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Baltimore Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
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Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Baltimore Families Trust
Medical mistakes during the pregnancy and childbirth process can lead to life-altering consequences that affect families tremendously. Cerebral palsy is one of the more common birth injuries that babies suffer from in the US. If your child’s disability resulted from medical malpractice, you may have a right to compensation that covers treatment and ongoing care costs for your disabled child. However, medical malpractice cases are difficult and require a qualified legal team representing you and your family when going up against large medical entities. Luckily, Hyatt & Goldbloom has been representing families who have suffered from birth injuries for over 30 years. Contact our Baltimore cerebral palsy lawyer today for a free case evaluation and to learn more about how we can help. You and your family deserve the financial support and security a medical malpractice lawsuit can provide, allow us to help you achieve that.
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a cluster of disorders that impact the brain’s control over muscles and the nervous system. It materializes due to brain damage momentarily before or during the birth process. The disorder affects various parts of the body, therefore the symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary on a case-by-case basis. It’s important to understand that cerebral palsy does not improve or worsen as a child grows, however, complications originating from the condition can cause further health issues as the child ages. Unfortunately, cerebral palsy has no cure, but therapy, medication, and surgery can help improve your child’s quality of life. Depending on how serious a case of cerebral palsy is, an individual may be able to live independently or they may require lifelong care. Although, there are some fantastic support and financial resources available to help families in the Baltimore area affected by cerebral palsy, the ongoing care needed for a child with CP can be overwhelming. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe a medical professional may be to blame, contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today. Our Baltimore cerebral palsy lawyer routinely represents serious birth injury cases and has the experience you and your family need to prove your medical malpractice claim.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy, often referred to as CP, classifies a set of disorders that affect people’s ability to control their muscles. The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) statistics for cerebral palsy reveal that it is the most common motor disability in children. In fact, cerebral palsy impacts roughly 1 out of every 345 children in the United States. Congenital cerebral palsy accounts for as many as 90% of all cases, and it stems from abnormal brain development or trauma before or during birth. For example, if the child suffers from oxygen deprivation during the pregnancy or birthing process, it can cause cerebral palsy. Additionally, a small percentage of cerebral palsy cases are due to head trauma, brain hemorrhage, and infections. Medical professionals are required to monitor for lack of oxygen and intervene as necessary to prevent all types of cerebral palsy. However, when a medical professional fails to do so, medical negligence can be the primary cause for a child developing cerebral palsy and irreversible brain trauma. If you believe your child suffered a birth injury due to a physician’s negligence, contact our Baltimore cerebral palsy attorney today to learn more about how we can help you and your family seek justice and financial compensation for your losses.
Cerebral Palsy and Medical Malpractice
Cerebral palsy is sometimes a result of medical malpractice, and could have been avoided had the right medical care been provided to the mother and child during birth. When medical staff does not meet that standard level of care expected of them, they can be putting you and your child in serious danger before and during childbirth. If you believe a doctor, nurse, or hospital demonstrated negligence during the pregnancy and birthing process, contact an experienced Baltimore cerebral palsy lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case. Some forms of medical malpractice that can result in cerebral palsy include the following:
- Failure to monitor the baby’s heartbeat and vital signs
- Failure to perform an emergency C-section in a timely manner
- Misuse of forceps and vacuum extractors
- Forcing, pulling, or twisting babies out of the birth canal during delivery
When this standard of care is not met, your medical physicians may be held liable for failing to take the required precautions to stop your child’s birth injury. If your healthcare team did not provide you and your child with suitable medical treatment and support, they could be at fault for your child’s cerebral palsy. In these situations, you must speak with a skilled birth injury lawyer Baltimore residents trust. Hyatt & Goldbloom has been representing families who have been devastated by birth injuries for years. Our legal team has the resources and experience you need to secure the optimal outcome in your case and hold those who caused your child’s cerebral palsy accountable for their actions.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
As mentioned previously, cerebral palsy often goes undiagnosed until years after the child is born. Therefore, understanding the common symptoms of CP is crucial to making an early diagnosis and taking the first step to opening a medical malpractice case against the at-fault party. Cerebral palsy symptoms can affect muscle control, coordination, balance, and cognitive development in a child. The type and severity of a child’s condition influence the symptoms they show. In most cases, symptoms take months or years to become apparent. Some of the most common symptoms of cerebral palsy are listed below:
Physical Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
- Stiff muscle tone
- Floppy muscle tone
- Variations in muscle tone
- Involuntary movements or tremors
- Lack of coordination
- Difficulty walking or toe-walking
- Favoring one side of the body
- Difficulty sucking, eating, or swallowing
- Excessive drooling
- Lack of fine motor skills
Neurological Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
- Delays in developmental skills
- Learning disabilities
- Abnormal pain or touch perception
- Seizures
Speech-Related Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
- Abnormal speech rhythms
- Hoarse voice
- Monotone voice
- Nasally voice
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?
In the majority of cases, cerebral palsy is present at the time of birth. However, it often goes undetected until years after the child is born, making it challenging to diagnose early on in life. This can make it hard for a physician to pinpoint the exact cause of the damage that led to your child’s condition. Although it is relatively uncommon, it’s estimated that roughly 17 million people are currently living with cerebral palsy in the world.
How Common Is Cerebral Palsy?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cerebral palsy is the most common childhood motor disability, with roughly 1 in 323 children diagnosed. Additionally, the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) revealed that there are about 8,000 cases of cerebral palsy each year in the United States. Unfortunately, some of these cases of cerebral palsy could have been avoided with quality medical care. When a medical professional neglects to provide you and your child with a certain standard of care, you may have a right to compensation. Your first step should always be to discuss your case with a credible Baltimore cerebral palsy lawyer and determine the best course forward.
Does My Child Qualify For A Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit?
To qualify for a cerebral palsy lawsuit, you must be able to prove medical malpractice took place. When it comes to establishing medical negligence, you must show that the doctor, nurse, or hospital failed to provide you and your child reasonable care. Once this is proven, you must establish that the breach of duty by the medical professional directly caused your child’s cerebral palsy, and has forced your family to face actual damages because of the injuries sustained to the child. A full list of the factors that must be proven to qualify for a cerebral palsy lawsuit includes the following:
- An official cerebral palsy diagnosis
- Evidence to suggest medical negligence transpired and induced cerebral palsy
- Time remaining to file a civil suit under Maryland’s statute of limitations
- A qualified medical expert agrees you have a medical malpractice case
Establishing all of these factors can be difficult for a person to sort through on their own. Luckily, an experienced Baltimore cerebral palsy attorney can help you comprehend these elements and determine if you have a valid case. For information about the process of filing ab birth injury claim, contact Hyatt & Goldbloom today for a free case evaluation.
Contact A Baltimore Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Today
If your child has suffered cerebral palsy and you believe a negligent medical professional is to blame, compensation may be available to you and your family to help you cope with the costs of your child’s lifelong condition. We understand how difficult and straining this can be on a family, that’s why we leave no stone left unturned when it comes to holding those at fault responsible for your child’s injuries. Contact a Baltimore cerebral palsy lawyer at Hyatt and Goldbloom today to learn more about how we can help. We routinely represent families in Baltimore County dealing with serious birth injuries and have the resources you need to secure the best possible outcome in your case. Call our office today for a free consultation at (410) 385-3180.