If your child has received a cerebral palsy diagnosis, you may question whether medical malpractice was involved. A Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer from our medical malpractice firm, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the complexities of a medical malpractice case to get the financial compensation to care for your child with brain damage.
In this Article
What Is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders or brain injuries that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. The condition varies in severity, with some experiencing minor impairments and others requiring ongoing medical care and assistance.
How Common Is Cerebral Palsy?
According to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF), approximately 1 in 700 babies are diagnosed with a cerebral palsy injury, making it the most common motor disability in childhood. CP impacts approximately 1 million people in the U.S.
What Are the Types of Cerebral Palsy?
There are four main types of cerebral palsy:
Spastic Cerebral Palsy – the most common type, characterized by stiff and jerky movements.
Dyskinetic (Athetoid) Cerebral Palsy – affecting muscle tone and coordination, causing difficulty controlling body movements.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – a rare type, affecting balance and coordination.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy – combining symptoms of the other three types.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of cerebral palsy is not always known, but it often occurs due to a brain injury or abnormal brain development before, during, or after birth including:
Lack of oxygen to the brain during pregnancy or birth
Infections in the mother during pregnancy
Premature birth and low birth weight
Genetic factors and certain medical conditions
What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
Symptoms of a cerebral palsy birth injury may include:
Delayed motor development (e.g. crawling, walking)
Difficulty with fine motor skills (e.g. grasping objects)
Muscle stiffness or rigidity
Tremors or involuntary movements
Difficulty with coordination and balance
Speech and language delays
Can a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Be the Result of Medical Negligence?
Medical negligence during pregnancy or birth, such as failure of medical professionals to monitor fetal distress or improper use of delivery tools, can lead to cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain. An experienced cerebral palsy attorney can help evaluate your cerebral palsy claim to determine if the cerebral palsy injuries warrant a medical malpractice claim.
How Can Medical Negligence Cause Cerebral Palsy?
Medical negligence can contribute to the development of cerebral palsy in children due to a variety of prenatal and delivery issues. These include neglecting proper monitoring of the fetus, failing to treat maternal infections, poor management of high-risk pregnancies, overlooking problems with the placenta or umbilical cord, delaying necessary interventions for distressed deliveries, mishandling labor processes, using excessive force during delivery, and making errors during cesarean sections.
How Can Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Assist Me?
If you suspect medical malpractice caused your child to develop cerebral palsy, an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer in Chicago can help you by:
Evaluating your case and counseling you about your rights and options
Negotiating with insurance companies
Gathering evidence and building a strong case for compensation
Representing you in court, if necessary
Providing compassionate support and guidance throughout the legal process
Seeking Compensation for Cerebral Palsy Damages
In cerebral palsy lawsuits , families may be eligible to seek compensation for damages related to:
Medical expenses
Ongoing care and treatment
Lost wages for caregivers
Pain and suffering for the child and family
Other related damages
What Future Medical Care Might a Child with Cerebral Palsy Need?
Children with cerebral palsy birth injuries often require ongoing medical care and treatment, which can include:
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Medications to manage symptoms
Assistive devices and technology to help with mobility
Surgery to address issues such as contractures (tightening of muscles) or scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
Counseling or behavioral therapy
Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers Today
If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy may have been caused by medical negligence, contact our experienced team of cerebral palsy attorneys at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers. We are a law firm dedicated to fighting for justice and fair compensation for families with cerebral palsy cases calling for medical malpractice lawsuits.
Your Free Consultation with an Experienced CP Lawyer
In your no-obligation meeting with our birth injury lawyers, we will review your case, explain your legal options, and answer your questions.
A Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer can help you pursue justice and compensation for your child's condition, as well as provide guidance and support throughout the legal process.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
Britt C.
Andrew Kryder went above and beyond to help me out with a case that I brought to him. He was prompt, attentive, and extremely thorough. It was a pleasure to work with him!
(312) 223-1700