Cerebral Palsy Lawyer in Philadelphia

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common birth injuries a child can suffer. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that cerebral palsy is the most common childhood motor disability, affecting about 1 in every 323 children. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you may be entitled to compensation under the law. Our Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyers are here to help you evaluate your claim and determine your options.

What are the Three Types of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy generally refers to a variety of disorders that impact a person’s ability to control movements, maintain balance, or maintain posture. Since the term covers a broad spectrum of symptoms, medical experts have divided them into three subcategories.

Spastic

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy. Individuals who have spastic cerebral palsy have trouble relaxing certain muscles, and often become stiff or rigid or have difficulty moving or controlling their movements. They may also have difficulty eating or speaking. Spastic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor cortex region or pyramidal tracts of the brain. The more severe the injury, the more pronounced the symptoms are.

Athetoid

Athetoid cerebral palsy comprises approximately 10 to 20 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Individuals with athetoid cerebral palsy also have difficulty controlling movements, and typically suffer from uncontrolled jerking or writhing movements. Athetoid cerebral palsy tends to affect the arms and head more often than the legs, and consequently, many who are diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy have difficulty eating or speaking. Athetoid cerebral palsy is most commonly caused by a lack of oxygen at birth, but it can also be caused by genetic disorders and kernicterus.

Ataxic

The most uncommon form of cerebral palsy is ataxic cerebral palsy, in which patients often experience shaking or tremors while trying to perform voluntary movements. This form of cerebral palsy makes it difficult for individuals to perform movements with precision and to maintain balance when walking and performing basic day-to-day tasks. Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused when the cerebellum is damaged.

Is Cerebral Palsy a Permanent Disability?

Cerebral palsy is something that patients deal with for the rest of their lives. However, cerebral palsy does not get worse over time. Additionally, early identification and intervention can help individuals with cerebral palsy learn skills and techniques that can help them manage their symptoms and lead normal lives. Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys at Zafran Law Group can help you find resources and tools to help your child receive the treatment and help they need.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Even though cerebral palsy encompasses a wide range of symptoms, they are all caused by brain damage that occurs either before a child was born or during the child’s birth. There are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood that a child will develop cerebral palsy, which include:

Premature Births

Jaundice and Kernicterus

Infections During Pregnancy

Birth Complications

Low Birth Weight

Multiple Births, such as Twins or Triplets

A Mother Experiencing Medical Conditions, such as Thyroid Problems

Pregnancies Resulting From the Use of Some Infertility Treatments

In rarer cases, cerebral palsy can occur due to brain damage that occurs more than 28 days after the child’s birth. These situations are known as acquired cerebral palsy and can occur if the child developed an infection (such as meningitis) or sustained a head injury. If you suspect your child’s cerebral palsy resulted from an injury at birth, contact Philadelphia-based cerebral palsy attorneys today.

Is Cerebral Palsy A Birth Injury?

Some cases of cerebral palsy occur during birth, and in those cases, cerebral palsy is considered a birth injury. In these cases, brain damage occurs just as the mother goes into labor, during the delivery, or very shortly after the baby is born. It’s important to remember that many cases of cerebral palsy are not diagnosed until months later, so it can be difficult to determine whether the brain damage was caused while the mother was pregnant, during the child’s birth, or in the days following. If you’re having troubling pinning down the cause of your child’s cerebral palsy, a Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyer can help you investigate.

Is Cerebral Palsy A Result Of Malpractice?

If the brain injury occurs during the child’s delivery, there is a good chance that there was some sort of medical malpractice involved. Brain damage that occurs during birth can happen when a doctor fails to follow appropriate protocols, does not take the appropriate precautions during the delivery process, or fails to identify a problem or potential diagnosis that a similarly situated doctor would have caught. If that brain damage ultimately leads to the child developing cerebral palsy, then it is the result of medical malpractice. If you suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice, contact one of our Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys immediately.

Should I Contact A Lawyer For My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?

At Zafran Law Group, we offer free case evaluations. As a result, there is no reason to hesitate to contact our team to discuss the possibility of a cerebral palsy birth injury lawsuit. Our Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys are experienced in reviewing the facts of each case and helping our clients determine whether they are entitled to just compensation. We assess each case with compassion and care.