Cerebral Palsy - Lawyer, Pittsburgh
Cerebral palsy refers a set of chronic neurological disorders caused by abnormal brain function. It is often characterized by a lack of muscle control and problems with movement, speech, hearing, and vision. Cerebral palsy is caused by permanent brain damage that is commonly the result of an injury to an infant’s brain before birth or during the delivery process. The condition does not worsen, but there is no known cure. Prevention and treatment of the underlying causes of cerebral palsy are currently the best medical interventions.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
There are many potential causes of the brain damage that leads to the injuries that can cause cerebral palsy. Careful monitoring of both the baby and mother during delivery is important to identifying and treating any potential risk factors. Maternal infection, for instance, may cause early labor; premature babies are at a greater risk of receiving inadequate oxygen, which can result in cerebral palsy. In addition to oxygen deprivation (or fetal hypoxia) prolonged bleeding within the infant’s brain, untreated jaundice, or physical injuries during labor can cause permanent brain damage that may result in cerebral palsy.
If a physician fails to properly monitor your newborn and misses warning signs, or fails to takes steps to prevent further damage once he or she is aware of problems such as oxygen deprivation, they are acting negligently and can be held responsible for your child’s injuries.
If you notice that your child isn’t catching on like other children, seems to be behind, or isn’t developing emotionally, your child may be suffering from cerebral palsy. At GPW, our cerebral palsy lawyers and birth injury attorneys are experienced in representing the parents of children who have developed cerebral palsy as the result of an injury at birth and will work to get you and your child the compensation you deserve.
Cerebral Palsy Attorney: FAQ
When should I contact a cerebral palsy lawyer?
You should contact a cerebral palsy lawyer as soon as you realize malpractice or negligence contributed to your child's cerebral palsy. Statues of limitation—or the time after an injury occurs during which you can still bring a lawsuit—varies from state to state. Contacting a cerebral palsy attorney promptly is important to preserving your right to pursue a legal claim.
How can a cerebral palsy attorney help?
Pinpointing the cause of your child's cerebral palsy can be challenging. A cerebral palsy lawyer can help you determine if the cause or causes of your child's birth injury was the result of medical malpractice or negligence. If an injury during your child's birth led to your child's cerebral palsy, our birth injury attorneys can help you recover damages to help pay for the past and future expenses associated with caring for your child. Medical expenses, special education requirements, income loss, and pain and suffering may be compensible.
Where are your cerebral palsy lawyers located?
GPW has cerebral palsy lawyers in Pittsburgh, PA, Hurricane, WV, and Saginaw, MI, however, we have helped people all over not only these three states, but the country. Our birth injury attorneys are licensed and experienced in many states; please contact us to see how we can help you.
Seeking a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?
If you need to speak with an attorney unsure whether or not your child's cerebral palsy is the result of medical malpractice, please contact our Pittsburgh office to speak with our birth injury attorneys about your case. Our lawyers have the resources and experience to thoroughly investigate the birth of your child to determine if a medical professional’s actions led to a birth injury.