The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can have an impact on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a full and cerebral palsy attorneys fulfilling life, with access to equipment, care and support.
Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. This can be due to the lack of care during pregnancy, or problems during the birth process or other incidents.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors can diagnose CP by observing the child's muscle tone, movement and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy in different ways. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the child's capabilities however, it can also be severe and cause impairments in every body part. The signs include the appearance of a floppy (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles that are difficult to walk, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy only affects one side of a child's body, it is referred to as hemiplegia. If it affects both sides, then it's called diplegia. A severe CP may lead to a locked-in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This can limit the ability of a person to move and can make it difficult to speak and eating.
Medical mistakes during childbirth are a leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be careful when delivering babies as damage to the brain may have serious consequences. A physician may be held liable for mistakes made in the medical field if an error results in cerebral palsy, or brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely show a variety of physical symptoms. The symptoms can include stiff or tight muscles or joints, a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with posture and balance. Other problems include speech delays, intellectual disabilities as well as hearing and vision problems.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to the brain's immature state. This is usually the case in the early years of childhood. A delay in milestones like rolling over, sitting, crawling, or walking can be a sign of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding device.
Numerous factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that leads to CP, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis in the womb and high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A severe lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during pregnancy or birth is the main cause of CP as is bleeding in the brain that results from damaged or blocked blood vessels.
Depending on the form of cerebral palsy lawyers palsy, the symptoms can range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called choreoathetoid, or athetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled motions of the legs, arms and body. Other types of CP might include ataxic palsy, characterized by a shaky motion or paraplegic cerebral palsy where legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
While the symptoms specific to Cerebral Palsy Attorneys palsy vary, most people with the condition have to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have issues with balance and coordination. The type of movement problems they suffer from depend on the region of the brain which was injured and the degree 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 muscles and joints. It can also ease the pain and prevent contractures. It could involve exercises, braces that are specially designed, or other treatments.
CP is caused by musculoskeletal issues such as hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These conditions can cause major issues in mobility, reducing life expectancy.
Speech and therapy for language may be used to assist children who are unable to communicate effectively. This may help children learn new ways to communicate. This could include sign language, a communication board or voice synthesizers.
Medications can be used to relax overactive or stiff muscles, reduce abnormal movement, reduce pain and seizures. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful claim for cerebral palsy could result in compensation for your child to pay for medical equipment, specialist care and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impact that your child's condition has had on them, as well as any losses and expenses you've incurred. This could include the loss of income because you had to quit work to take care of your children, home adaptations and transport expenses.
The lawyer you hire may employ an expert in disability-related care, depending on the severity of the injury to your child. The expert will develop an "life care plan" that outlines their needs from the moment they are diagnosed until they turn adults. This will help you determine the most accurate amount of compensation. It typically is an amount in lump sum and annual payments, which can be adjusted to reflect inflation.
You should be aware that the amount of compensation you receive from a legal claim isn't a windfall. It is a recognition that injustice has occurred due to medical professionals failed to fulfill their duty of care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.
