The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy has a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live a fuller life, with access to medical equipment, care and assistance.
Many cases of cerebral palsy stem from medical negligence. This can be caused by inadequate medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labor and birth or other events.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can enhance a child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at the child's muscle tone, movement and coordination. They may refer the child to specialists, such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and Cerebral Palsy Attorneys improve quality of life.
Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's ability to function, or severe enough to cause impairments throughout the body. The symptoms could include a head that is floppy (floppy neck) as well as a muscles that are stiff and uncontrolled, difficulty walking or having issues with speech or other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, this is known as hemiplegia; on both sides, it's known as diplegia. A severe CP could cause locked in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This can restrict the ability of a person to move and can cause difficulty with speech and eating.
Medical mistakes during childbirth are a leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be careful when delivering babies because damage to the brain could have serious consequences. A doctor may be held liable for malpractice if a medical error causes cerebral palsy or brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. This could include negligence in scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or inability to supervise and escalate the complexity of labor.
Symptoms
If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, they'll most likely show a variety of physical signs. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles and a limp, involuntary movements, and problems with posture and balance. Other problems can include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and hearing and vision problems.
Cerebral palsy is a condition caused due to damage to the young brain, typically in early childhood or infants. A delay 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 have trouble swallowing and might need a feeding tube.
Many factors can contribute to a brain injury causing CP. This includes infections like toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb; high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. Asphyxia (a serious lack of oxygen) during labor or birth is a leading cause of CP.
Based on the kind of cerebral palsy, symptoms may vary from mild to severe. The most prevalent form of cerebral palsy is spastic cerebral palsy law firm palsy. It is defined by stiff muscles. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Palsy (also called athetoid, choreoathetoid or choreoathetoid), is defined by slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which has a shaky movement) or paraplegic CP, where the arms and legs are affected.
Treatment
Although the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most people with the condition have to contend with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also have problems with coordination and balance. The type of problems they experience is dependent on the region of the brain that was injured as well as its extent of the injury.
Many people suffering from CP require specific physical therapy that assists them to improve their muscle tone and mobility and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also relieve the discomfort and prevent contractures. Braces, exercises or other treatments can be incorporated.
CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues, which reduces life expectancy.
Speech and therapy for language are a way to help children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can assist them to discover new ways of communicating and could include sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
Medications can be used to relax overactive or stiff muscles or muscles, limit abnormal movement, reduce pain and seizures. These drugs can be taken orally, or directly injected into the affected muscles or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful cerebral palsy claim can result in compensation for your child's for specialist care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the physical and psychological impact that your child's condition has caused on them, as well as any expenses and losses you've had to pay. These might include loss of earnings as you had stop work to take care of your child, home modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.
Based on the severity of your child's injury the lawyer may recommend an expert in disability issues to draft a 'life care plan' that carefully details their needs beginning with the date of their diagnosis until they reach adulthood. This will help you determine an exact amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of lump sums as well as regular annual payments that are adjusted to keep up with inflation.
It is important to know that the compensation resulting from a successful legal claim isn't a windfall. It's a way of acknowledging an the injustice that occurred due to the fact that the medical professional failed to provide the care they were supposed to during labour, pregnancy and birth.
