Did your child develop cerebral palsy from a preventable birth injury? The skilled and experienced cerebral palsy lawyers at Lee Steinberg Law Firm can help you recover compensation. We have helped victims of birth injuries in the Metro Detroit area for over 50 years.

Don’t let the financial consequences of medical negligence fall on your shoulders. A medical malpractice claim for cerebral palsy can cover your present and future losses, protecting your family’s financial future.

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If your child developed cerebral palsy following a birth injury, you are not alone. Our cerebral palsy lawyers can help you recover compensation from the liable party. Call our Detroit cerebral palsy lawyers today at 248-352-7777.

What are the Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. While the exact causes of cerebral palsy aren’t always clear, several factors can contribute to its development.

Sometimes, an injury to the brain before or during birth causes cerebral palsy. Other times, head injuries and events that block blood flow to the brain are a cause. Not all cerebral palsy cases are due to the medical malpractice of a treating doctor, but sometimes it is.

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) manifests a variety of symptoms that typically become evident during infancy or early childhood. The symptoms of cerebral palsy vary depending on the type and severity of the condition.

Children with cerebral palsy may exhibit delays in reaching developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking. They may also experience muscle stiffness (spasticity) or looseness (hypotonia). This can result in difficulty with movement, coordination, and posture.

Cerebral palsy often affects motor skills, making it challenging to control movements. Because of this, individuals may experience involuntary movements, tremors, or jerky motions. Difficulties with balance are common symptoms of cerebral palsy, leading to an unsteady gait, frequent falls, and challenges with activities requiring precise movements.

Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing symptoms and improving outcomes for individuals with cerebral palsy. A multidisciplinary approach involving physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and assistive devices can help individuals with CP maximize their independence and quality of life. The costs associated with these essential treatments can be recovered through a claim filed against the at fault party.

Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) encompasses a spectrum of neurological disorders that affect movement, posture, and muscle coordination. The types of cerebral palsy are classified based on the nature of impairments and affected body parts.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy:

Spastic CP is the most common type, accounting for approximately 70-80% of all cases. It is characterized by muscle stiffness and exaggerated reflexes, making movement difficult. Affected muscles may feel tight and resistant to stretching, leading to abnormal posture and difficulty with fine motor skills. There are subtypes of spastic cerebral palsy based on the distribution of muscle stiffness. These include spastic diplegia, spastic hemiplegia, and spastic quadriplegia.

Dyskinetic (Athetoid) Cerebral Palsy:

Dyskinetic CP is characterized by involuntary and uncontrolled movements, often accompanied by fluctuations in muscle tone. These movements can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky, making it challenging to maintain posture and control limbs. Speech and swallowing difficulties may also be present.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy:

This type affects balance and coordination, causing shaky or unsteady movements. Individuals may experience difficulties with precision tasks and fine motor skills.

How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?

When symptoms of cerebral palsy become noticeable, a doctor should start a battery of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This can still be a few months after birth. The types of doctors who specialize in diagnosing cerebral palsy are pediatric neurologists, pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, and pediatricians.

One of the best ways to diagnose cerebral palsy is through MRI. An MRI scan will produce cross-sectional images of the brain. The images can show the doctors if there are any abnormalities or anomalies in the imaging, suggesting further testing.

Another test is an EEG, or electroencephalogram. In an EEG test, electrodes are attached to your child’s brain to read the electrical activity of the brain. The EEG test will detect abnormal electrical activity and is commonly used to diagnose and treat seizures and epilepsy.

In addition, blood work can also be taken to check for conditions similar to cerebral palsy.

How Do You Know if Cerebral Palsy Was from Medical Malpractice?

There are different causes for cerebral palsy. To discover if the reason was due to doctor negligence, a family should retain a birth injury lawyer who specializes in cerebral palsy malpractice.

It is important for your lawyer to order the medical records from the obstetrician and gynecologist, as well as the delivery records from the hospital. Using these records, your birth injury lawyer can hire experts to evaluate and identify if any negligence occurred.

There are several things a Detroit cerebral palsy lawyer can look for when reviewing these cases.

Monitor fetal heart rate: If the fetal heart rate is weak, that could be a sign of the baby not getting enough oxygen to the brain. The doctor should regularly check the maternal and fetal heart rate.
Improper Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extractor: These instruments must be used with precision. Misuse can cause skull fractures, bleeding in the brain, or other injuries that may lead to cerebral palsy.
Delayed C-Section: When a C-section is necessary to prevent fetal distress but is delayed, the baby may suffer from prolonged oxygen deprivation, leading to brain damage.
Check maternal and fetal blood types: This should be checked early in the pregnancy. If the baby and mother have different blood types, it can lead to pregnancy complications that can adversely impact brain development.
Manage any underlying health conditions: Maternal conditions such as hypertension or diabetes can cause pregnancy complications if not managed properly. Medical professionals should be aware of these complications and understand the proper steps to take to lower the risks.

Doctors are responsible for safely delivering babies. They know how to diagnose and treat health issues that can cause cerebral palsy. If a medical professional fails to perform their duties and breaches the normal standard of care, then they can be held liable for the lifetime injuries that result from a child with cerebral palsy.

Can a Detroit Cerebral Palsy Medical Malpractice Lawyer Help My Child and Family?

Yes. A Detroit cerebral palsy malpractice lawyer can evaluate your medical treatment before and after delivery. If a doctor or healthcare provider was negligent, the law firm will file a lawsuit against the negligent parties, which could include the doctors, the hospital, independent consultants working in the delivery room, and other medical personnel.

Our team often reviews medical records and consults with various medical experts related to labor and delivery, as well as ongoing medical services required, such as speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and more.

As we review records, listen to the family, and work with experts, we build a case that could make a major impact on the well-being of our clients’ families. We know cerebral palsy requires complex care and resources, and we advocate for our clients to receive the support they need.

What Compensation Can My Family Get for Cerebral Palsy Negligence?

The compensation available to your child and family stemming from negligence that causes cerebral palsy is extensive.

Medical Expenses: This includes the payment of past medical bills such as hospital bills, therapy, rehabilitation, specialists, and other doctors’ bills. It also encompasses payment for future medical treatment that will be required. This future care is critical to ensure your baby’s medical treatment is taken care of for life.

Lost Wages: Lost wages for the family members of the child to take care of the child, subject to certain exceptions.

Home Modifications: Individuals with cerebral palsy may require specialized equipment and assistive devices to enhance mobility, communication, and independence. Damages may include the cost of wheelchairs, braces, communication aids, adaptive technology, and home modifications.

Loss of Household Services: This includes the loss of household services you incurred as a result of having to take care of your baby and child. It may also include the loss of household services your child would have provided to the family if they had not sustained cerebral palsy due to a doctor’s negligence.

Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical and mental pain and suffering experienced as a result of cerebral palsy and its complications. This includes past and future pain and suffering for your baby.

Talk to a Winning Detroit Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

You can learn whether your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by the medical malpractice of a medical provider by scheduling a free consultation with a Detroit cerebral palsy and birth injury lawyer at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm.

We have helped many clients recover full compensation for their losses over our more than 50 years of practice and can help you understand your legal options. < Call us today for a free legal consultation at 1-866-511-0594, or fill out a free case evaluation form.

Detroit Cerebral Palsy Lawyers