Atlanta Brain Damage & Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Cerebral palsy and brain damage injuries sometimes occur because of trauma related to the birthing process. Many common birth-related injuries are minor and will resolve over time. Unfortunately, some of these injuries will lead to lifelong complications and may be fatal in tragic cases. Although not every birth defect or injury may be preventable, in many cases, these injuries result from negligent medical providers. When a birth-related injury could have been prevented through competent medical care or intervention, the family is eligible to recover compensation. It is important to learn your legal options for pursuing a claim because the damage done can lead to extremely costly treatment and long-term care. To learn more about your legal options, contact an Atlanta brain damage & cerebral palsy lawyer at The Moses Firm. Our lawyers are experienced in representing families whose children have suffered as a result of negligent medical providers. Call us today at 404-721-1050 to speak to one of our dedicated Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys.
Cerebral Palsy Can Impact a Person Throughout Their Life
Cerebral palsy is a common form of birth-related injury. This condition occurs because the infant suffers from a lack of oxygen to their brain or a serious brain injury. The neurological damage leads to impaired motor skills, movement, and muscle tone. Many patients who suffer from this neurological condition will also experience various other physical and mental complications. Individuals with cerebral palsy are more likely to have learning disabilities, speech disabilities, cognitive impairment, trouble with their lungs, low bone density, and impaired vision and hearing. Some cerebral palsy cases may be mild, while others can lead to extreme challenges throughout the individual’s life. Although there are treatments for this condition, there is no cure available.
There are different types of cerebral palsy. The most common is referred to as spastic cerebral palsy, which causes a patient to suffer from muscle spasms, abnormal movements, difficulty controlling their movements, and stiff muscles. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy involves irregular movements that are not predictable, repetitive movements, and patients suffer from an awkward posture. Patients diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy will have trouble with their coordination and balance and may suffer from tremors. Some children have mixed varieties of cerebral palsy and suffer from more than one of these types. Various forms of therapy may improve the prognosis for a child with cerebral palsy. Of course, ongoing treatment is often expensive.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Certain factors can make it more likely that a child will have cerebral palsy. Greater risks exist for children who are born with a low birth weight, premature, multiples, born with jaundice, born with the use of infertility treatments, who contracted certain infections during pregnancy, whose mothers have certain medical complications such as thyroid disorders, and children whose births involved complications. Some children also suffer from brain infections, brain injuries, and limited blood flow to the brain, which can lead to cerebral palsy even after the child is born.
Sometimes cerebral palsy is the result of a failure on the part of medical practitioners. Conditions can be caused by a medical provider’s failure to use proper equipment or monitoring, failure to communicate, or failure to follow correct birthing procedures. It is also possible that physicians are overtired or that the facility is understaffed, leading to unnecessary injuries to babies during the birth process.
If a baby fails to get enough oxygen to their brain, the result could be neurological damage that leads to cerebral palsy. Medical errors that occur in pregnancy, delivery, or birth can lead to this condition. If doctors failed to detect or treat infections, did not detect changes in the baby’s heart rate, failed to perform a cesarean section when it would have been medically warranted, failed to use the delivery tools properly, or failed to identify a prolapsed umbilical cord, those mistakes can cause lifelong harm to that child.
Speaking to an experienced medical malpractice attorney is the best way to learn about your legal options and determine whether you have a valid claim against the medical provider, physician, hospital, or other staff.
Recovering Damages in a Cerebral Palsy Case
Not every birth injury results from negligence, but many of them are related to mistakes made by a medical practitioner. To prove that a medical provider is at fault for the injury caused to your baby, you will need to find some evidence that the doctor engaged in a careless action or omission. Consulting with a legal professional will help you understand the steps to take to determine whether medical malpractice was the cause of your infant’s condition. In many cases, doctors will not be forthcoming regarding the mistakes they made while delivering a baby. You may be able to determine that something went wrong, but proving your case would likely require the use of medical experts.
Contact the Atlanta Brain Damage & Cerebral Palsy Lawyer at The Moses Firm Today
At The Moses Firm, our Atlanta brain damage & cerebral palsy attorneys understand that birth injuries impact the infant and the entire family. It is important that families can recover compensation that will help them provide the best possible care for their child. Call us today at 404-721-1050 to speak to an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney.