How to Make a Successful Palisades park cerebral palsy attorney Palsy Claim

A diagnosis of cerebral paralysis can have an enormous impact on the life of the child and the lives of their family. Compensation can allow them to live a fuller life, with access to equipment, treatment and support.

Medical negligence is often the reason for cerebral palsy. This can be caused by inadequate medical attention prior to pregnancy, problems during labor and delivery, or other events.

Causes

Early diagnosis and treatment for CP can help improve a child's capabilities. Doctors diagnose CP by looking at the muscle tone of a child and coordination, as well as movement. They may refer the child to specialists such as pediatric neurologists, pediatric orthopedists or physiatrists. These specialists can assist in managing symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Cerebral palsy affects every person differently. It can be mild with a minimal effect on a child's function, or severe enough to cause physical impairments throughout the body. The symptoms can include a floppy head (floppy neck) and a muscles that are stiff or uncontrolled that is difficult to walk or has problems with speech and other functions. If cerebral palsy is only affecting one side of the child's body, then it is called hemiplegia. If it affects both sides of the body, it is known as diplegia. A severe CP can cause a locked-in (spastic) condition, characterized by muscle spasticity. This can restrict the movement of a person and cause difficulty with speech and eating.

Medical mistakes during childbirth are a leading cause of CP. Doctors, midwives and nurses must be cautious when delivering babies as brain damage could cause serious harm. If a medical mistake causes oxygen deprivation or other brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy, the physician could be held accountable for negligence. This includes negligence when scheduling or performing a C-section in a hurry or failing to supervise and escalate the intensity of labor.

Symptoms

If your child is suffering from cerebral palsy, he or will likely suffer from an array of physical symptoms. These symptoms may include stiff or tight muscles as well as a limp, uncontrolled movements, and issues with balance and posture. Other issues could include intellectual disabilities, speech delays and vision and hearing issues.

Cerebral palsy symptoms are triggered due to damage to the young brain, usually in early childhood or infants. A delay in reaching milestones such as sitting up, crawling or walking is a typical symptom of CP. Children with CP are also more likely to experience difficulties swallowing and may require a feeding tube.

Several factors may contribute to a brain injury causing CP. This includes infections such as toxoplasmosis or rubella in the womb; high blood pressure during pregnancy; and genetic predisposition. A serious lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) during labor or delivery is a major reason for CP, as is bleeding in the brain that results from blocked or broken blood vessels.

Based on the type of cerebral palsy, symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Spastic eunice cerebral palsy law firm palsy (characterized by stiff muscles) is the most commonly encountered type. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (also called athetoid or choreoathetoid) is characterized by slow and uncontrolled writhing movements of the arms, legs and body. Other types of CP can include ataxic palsy that has shakey movements, or paraplegic cerebral palsy where the legs and arms are affected.

Treatment

Though the symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary, the majority of sufferers of the condition experience stiffness and a loss in muscle control. They may also experience issues with balance and coordination. The type of problems they experience is dependent on the area of the brain that was injured as well as its extent of the injury.

Many people with CP require specific physical therapy that assists them to improve their muscle tone and mobility and stretch and strengthen their muscles and joints. It also helps relieve the pain and prevent contractures. It can include exercises, special braces, or other treatments.

CP is characterised by musculoskeletal conditions, such as patella alta and hip dysplasia. Scoliosis and cervical stenosis can also be seen. These conditions can cause significant mobility issues which can reduce the life expectancy of patients.

Speech and therapy for language are a way to assist children who are not able to communicate effectively. This can help them discover new ways to communicate and could include sign language, communication boards, or voice synthesizers.

These medications can be used to relax muscles that are stiff or overactive to reduce abnormal movement, relieve pain, and control seizures. The medications are administered by mouth or injected into affected muscles or into the fluid around the spinal cord.

Compensation

If your case of cerebral palsy is successful, you can be compensated to cover the cost of specialist care, equipment, and treatment. This will be determined by the psychological and physical impacts that your child's condition has had on them, as well as any costs or losses you have incurred. This could include the loss of income due to having to leave work in order to take care of your child, house modifications and transport costs to get your child to and from appointments.

Your lawyer may hire an expert in disability care in accordance with the severity of the injury to your child. The specialist will create an "life care plan" that outlines their needs from the moment they are diagnosed until they become adults. This can help you determine an accurate amount of compensation. This typically will be lump sums as well as regular annual payments that are indexed to keep up with inflation.

It is important to be aware that a payout from a legal case isn't a quick buck. It's an acknowledgement that injustice has occurred, and all due to medical professionals didn't fulfill their obligation to providing care during labor, pregnancy and the birth.