Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

A New York CP lawyer can help you get compensation to pay for your child's medical costs. Look for a company that has a large team and has been in business for years.

Cerebral palsy lawyers submit a claim on behalf of their client, known as the plaintiff. They collect evidence, like medical records and evidence from experts, to build an impressive claim.

Diagnosis

The specific symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary however, many parents are aware that their child is missing developmental milestones like walking, talking, or crawling as young as six months of age. They may also experience difficulty controlling their bowels and bladders. Cerebral palsy can affect one side of the body. It is known as hemiplegia. It also affects both sides of the body, or all four limbs, known as quadriplegia.

Signs of a lack of muscle tone, unbalanced reflexes or uncoordinated movements. They are caused by brain damage that disrupts the normal flow of nerve impulses between the brain and muscles, which causes floppy or stiff muscles.

Doctors will look at your child's movements and tone to diagnose CP. They will check for things like whether the legs feel crossed or if their arms feel too stiff or tight. They will also perform a variety of tests to find out if the problem is due to cerebral palsy, or another condition like metabolic testing, genetic testing and an electroencephalogram (EEG).

Treatment

Although there is no cure for cerebral palsy, treatment options help people live the best possible lives. Medicines aid in movement, reduce seizures and treat other ailments that are associated with the condition. For instance, spasticity could be treated with medications that relax stiff muscles or with injections of botulinum toxin type A into the muscles affected. Surgery to correct musculoskeletal concerns such as joint deformities and the lengthening of muscles (orthotics) is also used.

People with cerebral palsy may also suffer from other ailments, such as difficulty breathing or a lack of nutrients due to difficulty swallowing. Some individuals require feeding tubes for nutrition. Some people struggle to communicate and others may exhibit a wide range of behavioral issues.

Cerebral palsy develops from an interruption in the flow of oxygen into the brain. Babies born following a difficult birth or complications during delivery that limit oxygen flow are at a higher risk of developing this condition. Infections such as rubella, herpes simplex, or cytomegalovirus during pregnancy or birth can cause inflammation and damage to the brain's development. Fetal strokes can also occur in the event that blood vessel abnormalities or clots stop the brain from receiving sufficient oxygen.

Legal Representation

Parents of children with CP are stricken by expensive costs for therapy, medical bills and other ongoing costs. A skilled lawyer will help you get fair compensation for these and other expenses.

Look for a firm with national experience with birth injuries and a track record of successful cases against medical facilities, negligent doctors and corporate insurance firms. When selecting a firm you should also take into consideration the size of the staff, how long they've been operating and their history of winning cases.

Cerebral palsy lawyers can file a claim on behalf to claim damages for future and past medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of future earnings potential. These claims must be filed within a certain time frame called the statute of limitations. This is different from state-to-state.

Most cerebral palsy attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means they do not require upfront fees from clients. This allows families to seek justice without stressing about financial issues in the course of the lawsuit. A contingency fee agreement ensures that your attorney won't be paid unless they secure a favorable settlement or verdict for you.

Settlements

A CP attorney can assist you in determining whether or not your child's injuries are the result of medical negligence. This requires demonstrating that the medical professional at fault or company had a duty to provide reasonable care, but violated the duty and directly caused your child's CP. In the next step, you'll need to prove actual damages like medical bills, lost income, and suffering and pain.

Following the filing of a lawsuit, your CP lawyer will gather evidence such as written documents along with expert testimony and witness accounts to build a solid case. To avoid the possibility of trial, the defendant may offer an agreement. Your lawyer will negotiate an acceptable amount of compensation on your behalf.

Selecting a seasoned cerebral palsy lawyer can significantly speed up the process of filing a lawsuit and increase your odds of winning financial compensation. Choose a law firm that has experience in medical malpractice cases, and a track record of securing substantial verdicts. Ask potential attorneys for evidence of their expertise, and how many clients they have represented. Consider the size of the team as well as how long the firm has been in existence.

Trials

Cerebral palsy lawyers handle all legalities involved in a medical malpractice suit to help families obtain compensation for the physical and emotional damages their child has suffered. This can include paying for the cost of therapies that can improve the quality of life and help them attain their full potential.

In the case of a settlement, cerebral palsy lawyers will negotiate with responsible parties and insurance companies to secure the payment. This process can include documents written by experts including expert testimony, witness interviews, and more. A third-party mediator is typically called in to help. If the lawyer has a strong case, he or she will most likely convince the defendant to negotiate a settlement. This is the best outcome because it avoids an extended trial that could last for years.

A New York City lawyer will help you hold nurses and doctors accountable for errors made during difficult births. If the error of a doctor caused your child to suffer from a preventable cerebral palsy injury, they deserve to pay for their incompetence.