Any time a baby suffers from a birth injury, the results are heartbreaking for families. A birth injury can cause lifelong conditions for thousands of children each year. One of the most devastating birth injuries that can occur is cerebral palsy. Being diagnosed with cerebral palsy can take away the hopes a parent might have imagined for their child’s life. Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that will cause lifelong complications. This is also the most common developmental disorders in children, occurring in as many four out of 1,000 live births. Having cerebral palsy can prevent a child from doing basic tasks on their own and keep them from ever being independent. Unfortunately, there is no cure for cerebral palsy.
Any time a baby suffers from a birth injury, the results are heartbreaking for families. A birth injury can cause lifelong conditions fo9r thousands of children each year. One of the most devastating birth injuries that can occur is cerebral palsy. Being diagnosed with cerebral palsy can take away the hopes a parent might have imagined for their child’s life. Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that will cause lifelong complications. This is also the most common developmental disorders in children, occurring in as many four out of 1,000 live births. Having cerebral palsy can prevent a child from doing basic tasks on their own and keep them from ever being independent. Unfortunately, there is no cure for cerebral palsy.
How is Cerebral Palsy caused?
It’s extremely difficult to determine how cerebral palsy was caused. In some cases, cerebral palsy could occur without any type of medical negligence being involved. For these situations, there was nothing a medical professional could have done to prevent a birth injury from happening. During a difficult pregnancy or delivery, a baby can suffer an injury that was in no way avoidable. It’s also possible for a child to get cerebral palsy not from an injury, but a gene mutation. The direct cause of cerebral palsy is not always clear, and some parents may never know what caused it.
When cerebral palsy is caused by medical neglect, the injury that was caused was preventable by the medical professionals involved. Injuries that lead to cerebral palsy can occur before, during, or after a baby is born. Throughout this time, there are many ways that medical professionals can cause an injury to a baby that can cause cerebral palsy. While a mother is still pregnant, medical professionals may fail to treat an infection, which can spread to the baby and cause brain damage, allowing cerebral palsy to occur. Brain injuries can happen easily during delivery if the medical staff isn’t providing the proper level of care. Improper use of forceps and vacuums during delivery are well known to cause brain damage. An umbilical wrapped around the neck can cut off oxygen from getting to the brain, which also causes damage if it isn’t treated quickly. If infants are neglected soon after their birth, medical professionals might not treat signs of distress, such as jaundice, which can cause brain damage.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy comes in many forms, each one affecting those who have it in different ways. The severity of the disorder can affect each person differently, as well. Parents often won’t notice that their child has cerebral palsy right away. Children don’t begin to show symptoms until they begin to develop and delays become noticeable. Most children who have cerebral palsy are diagnosed by their second birthday. Since the diagnosis isn’t close to the time of a baby’s birth, parents might not associate it with their birth. If you weren’t aware that your child suffered from a birth injury, learning of their disorder can be especially upsetting. Once you begin to suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of a birth injury, you should reach out the lawyers at Latona Law quickly. In the state of Pennsylvania, you can file a lawsuit up until your child’s 20th birthday, but you should take legal actions as soon as possible.
There are four main types of cerebral palsy, which include the following:
Athetoid cerebral palsy – this form of cerebral palsy can cause involuntary movements in the face, limbs, and torso.
Ataxic cerebral palsy – ataxic cerebral palsy is associated with balance and coordination issues.
Spastic cerebral palsy – the most common form is cerebral palsy, this can cause stiffness and involuntary muscle movements.
The fourth main type of cerebral palsy is a combination of two or more different types.
Compensation for Preventable Cerebral Palsy.
Caring for a child with cerebral palsy is a huge expense and one that is out of many family’s means. During a person’s lifetime, it the cost of care for having cerebral palsy can get to over $1 million. All parents want to be able to provide for their child, but the medical bills and the cost of special care can be too much. This financial burden that’s been placed on your family by someone else’s carelessness can lead to even more stress for you. You deserve financial compensation for the damages that have been caused. Damages include not only financial ones, such as medical bills and special education, but also non-economic ones, like emotional stress. By getting financial compensation, you know that your child will have everything they need.
Cerebral Palsy Lawyers in Harrisburg
Cases involving cerebral palsy are extremely complex. At Latona Law, we specialize in cases involving birth injuries and medical neglect. Our experience handling cases like this helps you fight for justice for your child. We’ll work with you to hold the medical professionals involved accountable and get you the compensation that your family deserves.
Realizing that your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by a negligent birth injury is a difficult thing for any family to go through. We understand that you must have a lot of questions regarding the legal process, which is why we offer a free consultation for families in Harrisburg. Contact us today for more information.