Ross Feller Casey’s Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys have successfully handled numerous multimillion-dollar lawsuits involving cerebral palsy across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and stand out as the nation’s recognized legal experts for such cases.
In fact, over the past five years alone, Ross Feller Casey attorneys have recovered well in excess of $1 billion for their clients and have resolved more significant birth injury lawsuits than any other Pennsylvania firm.
Ross Feller Casey is uniquely qualified to litigate cerebral palsy lawsuits, in part because we have something rare among personal injury law firms – a team of Ivy League-trained doctors right on staff. The team includes Dr. Charles H. Bowers, a nationally recognized physician with more than three decades of experience in both surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Cerebral palsy refers to an umbrella group of disorders that can affect muscle control, sensation, head control, walking, muscle tone, coordination, and cognitive functioning. About a half million people in the U.S. develop cerebral palsy. It's caused by a brain injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth. In many cases, a medical error occurs during the birth process that damages specific areas of the child’s brain that control motor functions.
A lack of oxygen to the brain (asphyxia) related to difficult labor or delivery is among the consequences of cerebral palsy malpractice. Mistakes can range from the child being left in the birth canal for too long to the excessive or improper use of tools and devices, such as forceps or vacuum extraction. It can be almost impossible for a parent to know if malpractice led to their child's cerebral palsy, which is why consulting a lawyer specializing in cerebral palsy cases is so important.
Most children with cerebral palsy (CP) are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of CP — mainly a lack of muscle coordination and control — usually appear before a child reaches three years of age. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatments, therapies, and medication help a person be as independent as possible.
Cerebral palsy is divided into five primary types:
Any type of cerebral palsy can occur due to medical error, negligence, or malpractice. Asphyxiation is the most common cause of birth injuries that develop into cerebral palsy. Other cases of medical malpractice that may lead to cerebral palsy include:
Though there are no studies specific to the life expectancy of people who have cerebral palsy, most of those individuals live to between 30 and 70 years of age. Of course, several factors impact just how long a child with CP lives. These factors include:
Quality of life is typically explained in terms of personal safety and health, emotional and mental wellness, economic security, and independence and freedom. It’s no different for those who have cerebral palsy. Generally, children with CP describe their quality of life similarly to children who don’t have the condition. However, parents of children with CP tell it very differently. Many parents of children with CP believe that the quality of life for their children and their families is much lower than families who aren’t dealing with cerebral palsy.
Two key factors impact the quality of life for people with CP and their families: the level of pain the person with CP suffers; and the depression and stress that parents and family members suffer due to cerebral palsy. Parental stress must be taken into account because it affects the quality of life reported by children with CP.
Many children with cerebral palsy live to be adults, which can be quite a different experience than being a child with CP. Because cerebral palsy isn’t a progressive disorder, a child’s condition will not worsen as the child ages. However, some things can affect the overall health and wellness of an adult with CP. Two such things are the person’s motor and intellectual impairments. The most common challenges that adults with CP experience are:
When one or more of the above are present in an adult with CP, it can significantly affect their overall well-being.
Living with CP will sometimes require additional, expensive resources. Since many cases result from an error by a medical professional while in the hospital, victims deserve compensation and justice. This is why consulting a Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorney is so important.
Currently, there isn’t a test that can be performed to diagnose cerebral palsy. That means that there isn’t a way to detect CP during pregnancy. However, receiving proper medical care during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of having a baby with CP.
Because there is no diagnostic test for CP, it’s essential to watch for any signs that a baby or toddler may have that indicate CP. Typically, one or more of the following are present in a baby or toddler with CP:
If you have a child who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you must determine why they have been affected by the disability. It may be a result of a medical error or negligence. When that is the case, parents may be entitled to compensation for the child’s and the family’s financial and emotional damages, and they should contact a cerebral palsy attorney. An attorney who handles birth injury cases will be able to determine whether your child’s cerebral palsy is a case of medical malpractice.
At Ross Feller Casey, we have helped many families that have experienced cerebral palsy and other birth injuries due to a doctor or nursing mistake or another healthcare professional's negligence. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation with one of our leading Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyers.
The firm handles all its cases, including cerebral palsy lawsuits in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, on a contingency basis, so there will never be a cost to you unless there is a financial recovery in your case. We work hard for our clients to win them the settlement they deserve.
If you or a loved one has cerebral palsy or has suffered another birth injury, such as Erb's Palsy, one of our attorneys specializing in cerebral palsy lawsuits can assist you in determining if you have a case.
You may still be able to investigate a potential claim even if the injury occurred some time ago, but your time may be running out. Please contact us now to arrange a free consultation with an experienced Philadelphia cerebral palsy law firm.
Learn more about medical negligence resulting in cerebral palsy on our blog.