Cerebral Palsy can cause severe difficulties with muscle coordination and control. It can affect speech, hand-eye coordination, and more. These difficulties are permanent and can be a significant hardship for the victim and their family.
If your child is showing symptoms of or has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, you should consult an experienced brain injury lawyer in Baton Rouge.
A Cerebral Palsy diagnosis does not by itself show that medical malpractice occurred. If you suspect a care error, the medical records and appropriate expert review can help determine whether a provider breached the applicable standard of care and caused harm. Compensation depends on the evidence and the law that applies to the claim.
You need a Baton Rouge Cerebral Palsy lawyer with a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation and who fights hard for their clients. You need Babcock Injury Lawyers.
We have over twenty-five years of experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims in Baton Rouge and getting them the justice and compensation they deserve. We want to do the same for you.
Call (225) 500-5000 or complete the brief form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation. We will listen to you, answer your questions, and explain your rights. If we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to recover every dollar you deserve.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
The American Brain Foundation describes Cerebral Palsy (CP) as a condition affecting movement and muscle control. The CDC groups CP into four main types:
- Spastic CP: Increased muscle tone causes stiffness. It affects about 80% of people with CP and may involve one side of the body, mainly the legs, or all four limbs.
- Dyskinetic CP: Involuntary movements and changes in muscle tone can affect movement and posture. This group includes dystonic CP.
- Ataxic CP: Difficulties with balance, coordination and controlled movements.
- Mixed CP: Features of more than one type.
Symptoms and associated conditions vary. A child’s diagnosis and needs require individual medical evaluation.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy symptoms can vary widely depending on the severity of a person’s condition. Some of the most common symptoms of CP include:
- Spastic muscle movements
- Excessively floppy or stiff muscle tone
- Stiff muscle movements
- Involuntary tremors
- Ataxia
- Athetosis
- Difficulty eating
- Excessive drooling
- Favoring one side of the body
- Difficulty speaking or with speech development
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Delayed development of motor functions
If you have concerns about your child’s movement, muscle tone or developmental milestones, consult the child’s medical professional. Some listed signs can occur without CP; diagnosis requires medical evaluation.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy and Questions About Medical Care
NICHD explains that CP can result from abnormal brain development or injury to the developing brain before, during or after birth. In many cases, the exact cause is unknown. The CDC identifies risk factors including premature birth, infections, severe untreated jaundice and complications that interrupt oxygen supply. A risk factor does not mean a child will develop CP.
Whether an injury involves medical malpractice is a separate question. Review should examine the care required in the circumstances, what the provider did, and whether any departure caused harm. Depending on the records, that review may include:
- Monitoring and the response to signs of fetal distress.
- The timing and method of delivery.
- Medication selection, dosage and use of delivery instruments.
- Assessment of maternal infections and pregnancy complications, including conditions such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.
- Recognition and treatment of newborn infection or severe jaundice.
These are questions for medical and legal review, not findings that a particular complication proves negligence or caused CP. The FDA also provides guidance on reporting medical-device problems; making a report does not itself establish legal responsibility.
The Cerebral Palsy attorneys at Babcock Injury Lawyers thoroughly investigate every case to determine all possible causes and potential liable parties to help maximize your compensation.
Statute of Limitations for Cerebral Palsy Medical Malpractice Claims
Louisiana Revised Statute 9:5628 generally provides one year from the alleged act, omission or neglect, or one year from discovery, with a three-year outside limit from the alleged act. The statute expressly includes minors; do not assume that a child’s claim can wait until adulthood.
Provider status and the claim’s filing history matter. A valid, timely medical review panel request can suspend the filing period, while an invalid request may not. A lawyer should review the treatment dates, discovery facts, providers and procedural requirements promptly before calculating the deadline.
You need to act quickly. Your attorney needs time to investigate your case adequately, identify causes and liable parties, and discover and collect essential evidence.
Contact a Baton Rouge Cerebral Palsy Attorney Today
If you suspect your child may have Cerebral Palsy, you should seek immediate medical attention to get a proper diagnosis.
You should also promptly consult an experienced Cerebral Palsy lawyer in Baton Rouge to protect your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The personal injury attorneys at Babcock Injury Lawyers have protected the rights of Louisiana injury victims for over twenty years and have a proven record of recovering maximum client compensation.
Insurance companies will fight hard to deny your claim. Our attorneys know their tactics to avoid paying your claim or to pay as little as possible, and we know how to combat those tactics.
Let us help you hold those responsible for your child’s injuries accountable. Call (225) 500-5000 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation.
If we represent you, we will fight tirelessly to recover every dollar you deserve.