An unborn baby or newborn can develop cerebral palsy (CP) if the baby’s brain is injured or harmed at some point during brain development. A child who has CP will experience the effects of this disorder for the rest of his or her lifetime. If your child has cerebral palsy due to the actions or inaction of medical professionals during the pregnancy or birthing process, you may be entitled to compensation for what your child has suffered. The knowledgeable Cincinnati cerebral palsy lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy can evaluate your case and investigate the cause of your child’s CP, and we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve for what your family has endured. Our law firm has many decades of experience fighting for our clients’ right to compensation for their injuries, and our birth injury attorneys can help you obtain the compensation and justice that are owed to you and your family. We work on contingency and we charge no upfront fees, so you pay nothing unless we are able to help you obtain compensation. There is no risk and no obligation.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that can happen to a baby before, during or after birth. It can affect a child’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. About one in every 323 children in the United States has CP. Everyone with CP is affected differently and experiences different symptoms, which may include:- Walking, balance and coordination problems
- Memory and thinking problems
- Difficulty with speech
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Muscle stiffness
- Uncontrollable movements
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
- Spine issues (such as scoliosis)
- Joint problems
- Wheelchairs
- Braces to stabilize arms and legs
- Dental guards
- Full- or part-time nursing services
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
Causes Of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can occur due to natural circumstances, including when the:- Baby’s body size is too small
- Baby is born as one of multiple births, such as twins or triplets
- Baby was conceived via in vitro fertilization or other assisted reproductive method
- Mother had an infection during pregnancy
- Mother suffered complications during delivery
- There is a delay in a C-section surgery
- The physician delivers the baby too soon or too late
- Doctors fail to quickly clear the baby’s airway to breathe
- The baby has an infection that is not properly treated
- The birthing process was not handled correctly
- The child experienced head trauma
- There was a brain infection (such as meningitis)
- Severe jaundice that was left untreated
- Medical instruments were improperly used during the birth process
Compensation For Cerebral Palsy
If your child acquired CP because of a medical professional’s careless or incorrect actions before, during or after birth, you may be entitled to compensation. This compensation can help cover:- Medical expenses
- Therapy sessions
- Equipment
- Medication
- Lost wages of family members while caring for the child
- Estimated future income of the child
What Should I Do If My Child’s CP Was Caused By Malpractice?
Once a child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the parents often begin to remember things that happened before, during or after the child was born that they simply ignored at the time due to the joy of the occasion. But if your child was harmed due to negligence by the medical personnel or the facility, and this harm caused your child’s CP, you may be able to pursue a case of medical malpractice. The statute of limitations deadline for filing a malpractice case in Ohio runs for one year after the injury is discovered, or after the date when the injury should have been discovered. Your cerebral palsy attorney in Cincinnati can help you file your case on time so you do not miss the deadline. Your attorney may discuss with you whether to file a lawsuit for punitive damages against the medical personnel or the facility that caused your child’s cerebral palsy. Most cases like this are settled out of court, but it is in your best interest to have aggressive legal representation on your side in order to obtain the compensation you deserve.Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Some early signs that a baby may have CP include a delay in his or her ability to:- Roll over
- Sit up
- Stand
- Walk
- Smile
- Bring hands together
- Bring hands to the mouth
- Make eye contact with a parent
- Turn his or her head toward a noise
- Feels stiff
- Feels floppy
- Legs get stiff
- Seems to push away from you when you pick him or her up
- Legs cross or “scissor”
Types Of Cerebral Palsy
A person’s CP is classified based on the main types of movements that are affected. The four types of cerebral palsy are as follows:Spastic
This type affects about 80 percent of people with CP. People in this group have strong but stiff muscle tone, so they can experience awkward movements. This is categorized into three types of spastic CP:- Spastic Diplegia/Diparesis – This can cause stiffness in the legs, causing some difficulty in walking. This type does not usually affect the arms.
- Spastic Hemiplegia/Hemiparesis – This affects only one side of the person’s body. It usually affects the arm, not the leg.
- Spastic Quadriplegia/Quadriparesis – This severe type of CP affects the arms, legs, torso and face. Those who are affected by this type of cerebral palsy usually cannot walk, and they may have seizures. They may also have intellectual, vision, hearing and speech disabilities.
