How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can have a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can help them live a full and fulfilling life, with access to the equipment, care and assistance.
Many cases of
cerebral palsy attorneys palsy stem from medical negligence. This can be due to the lack of medical attention during pregnancy, issues during birth, or other occurrences.
Causes
There is no cure for CP however, early diagnosis and treatment can enhance the abilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at the tone of a child's muscles and coordination, as well as movement. They might refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be mild, with no impact on a child's perform, or it can be severe and cause impairments throughout the body. Symptoms can include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles that are difficult to walk, or having trouble with speech and other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's referred to as hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's diplegia. Severe CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition with muscle spasticity that limits the person's movement and can lead to issues with speech and eating.
The occurrence of medical errors during childbirth is the most common cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses should be cautious when delivering the baby as damage to the brain could have serious consequences. A doctor may be held liable for mistakes made in the medical field if an error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This includes a lack of planning or performing a C-section in a hurry or the failure to control and escalate a complicated labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child has cerebral palsy, he / is likely to have several physical symptoms. This could include stiff or tight joints and limbs, a limp, erratic movement and problems with balance and posture. Other issues could include speech delays, intellectual disability as well as hearing and vision issues.
Cerebral palsy is a condition caused due to damage to the young brain, which is usually seen in early childhood or infants. A delay in achieving milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require feeding tubes.
Several factors may contribute to an injury to the brain that results in CP. This includes infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb, high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is a major cause of CP as is the occurrence of bleeding in the brain caused by damaged or blocked blood vessels.
The symptoms can range from mild to extreme based on the type. The most common type of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral psoriasis, which is characterised by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic
cerebral palsy law firm palsy (also known as choreoathetoid or athetoid) involves slow and uncontrolled flailing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which has a shaky, jerky movement) or paraplegic CP, where the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
While the symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, the majority people who suffer from the condition experience stiffness, as well as a decrease in muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they face is determined by which brain area was injured and the degree of the injury.
Many people with CP require special physical therapy that can improve their muscle tone, mobility, and stretch their joints and muscles. It also helps relieve pain and prevent contracture. Braces, exercises, or other treatments may be incorporated.
CP is defined by musculoskeletal problems, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These conditions can cause major mobility problems and reduce life expectancy.
Speech and language therapy can be used to aid children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help children learn new ways of communicating and could include signing language, a communication board, or voice synthesizers.
They can ease stiff or overactive muscles to reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain, and manage seizures. These medicines can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles, or into the fluid around your spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful
cerebral palsy Attorneys palsy claim could result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. This will be based on the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to the costs and losses you have incurred. This could include the loss of income due to having to take a break from work to take care of your child, home adaptations and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Depending on the extent of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend an expert in disability issues to draft a 'life care plan' that clearly details their needs from the time of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This can help you calculate the most accurate amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump sum and recurring annual payments which could be indexed to keep up with the rate of inflation.
It is important to understand that the compensation for a successful legal case is not a windfall. It's a recognition of wrongdoing that occurred because the medical professional failed to provide the care they were supposed to in labour, pregnancy and the delivery.
