How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis has profound implications on the child's life as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can help them have a fulfilling life by giving them access to medical equipment, care and assistance.

Medical negligence is often the cause of cerebral palsy. This can be caused by inadequate prenatal care, complications during labor and delivery, or other occurrences.

Causes

There is no cure for CP but early detection and treatment can help improve the abilities of a child. Doctors diagnose CP by observing a child's movement, muscle tone and coordination. They might refer the child to specialists, cerebral palsy attorneys such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists, and physiatrists. These specialists can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

cerebral palsy Attorneys Palsy affects each person differently. It can be relatively mild and have no impact on the abilities of a child however, it can also be severe and cause impairments in all body areas. The signs include neck that is floppy (floppy neck) muscles that are stiff or inflexible, difficulty walking or having issues with speech or Cerebral Palsy attorneys other functions. If a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's called hemiplegia. On both sides, it's known as diplegia. The severity of CP can lead to a locked-in (spastic) condition characterized by muscle spasticity that restricts the person's movement and can lead to issues with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes in childbirth are a common cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses should be extra cautious when delivering a baby because damage to the brain could cause serious harm. If a medical mistake causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injury that causes cerebral palsy, the physician may be held liable for malpractice. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing an urgent C-section or failing to supervise and escalate the complexity of labor.

Symptoms

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, he or is likely to experience a combination of physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with posture and balance. Other issues include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and vision and hearing problems.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy are caused by damage to the brain of an infant. It is most commonly seen during infancy or the early years of childhood. A slowing down in reaching milestones such as rolling over, standing up, crawling or walking is a common sign of CP. Children with CP may also have trouble swallowing, and may need a feeding device.

Many factors can contribute to the development of a brain injury that causes CP, including infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis in the womb as well as high blood pressure during pregnancy, and genetic predisposition. A massive lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during the birth or during labor is a major reason for CP and bleeding in the brain due to blood vessels that are blocked or damaged.

The symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the kind of. Spastic cerebral palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most common type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid choreoathetoid and choreoathetoid) is characterized by the uncontrolled writhing and swaying of the legs, arms and the body. Other types of CP include ataxic cerebral palsy (which is characterized by a shakey movement) or paraplegic CP, where the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

While the symptoms of cerebral palsy vary, the majority sufferers of the condition experience stiffness and a loss in muscle control. They may also have issues with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they experience is based on which brain area was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people suffering from CP need specific physical therapy in order to improve their mobility, muscle tone and stretch their joints and muscles. It can also relieve the pain and help prevent contractures. It may include exercises, special braces, or other treatments.

CP is characterized by musculoskeletal disorders such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis also occur. These can cause major problems in mobility, reducing life expectancy.

Other treatments could include speech and language therapies for children who are unable to communicate effectively. This can help children discover new ways to communicate. This may include communication board or voice synthesizers.

These medications are used to limit abnormal movements, decrease the pain, and manage seizures. These drugs can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected muscles, or the fluid surrounding your spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim can result in compensation for your child to pay for specialized care, equipment and treatment. The amount will be determined upon the physical and mental effects of your child's condition and any expenses or losses you may have incurred. This could include the loss of income due to the fact that you have to work less to care for your children, home adaptations and transportation costs.

Your lawyer might hire an expert in disability-related care dependent on the degree of the injury to your child. The expert will develop an "life care plan" that will outline their needs from the moment they are diagnosed until they are adults. This will help you determine a more accurate amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump sum as well as regular annual payments which could be indexed to keep pace with inflation.

It is important to be aware that the amount of compensation you receive from a legal action isn't a huge sum. It's an acknowledgement that injustice has occurred, all because medical professionals failed to fulfill their obligation to providing care during labor, pregnancy and delivery.