At Cooper Schall & Levy, we are committed to fighting for the rights of babies who will suffer the symptoms of cerebral palsy (CP) throughout their lifetimes because of injuries incurred during birth. Though not all cases of cerebral palsy in Philadelphia and surrounding counties are the results of obstetrical negligence, it is critical to find out whether your child’s case is. If so, our experienced birth injury attorneys will fight aggressively to obtain the resources you need to provide the very best therapeutic care.
Cerebral Palsy and Its Causes
Cerebral palsy, a condition that negatively impacts control of the muscles, may be caused by abnormal brain development during gestation (usually due to a genetic mutation), maternal or infant infection, or traumatic injury during or just after birth, frequently the result of a medical mistake.
Though only 10 percent of cerebral palsy cases are due to events occurring during the birth process, if an investigation proves that this is the case with your child, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for medical malpractice that will go a long way toward funding therapeutic interventions to help your child to lead a productive, pleasurable life.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Like so many medical conditions, cerebral palsy’s symptoms range from mild to severe. The muscles affected may be those in the upper body, the lower body, or both and on one or both sides of the body. CP can affect muscle strength, control, and coordination, resulting in:
- Tremors
- Poor posture and balance
- Cognitive impairment
- Sensory disturbances
- Poor vision or hearing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking clearly
Because the severity of CP varies so widely, one individual with the condition may be able to work, raise children and suffer relatively minor spasticity, while another may be totally unable to walk and/or seriously mentally impaired. The life expectancy of CP patients also varies widely.
What Cooper Schall & Levy Can Do to Help
If you know or suspect that your child’s CP is the result of medical malpractice, contact our cerebral palsy attorneys so we can determine whether you have a viable claim. We have worked on multiple birth injury cases over our decades in practice and have a proven track record of successful outcomes.
Known for our empathy as well as our litigation skills, we will provide you with the investigative instincts, comprehensive legal knowledge, attention to detail, and savvy negotiation tactics that will give you an edge both in and out of the courtroom. Once you become our client, we will handle all communications with opposing lawyers and insurance representatives so that you can dedicate yourself to meeting the needs of your child.
You are no doubt overwhelmed by the circumstances you find your family in. We have the experience to lift your burden and assist you in getting out from under the financial pressures you feel. We also have an established network of medical experts we can call upon to bolster your case at trial.
When Cerebral Palsy Is Caused by Medical Malpractice
In the majority of cases in which brain damage results from birth trauma, asphyxia (lack of oxygen to the brain) is the cause. The baby may suffer asphyxia because of delayed delivery during which the obstetrician waits too long to perform a Cesarean.
A number of other medical mistakes may cause an infant to develop cerebral palsy due to negligence on the part of the doctor, including:
- Failure to prepare for a Caesarean when the baby is not positioned for a safe vaginal delivery
- Use of excessive pressure on the baby’s head or neck during delivery, resulting in head trauma
- Incorrect use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or other mechanical devices during delivery
- Failure to unwrap the umbilical cord from the baby’s neck to avoid oxygen deprivation to the brain
- Failure to diagnose or treat certain maternal infections during pregnancy
- Failure to diagnose fetal infection or stroke during gestation
- Failure to use extreme caution when delivering an unusually large or premature infant since such babies are at increased risk of cerebral palsy
There is also a possibility that, since signs of cerebral palsy may not be evident in some children until they are 1 to 2 years old, your pediatrician fails to diagnose or misdiagnoses CP for some period of time, delaying valuable treatment or administering incorrect treatment. In any case, if your child has been a victim of medical malpractice, our caring cerebral palsy attorneys will offer you moral support as well as excellent legal representation.
We Will Fight to Obtain the Compensation You and Your Child Deserve
Raising a child with cerebral palsy is expensive as well as emotionally taxing. That’s why it is so important for you to work with our talented cerebral palsy attorneys. Whether your child is only minimally disabled or requires round-the-clock care, he or she will need various therapies to live up to his or her potential. We are determined to obtain the funds you need to compensate you for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical costs
- Lost wages (if you have to miss work to provide childcare)
- Specialized childcare and/or education
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Psychotherapy to help your child cope with the condition
- Assistive equipment, such as a wheelchair, rollator, or soundboard
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Facial deformity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
It’s important to realize that opposing attorneys will try hard to convince the court that the CP your child suffers from is not the result of your doctor’s negligence, but with us on your side, you have the advantage of working with experienced legal advocates who have fought and won such battles before.
Contact Our Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Today So We Can Begin Fighting for Your Child
We are powerful and persuasive professionals and will not take your case unless we feel confident about the outcome. More than that, we will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we win your case. The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner we can take steps to secure your child’s future.
Cooper Schall & Levy medical malpractice lawyers serve Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as well as neighboring counties such as Montgomery County and Delaware County and cover neighborhoods such as Norristown and Drexel Hill.
