Cerebral palsy is among the most common disorders in the nation, with various types, signs, and symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. When a negligent medical professional is the reason for a child’s harm, a Mount Dora cerebral palsy birth injury lawyer could help.
Our compassionate birth injury attorneys could advocate for you and your child in court. Call our office to learn more.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that impacts the brain, resulting in motor deficiency. The brain damage typically occurs before, during, or shortly following birth and could become a lifelong disability for an injured child. Generally, there are three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic.
Spastic cerebral palsy makes it difficult for a child to move their limbs. Athetoid cerebral palsy results in uncontrolled, involuntary, and often abnormal movements. Finally, ataxic palsy includes problems with depth perception, a sense of balance, and walking.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is accompanied by a lack of muscle control, spastic movements, and the inability to use muscles, often apparent through abnormal and writhing movements. The injured child’s muscle tone might also fluctuate between stiff and floppy. Other common signs of cerebral palsy include the following:
- Abnormal reflex responses, such as spinal gallant reflexes, palmer grasp reflex, and symmetrical or asymmetrical tonic reflex
- Limited or complete loss of muscle control
- Issues with control and coordination, including walking with toes pointed inward or outward, spastic movements, walking with a wide gait, waddling, or dragging a leg when walking
- Oral motor problems, including difficulties closing the mouth, eating, and swallowing.
A hardworking attorney in Mount Dora could explain the signs of cerebral palsy birth injuries and help the child’s parents determine when the harm occurred.
Medical Negligence and Cerebral Palsy
Medical negligence is the failure of a healthcare professional to fulfill the standard of care determined by the medical community. When a child develops cerebral palsy due to any of the following, a Mount Dora birth injury attorney could help the family pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Failure to Perform a C-Section
When a child lacks oxygen, performing a C-section is the safest way to avoid brain damage. If the labor and delivery team fails to recognize signs of oxygen loss and the child develops cerebral palsy as a result, the parents can file a lawsuit for malpractice.
Failure to Monitor
When a doctor or other medical professional fails to monitor the child’s vital signs properly and intervene in a timely fashion, they could be liable for any subsequent injuries, including cerebral palsy.
Improper Medical Response to Signs of Fetal Distress
A delayed response to an emergency during pregnancy or birth could justify a malpractice claim. Cerebral palsy is often the result of an umbilical cord wrapped around an infant’s neck.
Recovering Compensation Through a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit
In a cerebral palsy birth injury lawsuit, families can seek compensation for various damages, including current and future medical costs, living expenses, or projected income loss. Other damages include loss of companionship, life’s enjoyment, or pain and suffering.
Statute of Limitations
Florida Statutes §95-11 requires a plaintiff asserting a medical malpractice to file with the courts within two years of discovering the injury. At the latest, the law provides four years from when the malpractice allegedly occurred to file suit.
In the case of a medical malpractice lawsuit involving a minor child under the age of eight, the lawsuit must be brought before the child’s eighth birthday. A cerebral palsy infant injury lawyer could ensure compliance with all legal deadlines in Mount Dora and fight for maximum compensation.
Let a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Attorney in Mount Dora Help
Your family deserves the chance to seek compensation for a medical professional’s negligent actions. When your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you suspect malpractice, our legal team can help.
Call today to schedule a case evaluation to learn more about how a Mount Dora cerebral palsy birth injury lawyer could advocate for you.
