How to Make a Successful Cerebral Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy lawsuits paralysis can have profound implications on the life of the child as well as the lives of their families. Compensation can allow them to live a full and active life by allowing access to care equipment and assistance.

Many cases of cerebral palsy arise from medical negligence. This could be caused by the lack of medical attention during pregnancy, issues during the birth process or other incidents.

Causes

There is no cure for CP however, early diagnosis and treatment can improve a child's abilities. Doctors diagnose CP by observing the child's muscle tone and coordination. They can refer children to specialists such as neurologists, orthopedists for children and physiatrists who can assist in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for children.

Every person is affected by cerebral palsy differently. It can be mild and have little impact on a child's ability or severe and cause impairments to all areas of the body. Symptoms can include an oversized (floppy neck) head and stiff or uncontrolled muscles, difficulty walking, or having difficulty with speech and other functions. If a child has cerebral palsy on one side of the body, it's known as hemiplegia. On both sides, it's diplegia. A severe CP can cause locked in (spastic), condition with muscle spasticity. This can restrict the movement of a person and result in difficulty speaking and eating.

Childbirth-related medical errors are a frequent cause of CP. Midwives, doctors and nurses must be aware when delivering babies because brain damage may cause serious harm. If a medical error results in oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the doctor may be held liable for negligence. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a Csection urgently or failing to monitor and escalate an arduous labor.

Signs and symptoms

If your child has cerebral palsy, he / is likely to experience several physical symptoms. These symptoms could include tight or stiff muscles or joints, a limp, uncontrolled movement, and issues with posture and balance. Other problems include intellectual disabilities, speech delays as well as hearing and vision issues.

The symptoms of cerebral palsy result from damage to the brain's immature state. It is most commonly seen in the infant or early years of childhood. A delay in milestones, such as sitting, rolling over, walking, or crawling may be an indication of CP. Children suffering from CP may also have difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding device.

A variety of factors can cause a brain injury that leads to CP. These include diseases 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 the main cause of CP.

Based on the type of cerebral 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 known as athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow, uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other forms of CP might include ataxic palsy, which is characterized by an unstable motion, or paraplegic cerebral palsy in which the arms and legs are affected.

Treatment

While the specific symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, a majority of people with the condition have to cope with stiffness and loss of muscle control. They may also experience issues with coordination and balance. The type of problem that they suffer from is dependent on the area of the brain that was injured and the severity of the injury.

Many people with CP require specific physical therapy in order to improve their mobility, tone of muscles and stretch their muscles and joints. It can also ease the pain and prevent contracture. It may include exercises, braces with special features, or other treatments.

Musculoskeletal issues like patella alta, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and cervical stenosis are prevalent in CP. These conditions can cause major mobility problems which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

Other treatments could include speech and language therapies for children who cannot communicate effectively. This can assist them to learn new ways of communicating and may involve sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to stop the abnormal movement, reduce seizures, and ease pain. The medication is taken by mouth or injected into the affected muscles or into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord.

Compensation

A successful cerebral palsy claim can result in compensation for your child to pay for specialist care, equipment and treatment. The amount of compensation will be based on the mental and physical effects of your child's condition as well as any expenses or losses you may have suffered. This could include lost earnings due to having to work less to care for your children, home adaptations and transportation expenses.

Your lawyer could hire an expert in disability dependent on the extent of the injury to your child. The specialist will create a "life care plan" which outlines the needs of your child from the moment they are diagnosed until they become adults. This will allow you to calculate an accurate amount of compensation. It usually takes the form of a lump-sum and regular annual payments, which can be index to keep pace with the rate of inflation.

It is important to understand that the compensation for a successful legal case is not a cash-flow opportunity. It's a recognition of unfairness that was caused by the medical professional failed to meet their duty of care during labour, pregnancy, and the delivery.