How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have profound effects on the child's life and the lives of their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full life with access to medical equipment, care and support.

Many cases of cerebral palsy arise from medical negligence. This could be caused by the lack of medical attention during pregnancy, difficulties during birth, or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however, early diagnosis and treatment can help improve the child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP through the child's muscle tone and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the child's capabilities but it can also be severe and cause impairments to all body parts. The signs include an oversized (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy affects only the child's body, then it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, then it's called diplegia. A severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity. This can limit the person's mobility and create difficulties with speech and eating.

The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is an often-repeated reason for CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be aware when delivering babies since brain damage can result in serious consequences. If a medical mistake causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy Attorney palsy, the physician could be held responsible for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C-section urgently or failing to monitor and escalate the intensity of the labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely display a variety of physical signs. These could include tight joints or stiff joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues can include intellectual disability, speech delays and vision and hearing issues.

Cerebral Palsy symptoms are caused due to damage to the young brain, usually in early childhood or infants. A slowing down in reaching milestones such as rolling over, standing up, crawling or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.

Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that triggers CP or CP-related conditions, including infections such as rubella, toxoplasmosis or cytomegalovirus in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a severe lack of oxygen) during delivery or labor is the main cause of CP.

Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, the symptoms can range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy attorneys palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent form. Dyskinetic cerebral Palsy (also known as athetoid, choreoathetoid, or choreoathetoid), is characterized by slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the legs, arms, and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP in which the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms specific to cerebral palsy differ, the majority of people suffering from the condition are required to manage stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with coordination and balance. The type of issues they experience will depend on the region of the brain that was injured as well as the extent of the injury.

Many people with CP need specific physical therapy in order to increase their muscle tone, mobility and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also help relieve discomfort and prevent contracture. Exercises, braces or other treatments might be incorporated.

CP is caused by musculoskeletal issues, such as hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis may also be present. These disorders can lead to major mobility problems, which reduces life expectancy.

Other treatments may include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can assist them to discover new ways of communicating and may involve sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to relax muscles that are stiff or overactive to reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. These medicines can be taken by mouth or directly into the affected muscles, or into the fluid around your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The compensation will be based on the physical and mental consequences of your child's condition, as well as on any expenses or losses you might have incurred. These might include loss of earnings as you had stop work to take care of your child, house modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Depending on the degree of the injury to your child Your lawyer could hire a specialist in disability care to draft a 'life care plan' that carefully details their needs from the date of their diagnosis until adulthood. This can help you determine an exact amount of compensation. This typically is an amount in lump sum and annual payments that are adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation.

It is important to be aware that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a huge sum. It's an acknowledgement that injustice has occurred due to a medical professional failed in their obligation to providing care during labor, pregnancy and the birth.