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Cerebral palsy is a condition that can impact a child’s ability to control their muscles. Most cases of cerebral palsy are linked to genetic mutations or unpreventable birth complications. However, medical negligence also has the potential to also cause this life-altering injury. When a medical professional’s negligence causes a birth injury such as cerebral palsy, it’s in the family’s best interest to hire an experienced Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy lawyer to help them navigate their legal claim.

Suppose your newborn was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. In that case, you may be able to obtain compensation from the doctor or hospital to help your child and family move forward while dealing with this challenging condition. 

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects posture and movement, creating a physical disability of varying degrees. It’s a group of neurological disorders that affect developmental and motor skills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 1 in 345 children in the U. S. has received a cerebral palsy diagnosis. If a child’s cerebral palsy resulted from medical malpractice, it was preventable. In these cases, compensation options may be available to the child and their family. As such, they should seek the advice of a reputable Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy attorney who can help.

The motor skills of a child with cerebral palsy can become better or worse and are often unpredictable. Possible signs of cerebral palsy can vary from one child to the next and include:

  • Delayed developmental milestones – for instance- not sitting by eight months or not walking by eighteen months
  • Appears stiff or floppy (hyper/hypotonia)
  • Weakness in the arms or legs
  • Jerky, fidgety, or clumsy movements
  • Uncontrolled or random movements
  • Muscle spasms
  • Hand tremors
  • Walking on tiptoes

Parts of the body affected can also vary. Sometimes a single side of the body is affected, other times the whole body is affected, and still other times, the legs are primarily affected.

The Costs of Cerebral Palsy

A cerebral palsy diagnosis can come with a lifetime of hardships and medical expenses. Children and families who live with cerebral palsy will have difficulties getting around, participating in normal everyday activities, sports, or just simply being and acting like a kid. Children may have self-esteem issues and face bullying or constant questioning about their condition. They may never reach their full potential. These children and their families deserve compensation for these hardships and inconveniences. With the help of a Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy lawyer, they can seek a settlement or court award for their non-economic damages such as:

  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Mental anguish
  • Psychological trauma
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Lost quality of life
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Grief and loss of consortium
  • Loss of opportunities
  • Inconvenience
  • Humiliation
  • Loss of opportunities

Economic damages are those that have an inherent monetary value. These losses are easy to calculate. Economic damages can include:

  • Lost capacity to earn wages in the future
  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Disability accommodations
  • Live-in care or nursing home care
  • Hospital bills
  • Domestic services
  • Medical equipment
  • Prescriptions
  • Rehabilitation and therapies
  • Lost earnings
  • Damaged or destroyed property
  • Transportation and travel costs
  • Legal expenses and attorney’s fees

Consider the following regarding the cost of care for a child with cerebral palsy:

  • Medical expenses for kids with cerebral palsy alone were ten times more than those without cerebral palsy or intellectual disability ($16,721 vs. $1,674 in 2005 dollars).
  • Medical expenses for kids with both cerebral palsy and intellectual disability were 26 times more than for kids without cerebral palsy or intellectual disability ($43,338 vs. $1,674 in 2005 dollars).
  • The CDC estimates that the lifetime cost to care for someone diagnosed with cerebral palsy is nearly $1 million (2003 dollars) 
  • It’s also estimated that the combined lifetime costs for all individuals with cerebral palsy who were born in 2000 will amount to $11.5 billion in direct and indirect costs 

Is Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy the Result of Medical Malpractice?

You’ve probably had this question in the back of your mind since you first heard that something wasn’t quite right with your child after birth. You’re not alone. 

Cerebral palsy can be caused by doctors or other members of the medical staff if they are negligent with the medical care and monitoring they provide care before or during childbirth. Medical professionals are expected to provide a high standard of care to all patients, including pregnant and laboring women, fetuses, and newborns. When that standard of care is violated, causing an injury, such as cerebral palsy, doctors can be found liable for the damages that result. 

The best way to determine if the medical professionals caring for you and your child are committing malpractice is to speak with a knowledgeable Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy attorney as soon as possible after you learn that something is wrong with your child. When you call the Iscoe Law Firm, we will conduct a thorough investigation and employ experts within the medical field to determine if what happened to your child could have been prevented and if negligence was involved. 

If so, we will build a case to establish how your medical providers breached the standard of care they owed to you and your child. We can collect evidence revealing how their negligent actions led to your child’s condition and how their condition results in economic and non-economic damages for both you and your child. Our Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy lawyers aren’t afraid to stand up to large hospital corporations or their insurance companies to hold physicians and medical staff liable for the harm they have caused you and your child.

Call a Well-Versed Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Today

You can learn more about how our Palm Beach County Cerebral Palsy attorneys might be able to help with your cerebral palsy claim by reaching out to us today. Call 800 800-6500 to speak to us 24/7, 365 days a year. At the Iscoe Law Firm, we know that medical malpractice and catastrophic medical injuries can occur no matter what the time the clock reads. As such, we are here for you anytime you need us. You can count on us to take what has happened to your child seriously and advocate for your family’s legal rights. 

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