The 10 Scariest Things About Cerebral Palsy Attorneys
How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim
A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has a profound effect on the child and their family. Compensation can allow them to live an active and healthy life by providing access, equipment and support.
Many cases of cerebral palsy are the result of medical negligence. This could be due to an absence of care during pregnancy, or problems during birth, or other occurrences.
Causes
Early diagnosis and treatment of CP can help improve a child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at the child's muscle tone and coordination, as well as movement. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Everyone is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild and have a minimal impact on a child's ability or severe and cause impairments in all body parts. The signs can include a floppy head (floppy neck) and a muscles that are stiff or inflexible, difficulty walking or having problems with speech and other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. If it occurs on both sides, it's diplegia. The severity of CP can result in a locked-in (spastic) condition that is characterized by muscle spasticity, which restricts an individual's movements and leads to issues with speech and eating.
Childbirth-related medical errors are a frequent cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses should be extra cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain could cause serious harm. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation, or other brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy, the doctor could be held accountable for negligence. This is the case when scheduling or performing a C section urgently or failing to monitor and increase an arduous labor.
Signs and symptoms
If your child has cerebral palsy, he or she will likely have various physical symptoms. These symptoms may include tight or stiff muscles and a limp, involuntary movements, and problems with posture and balance. Other problems can include speech delays, intellectual disabilities and vision and hearing issues.
The symptoms of cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy result from damage to an immature brain. It is most commonly seen in the early years of childhood. A delay in achieving milestones such as standing up, crawling or walking is a common symptom of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding device.
There are a variety of factors that can contribute to a brain injury causing CP. This includes diseases like toxoplasmosis, or rubella in the womb; high blood pressure during pregnancy and genetic predisposition. A massive lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during birth or labor is the main cause of CP and bleeding in the brain that results from blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.
Depending on the type of cerebral palsy attorney palsy, the symptoms may range from mild to severe. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most prevalent type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also known as athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled motions of the arms, legs and the body. Other forms of CP may include ataxic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by a shaky motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy, in which legs and arms are affected.
Treatment
The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, most sufferers have to deal with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also be struggling with balance and coordination. The type of problems they suffer from depend on the area of their brain that was injured and the extent of the injury.
Many people with CP require special physical therapy that allows them to improve their muscle tone and mobility and stretch and exercise their joints and muscles. It can also relieve tension and prevent contractures. Exercises, braces or other treatments could be considered.
CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions that include hip dysplasia and patella alta. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These can cause major issues in mobility, reducing life expectancy.
Other treatments include speech and language therapy for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can assist them to discover new ways to communicate and could involve signing language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.
These medications can be used to stop abnormal movements, decrease pain, and control seizures. These drugs can be taken orally or injected directly into the muscles affected, Cerebral Palsy or into the surrounding fluid of your spinal cord.
Compensation
A successful cerebral palsy claim can result in compensation for your child to pay for special care, equipment and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical effects that your child's condition has caused on them, in addition to any losses and expenses you have incurred. This could be a loss of earnings due to you having to stop working to care for your children, home modifications and transport expenses.
Your lawyer could hire an specialist in disability care according to the severity of the injury to your child. This specialist will draft a "life care plan" that details their needs from the moment they are diagnosed until they are adults. This will allow you to calculate an accurate amount of compensation. This usually takes the form of a lump-sum as well as regular annual payments that can be adjusted to keep pace with inflation.
It is important to know that compensation from a successful legal action isn't a gimmick. It's a recognition of the fact that injustice has occurred due to medical professionals failed to fulfill their obligation to medical care during pregnancy, labour and the birth.
