Cerebral Palsy
One in 345 children in the United States have cerebral palsy. Most cerebral palsy occurs as a result of brain damage before or during birth, and often, medical negligence plays a role in the development of the condition.
If your child has cerebral palsy, it’s important to reach out to a birth injury attorney in Gainesville, FL, to get help. A lawyer can help you determine whether you have a valid claim for compensation.
Contact the lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. for a free initial consultation at (877) 255-3652 to learn more .
How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help You With a Cerebral Palsy Claim in Gainesville, FL
Medical professionals can make mistakes. However, if one of them acted negligently and didn’t live up to the duty of care they owed to you and your child, you need to turn to Gainesville birth injury lawyers who are ready to help you file a claim.
At Allen Law Firm, P.A., we can help by:
- Conducting a careful interview and assessment to ensure you have a viable medical malpractice claim
- Gathering evidence that can prove that claim
- Negotiating with the other parties involved
- Taking your case to court if negotiations fail
Dealing with the aftermath of a birth injury like cerebral palsy can be devastating for the entire family and will likely affect the child for the rest of their life. Give yourself the best chance of getting compensation by contacting our medical malpractice lawyers in Gainesville, Florida.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that affect the brain’s control over the nervous system and muscles. It occurs as a result of brain damage before or during birth.
The signs and symptoms can vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones people notice in their babies include:
- Unusually large or small head
- Lack of interaction with the world around them
- Excessive irritability
- Lack of muscle tone
- Delayed development
- Uncoordinated movements
Lack of oxygen to certain parts of the brain leads to the development of cerebral palsy. Typically, this occurs during difficult births. The brain needs a continuous supply of blood and oxygen, so if there’s any kind of interruption to these supplies, damage to brain cells occurs. Once brain cells suffer damage and die, they don’t regenerate.
The severity of the condition depends on the areas of the brain affected and the extent of the damage. Not all babies who have cerebral palsy go on to develop intellectual disabilities.
How Medical Malpractice Can Cause Cerebral Palsy
Negligence on the part of the medical professionals who are helping the mother through the birth can lead to all kinds of birth injuries, including the kind of oxygen deprivation that leads to cerebral palsy.
One common cause is head trauma. If the baby is having a hard time getting through the birth canal and gets stuck, doctors sometimes use forceps or vacuum extractors to help. If they don’t use them correctly, however, it can result in head trauma that damages crucial areas of the brain.
Delays in C-sections can also lead to cerebral palsy. If complications arise during the birth process, a doctor has to be ready to act promptly and get the mother ready for a C-section. If they delay this, it can result in the baby not getting the air their brain needs, causing brain damage. This is one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy that results from negligence.
Doctors who fail to detect fetal distress or who don’t spot umbilical cord prolapse can also be held liable for negligence.
What Compensation Is Available in a Florida Cerebral Palsy Claim?
You have the chance to ask for both economic and non-economic damages if your child suffered a birth injury like cerebral palsy.
Economic damages refer to losses that you can put a number to, including medical expenses. Because cerebral palsy is a condition that can cause severe issues with movement, it’s likely that your child will need ongoing physical therapy and other forms of care.
Some children require help to go through their day-to-day lives. Economic damages can compensate you for these losses.
Non-economic damages are those that are not as easy to quantify. Pain and suffering damages are meant to compensate you and your child for the physical and psychological distress you’ve suffered.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Gainesville Birth Injury Attorneys To Discuss Your Cerebral Palsy Case
If your child suffered a birth injury like cerebral palsy, getting help from experienced Gainesville medical malpractice attorneys is crucial. At Allen Law Firm, P.A., we can offer the guidance you need to get through this difficult time.
Book a free consultation with our lawyers today to learn more about how we can help in Gainesville, Florida.
