Cerebral Palsy Lawyers: Medical Malpractice
Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit | Lawsuits, Lawyer, Attorney
The leading law firm of Alonso Krangle LLP is investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice or medical negligence. Approximately 8,000 infants born in the U.S. are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year. Cerebral palsy can be caused by low levels of oxygen suffered by a baby before or during birth. This can be the result of negligent medical care provided to the mother and child during labor and delivery. In such cases, parents may be able to file suit on behalf of their child against the medical practitioners and hospital responsible for their baby’s birth injury.
The cerebral palsy lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP understand the heavy burden birth injuries place on children and their families. Our firm is committed to ensuring that cerebral palsy victims get the justice they deserve, and offers free legal consultations to any family who would like to discuss filing a medical malpractice lawsuit on behalf of their baby. While legal action can’t change what happened, filing a cerebral palsy lawsuit can ensure that your family has access to the financial resources needed to cover your child’s medical bills, rehabilitation, and other needs. To learn more about obtaining justice for your baby, please contact the cerebral palsy lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP today.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a birth injury that affects the brain and nervous system, and may impact a child’s hearing, vision, movement, and ability to learn. Most cases of cerebral palsy 90 percent can be traced to a traumatic event that took place in the womb or during the birthing process. Only approximately 10 percent of all cerebral palsy cases are caused by trauma that occurs following birth.
Most cases of cerebral palsy are diagnosed when a baby is between 3 months and 9 months old. However, mild cases of the condition may not be diagnosed until the child is in preschool.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are dependant on the part of the brain that is damaged, and the severity.
During a baby’s first year of life, some signs and symptoms to look out for include:
- stiff legs
- scissoring legs when picked up
- an inability to control/hold the head when picked up
- using only one hand to reach for/lift up objects
- consistently holding the opposite hand in a fist
- using only one side of the body when attempting to crawl
- unable to stand without support
Children with cerebral palsy may suffer from any combination of the following problems:
- abnormally toned muscles (which can be under- or overly toned)
- an inability to perform tasks that require dexterity, such as writing
- bowel control problems
- drooling
- difficulty speaking
- difficulty walking
- mental retardation
- paraplegia or quadriplegia
- problems with balance and coordination
- seizures
- spasticity
- tremors, writhing and/or other involuntary movements
Risk Factors and Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Risk factors contributing to cerebral palsy before, during, or after birth include:
- Low birth weight
- Twins and other multiple births
- Maternal infections, such as toxoplasmosis, German measles, cytomegalovirus or herpes before her child is born can result in cerebral palsy
- High fever in the mother
- Labor and delivery complications, such as the umbilical cord strangling the baby’s neck and restricting the amount of oxygen reaching the newborns brain
- Falls or accidents that damage the infants brain
- Seizures in the infant
- Rh incompatibility
- Maternal exposure to toxic substances
- Severe, untreated jaundice in the newborn
- Infantile seizures
- Mistakes made by healthcare providers before, during or after birth
Learn more about Filing a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit
If your child was born with cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible. To learn more about the legal options available to you, please contact the cerebral palsy lawyers at Alonso Krangle LLP by filling out our online form or calling us.