Discovering your baby suffered a birth injury leaves parents feeling upset and distressed, even more so after learning the unfortunate birth injury resulted in your child developing acquired cerebral palsy.
Parents and family members commonly feel a deep sense of grief and distress after receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for their infant, knowing that their loved one will face lifelong complications because of an unjust injury caused during their birth.
People are often unsure if they should seek legal support during this stressful and trying time. Working with a dedicated and compassionate cerebral palsy lawyer will help you and your family attain justice for your child’s traumatic birth injuries and protect your family’s rights through this complicated situation.
At Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones navigate this challenging time and attain the justice you deserve. Contact Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today or call at (888) 894-9067. Let us connect you with a skilled and compassionate cerebral palsy lawyer.
What is a lawyer’s role in birth injury cases?
A lawyer can help families navigate the complexities of birth injury cases, including cerebral palsy caused by negligence. They gather evidence, advocate for your rights, and secure compensation for medical care and emotional suffering.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke classifies cerebral palsy as a broad term that encompasses a group of neurological disorders that affect a person’s body movement and muscle coordination.
Cerebral palsy develops during infancy or early childhood and has a lifelong effect on a person’s ability to control their movement, maintain balance, and maintain posture.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood.
The effects of cerebral palsy on a person's ability to function can range from a slight difficulty in walking correctly on their own to requiring the use of special equipment to aid in walking to the inability to walk at all.
While there is currently no known cure for cerebral palsy, the condition does not progress over time. However, the symptoms that a person experiences can change over their lifetime.
If a birth injury caused your child to develop cerebral palsy, contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today, and we will connect you with a trusted cerebral palsy lawyer.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury or abnormal development of the brain before, during, or after birth.
There are two classifications of cerebral palsy: congenital and acquired.
Congenital cerebral palsy is caused by an abnormality or issue arising in the womb, meaning the person is born with the neurological disorder.
Acquired cerebral palsy is caused by an issue that arose either during or after birth.
Common causes of acquired cerebral palsy include:
- Lack of oxygen to the brain, also known as asphyxia, that occurs during delivery
- A mother delivering multiple births, commonly in the form of twins or triples, and losing one in the womb during delivery increases the risk of a birthed child developing cerebral palsy
- Babies delivered prematurely or at a low birth weight
- Untreated jaundice at birth
- Improper use of tools or poor treatment of the baby during birth that causes head trauma
- Medical staff not properly treating infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Alliance if a birth injury caused your baby to develop acquired cerebral palsy. Let us connect you with a local lawyer to help your family get the care and justice you deserve.
What Are Common Signs That My Infant Has Cerebral Palsy?
Many parents find it difficult to determine if their infant has cerebral palsy.
The CDC identifies common signs of cerebral palsy for parents to be aware of with their infants, including:
- Developmental delays, such as having difficulty learning to roll over, sit, crawl, or walk
- Decreased muscle tone that creates an appearance of being relaxed or floppy
- Increased muscle tone that makes them appear rigid or stiff
- Unusual posture of favoring one side of their body when they crawl or reach
The NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke identifies specific age-related signs for parents to monitor for cerebral palsy in their child:
- Under six months of age
- The child’s head lags when picked up or while lying on their back
- Their body appears stiff
- The child’s body feels floppy
- When picked up, the baby’s legs stiffen and either cross or scissor
- Over six months of age
- The child cannot roll over in either direction
- The child is unable to bring their hands together or to their mouth
- The infant favors one hand while keeping the other hand in a fist
- Over ten months of age
- The child pushes with one hand and leg while crawling, leaving the other side of the body to drag
- Inability to stand, even with support
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today if your baby was diagnosed with acquired cerebral palsy after suffering a birth injury. Let us connect you with a trusted cerebral palsy lawyer to get the justice your family deserves.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
Parents and family members often feel distressed, heartbroken, and overwhelmed after their loved one has been diagnosed with acquired cerebral palsy following a birth injury.
Most parents are unaware of how cerebral palsy will impact their child's life and ability to function on their own properly.
While the symptoms of cerebral palsy a person experiences will vary on the severity of their neurological disorder, the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke identifies common symptoms of cerebral palsy:
- Ataxia, or the lack of muscle coordination
- Spasticity, such as the person experiencing stiff or tight muscles, as well as exaggerated reflexes
- Weakness in at least one limb
- Walking with a scissored gait, crouched gait, or on their toes
- Muscle tone variation, whether too floppy or too stiff
- Tremors, shaking, and random involuntary movements
- Motor skill milestones either reached late or not at all
- Challenges in making precise movements, like buttoning a shirt or writing
The NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke also notes common conditions a person may experience related to their cerebral palsy, including:
- Seizures are experienced by approximately half of all children diagnosed with cerebral palsy
- An estimated 30-50 percent of all people with cerebral palsy experience a form of an intellectual disability
- Delayed growth or development of muscles and limbs
- Osteoarthritis and spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, lordosis, and kyphosis, are common conditions associated with cerebral palsy due to the pressure on and misalignment of a person's joints
- Impaired vision, commonly in the form of strabismus, poor vision, or blindness
- Partial or complete hearing loss
- Speech and language disorders
- Excessive drooling due to the inability to control the muscles in their throat, mouth, and tongue
- Incontinence
- Challenges with perceptions and sensations
- Difficulty learning and processing certain types of auditory and spatial information
- Experiencing a higher risk of contracting infections and long-term illnesses, such as pneumonia, heart disease, and lung disease
- Muscle contractures
- Malnutrition as the result of feeding difficulties
- Dental problems, commonly in the form of cavities and gum disease
- Inability to maintain strength and fitness, leading to a decrease in overall well-being and health
- Reduced bone mineral density and increased risk of broken or fractured bones
- Higher risk of developing psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, social issues, and emotional issues
If a birth injury caused your child to develop acquired cerebral palsy, call the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today and let us connect you with a trusted and diligent cerebral palsy lawyer.
What Do I Do After a Birth Injury Causes My Child to Develop Cerebral Palsy?
Discovering your child developed acquired cerebral palsy after a devastating birth injury is a traumatic and overwhelming experience for most parents.
Many people commonly feel confused and distressed, leaving them unsure of what to do next.
It is crucial to take the proper steps after your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis following a birth injury to protect your family’s rights and maximize your chances of recovering just compensation for your damages.
Maintain Thorough Documentation
Keep a thorough file of documentation regarding your child’s birth injury and cerebral palsy diagnosis to help strengthen your case, including
- A journal tracking what you know about the birth injury that resulted in your child’s cerebral palsy, including any ensuing losses your family has suffered, as well as any pain and suffering your child experienced
- A copy of the incident report from the birth injury, if available
- A copy of any medical reports from the birth injury and ensuing medical treatments
- All photographs and videos of the birth injury, if available
- Any witness contact information, including medical professionals and loved ones who were in the delivery room
Track Expenses
Maintain a list of all expenses and financial losses associated with your child’s birth injury and cerebral palsy diagnosis, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and lost future earnings
- Any additional expenses incurred
Contact an Attorney
Contact an attorney as soon as possible after discovering a birth injury caused your child to develop acquired cerebral palsy to make sure you file all applicable claims within your state’s statute of limitations.
Working with an attorney will protect your rights and maximize your family’s chances of recovering just compensation for your child’s unjust birth injury and lifelong neurological disorder.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today. Let us connect you with a trusted and dependable cerebral palsy lawyer to help you attain the justice and compensation your family deserves.
Can My Family Receive Compensation If a Birth Injury Caused My Child to Develop Acquired Cerebral Palsy?
Parents commonly feel angry, overwhelmed, and heartbroken when learning their child developed acquired cerebral palsy because of a birth injury. They often do not know what their options are and how to get help in seeking justice for their devastating situation.
Your family can recover compensation for damages if a birth injury caused your child to develop acquired cerebral palsy, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Inability to use a body part
- Partial or permanent disability
- Medical expenses for both current and future treatments
- Any resulting medical complications or health issues
- Loss of wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Loss of quality of life
Working with a dependable and assertive cerebral palsy lawyer will help you and your family maximize your compensation while protecting your rights in your fight for justice.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today, and let us connect you with a local cerebral palsy lawyer.
How the Legal Support of a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help You
Learning that a traumatic birth injury resulted in your infant developing acquired cerebral palsy leaves most parents feeling frustrated, confused, and heartbroken. Many people are left wondering what they can do to seek justice for their baby’s unjust lifelong impairments.
Working with a dedicated and compassionate cerebral palsy lawyer will make this painful and complicated situation more manageable for you and your loved ones to navigate.
At the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones attain justice for your child’s traumatic birth injury.
Your local lawyer will listen to you closely to thoroughly understand your painful and challenging situation. They will investigate all aspects of your birth injury case and gather all the necessary evidence. Your dedicated legal team will passionately advocate for your family to attain the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance today. Let us connect you with a dependable and well-respected cerebral palsy lawyer.
Work With a Dedicated Cerebral Palsy Attorney
Discovering the distressing diagnosis of acquired cerebral palsy after your child suffered a birth injury is a challenging, overwhelming, and heartbreaking experience for most parents. Many people experience profound grief and anguish, realizing their child will endure lifelong challenges due to an unfair injury during childbirth.
Working with a dedicated cerebral palsy lawyer will protect your family’s rights while attaining justice and fair compensation for your devastating situation.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance online today or call at (888) 894-9067, and let us connect you with a local cerebral palsy lawyer to get your family the care and justice you deserve.