cerebral palsy attorney palsy (also known as athetoid or choreoathetoid) involves uncontrolled and slow flailing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral Palsy (which is characterized by a shakey movement) or paraplegic CP which affects the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most people suffering from the condition are required to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of movement problem that they suffer from is dependent on which brain area was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP require special physical therapy which helps them to improve their mobility and muscle tone as well as stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also ease the pain and prevent contractures. It may include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.

CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems like hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis may also be present. These conditions can cause major mobility problems and reduce life expectancy.

Speech and therapy for language can be used to aid children who are not able to communicate effectively. This may help children learn new ways of communicating. These may include sign language, communication board, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to reduce the abnormal movement, reduce pain, and control seizures. These medicines can be taken orally, or directly injected into the affected muscles or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful claim for cerebral palsy can result in compensation for your child's for special care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has had on them, in addition to the costs and losses you've incurred. This could include loss of earnings because you had to stop working to care for your children, house modifications and transport expenses.

Your lawyer could hire an specialist in disability care, depending on the severity of the injury to your child. The specialist will write an "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child from the time of diagnosis until they turn adults. This can help you determine the most accurate amount of compensation. It usually will be lump sums as well as regular annual payments that are adjusted to keep pace with the rate of inflation.

You must be aware that a payout from a legal action isn't a huge sum. It's a recognition that injustice has occurred due to medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of providing care during labor, pregnancy and the birth.