The pain of a birth injury is something no parent should have to experience. It’s something that most people don’t even want to think of, so it’s devastating when it does occur. Cerebral palsy is among some of the most heartbreaking birth injuries that a child can have. It’s, unfortunately, the most common developmental disorder in children and can affect their ability to control their muscle movements, coordination, and balance. Cerebral palsy is incurable and will affect a child for the rest of their life. This can keep them from ever being independent or even from being able to do even basic tasks for themselves.
Knowing that your child suffered a birth injury that caused cerebral palsy can cause a lifetime of pain for families. If your child has cerebral palsy that could have been prevented, you do have legal options available. At Latona Law, we specialize in cerebral palsy cases to help fight families throughout NEPA fight for justice.
How is Cerebral Palsy Caused?
Determining how cerebral palsy was caused can often be difficult. Cerebral palsy is the result of brain damage or a malformation while the brain is developing. In some cases, there is no detectable cause for a child’s cerebral palsy. While not knowing what caused it can be difficult, it can be even harder to learn that it could have been prevented. There are times when cerebral palsy is caused by something that wasn’t preventable. An example of this would be when the brain is affected by a gene mutation. It can also be caused by a birth injury, but one that wasn’t caused due to medical negligence. During particularly difficult pregnancies and deliveries, problems could occur outside of the power of a doctor or medical staff.
Cerebral palsy can be caused before, during, or after a child’s birth. Birth injuries that were caused by a medical professional’s neglect towards the mother and baby warrant legal action. Infections in the mother or any signs of distress in the baby that are left untreated during pregnancy can lead to brain damage. Any injury to a baby’s head during the delivery can cause brain damage that has the potential to cause cerebral palsy. This can commonly be from the use of forceps and vacuums. Aside from head injuries, anything that cuts oxygen off from the baby, such as an umbilical cord around the neck can also cause brain damage. Any signs of trouble, like jaundice, in the early moments of a baby’s life that don’t receive care, may cause brain damage and cerebral palsy.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for certain types of developmental disorders, so there are multiple different types. While the type of cerebral palsy a child has may vary, the severity of the disorder could be slightly different in children who have the same type. For most children who have cerebral palsy, the symptoms aren’t noticeable until they start getting older and show problems developing. Because of this, cerebral palsy isn’t usually diagnosed until a child’s second birthday. As the diagnosis comes long after a child is born, it might not occur to parents right away that it could be from something that happened during the delivery. Although you might not realize that you’re child’s cerebral palsy was caused by a birth injury, you should find a lawyer once you begin to suspect it. The sooner you get legal help the better. For families in Pennsylvania, you have up until your child’s 20th birthday to take legal action.
The four main types of cerebral palsy include:
Athetoid cerebral palsy – having athetoid cerebral palsy can cause involuntary movements in the face, torso, and limbs.
Ataxic cerebral palsy – this causes issues with a person’s balance and coordination.
Spastic cerebral palsy – this is the most common type of cerebral palsy and causes stiffness and involuntary movements.
The fourth type of cerebral palsy is when someone has two or more different types.
Compensation for Preventable Cerebral Palsy.
If your child has cerebral palsy, you know that there’s nothing that can undo the pain your family has been through. It can also be heartbreaking knowing that there’s nothing that can be done to cure their cerebral palsy. On top of this pain, you have to find a way to afford the costs that come with caring for a child with cerebral palsy. These costs can reach over $1 during a person’s lifetime. As parents, you want to be able to provide for your child. Unfortunately, in the case of a birth injury, the only way of doing this is getting compensation for the damages you’ve faced. This will give you the chance to give your child the care they deserve. You also deserve compensation for non-economic damages, like the pain and suffering you’ve experienced.
Cerebral Palsy Lawyers in NEPA
Proving that your child has cerebral palsy that was caused by a birth injury can be difficult. To give your case the best chance of winning, you need to work with experienced cerebral palsy lawyers. At Latona Law, we focus only on cases that involve medical malpractice, birth injuries, and cerebral palsy. Our lawyers have analyzed thousands of birth injury cases and have the experience, knowledge, and resources that families in NEPA need.
This can be an extremely difficult process for families to go through. For any of your questions or concerns, contact us today for a free consultation.