One of the most devastating outcomes of childbirth is a birth injury. When that injury is a lifelong condition, such as cerebral palsy, families can be overwhelmed with uncertainty and fear about the future. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering an injury at birth, contact the experienced legal team at Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., who can guide you through the legal process and help you seek compensation to pay for a lifetime of care your child will need.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is not one medical condition. Rather, it is a group of permanent neurological disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. It usually appears in infancy or early childhood. It generally causes lifelong disabilities, such as coordination issues, involuntary physical movements, and stiff muscles, as well as cognitive impairments.
Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain. While genetic or environmental factors can cause it, it could instead be caused by medical errors or negligence during childbirth. Examples of mistakes that can lead to cerebral palsy include:
- Failing to detect maternal infections
- Ignoring abnormal changes in the baby’s heart rate during labor and delivery
- Delaying performing a cesarean section
- Improperly using delivery tools, such as vacuum extractors or forceps
- Mishandling a prolapsed umbilical cord
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover If My Child Suffered Cerebral Palsy Due to a Medical Error?
The lifelong costs of treating cerebral palsy are often exorbitant, potentially exceeding $1 million. Due to this reason, it is essential that families fight for maximum compensation to pay for all of their child’s medical needs, including:
- Medical bills to treat your child immediately after birth
- NICU expenses
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Diagnostic tests
- Rehabilitation
- Speech, physical, and occupational therapies
- Assistive equipment
You can also help increase your child’s quality of life through home renovations and modifications to your vehicle to accommodate your child’s disability.
Your child may be unable to work, so a cerebral palsy lawsuit may help account for a lifetime of lost earnings.
In addition to these direct financial losses, you can also seek compensation for non-economic damages, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Emotional trauma and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Let our experienced legal team identify all the damages that your family is entitled to and fight to recover fair compensation for them.
Deadline to File a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
The general statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Pennsylvania is two years. In medical malpractice cases, this deadline may be tolled until the injury is discovered or reasonably discoverable. The deadline might be two years from the date of discovery, subject to a hard cap of seven years under the state’s statute of repose.
Contact Our Abington Township Cerebral Palsy Lawyers for Legal Help Today
If a negligent healthcare provider injured your baby, you deserve justice and compensation. An experienced Abington Township cerebral palsy lawyer from Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette can explain your legal rights during a free consultation. Call us today to get started.