Was your family recently devastated by the news that your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy? Do you believe that medical malpractice may have caused your child’s birth injury? If so, you may have a right to seek compensation for the losses that your family has suffered or will likely suffer. The experienced legal team at Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette can fight to recover compensation for your family to obtain the resources you need to care for your child and provide for their future needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Some of the most common causes of cerebral palsy include the following:
- Premature birth and low birth weight: Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation or with low birth weights are at higher risk.
- Infections during pregnancy: Maternal infections can cause inflammation or other problems that can damage the developing brain of a fetus, resulting in cerebral palsy.
- Perinatal stroke: A perinatal stroke can cause a blockage of blood flow to the baby’s brain, often occurring in the womb or during birth.
- Lack of oxygen: A lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and delivery can also lead to cerebral palsy.
- Delayed C-sections: A delayed C-section can cause a lack of oxygen or allow prolonged fetal distress, resulting in cerebral palsy.
- Brain infection: Infants who develop an acquired infection after birth, such as meningitis or encephalitis, may develop cerebral palsy.
- Head trauma during birth: Head trauma caused by dropping the baby or misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors can
- Seizures: Seizures during labor or early infancy can also lead to cerebral palsy.
Often, it requires an intensive investigation to determine what went wrong that led to a child’s cerebral palsy.
Financial Compensation You Can Recover in a Medical Malpractice Case
The costs of treating cerebral palsy can be extensive. However, you can seek the compensation you need to cover your child’s future needs by filing a medical malpractice claim. This type of legal claim may help you recover compensation for:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses
- Costs of therapy and rehabilitation
- Costs of medical devices, wheelchairs, walkers, and other adaptive equipment
- Costs of home modifications
- Costs of special education and counseling
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Seizures: Seizures during labor or early infancy can also lead to cerebral palsy.
When Is Cerebral Palsy Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider deviates from the accepted standard of care and harms a patient as a result. The standard of care is the same level and quality of care that another medical provider with similar training and experience would provide under similar circumstances. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can gather evidence, such as:
- Medical records
- Past complaints filed against the medical professional who is the defendant in the case
- Witness statements from other healthcare providers or other individuals who were present during the delivery
- Testimony from medical experts from OB/GYNs, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and others
Contact Our Westchester Cerebral Palsy Lawyers for Legal Guidance and Representation
The compassionate legal team at Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., can guide you through the legal process of seeking justice and compensation from a negligent medical professional. Contact us today for a free consultation.