Cerebral Palsy
Each year approximately 10,000 babies born in the United
States develop cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a disorder
of movement or coordination caused by an abnormality of the
brain. It is a permanent and irreversible crippling condition
affecting the central nervous system of an infant or a young
child. More than 80% of people with cerebral palsy developed
it either before they were born or before they were one month
old. In many instances, the cause of the brain abnormality
is unknown, however there are many ways in which the negligence
of a hospital delivery team can cause cerebral palsy during
the birth process.
About half of the people who have cerebral palsy need to
use devices-such as braces, walkers, or wheel chairs-to help
them get around, and almost 70% have other disabilities, primarily
mental retardation. Depending on the severity of their disability,
people with cerebral palsy may need assistive devices for
various tasks, specialized medical care, educational and social
services, and other help throughout their lives from both
their families and communities. As such, recovering adequate
damages in those cases where the condition is caused by negligence
is vital. A recent study in California of the extra economic
costs associated with cerebral palsy showed that the lifetime
out-of-pocket cost per new case is $503,000 (in 1992 dollars).
Half of these costs are borne by families, who often find
it difficult to obtain all the services they need to help
their children. After adjusting these totals to today’s dollars,
and considering all the pain and suffering, humiliation, loss
of enjoyment of life, and other related damages, it is easy
to see why cerebral palsy cases require prosecution by an
attorney who is well-versed in this tragic area of personal
injury law. The highly specialized care, therapy, and the
challenges of raising a child with cerebral palsy involve
very substantial expenditures of money, and require an understanding
of the condition, its limitations and demands, and love, patience,
indulgence and perseverance on the part of the parents and
all other members of the immediate family. Let help
you to determine whether your child and you may be entitled
to monetary compensation for the injuries of cerebral palsy.
In cerebral palsy cases it is essential that measures be
taken promptly to preserve evidence, review the medical procedures
in question, and to enable physicians or other expert witnesses
to thoroughly evaluate the birth record and injuries. If you
or a loved one is a victim of cerebral palsy, call
now. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we
agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee
basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there
is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don’t delay! You
may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for
your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute
of limitations expires.
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