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Indiana Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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What is Cerebral Palsy?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 10,000 babies per year in the United States will develop cerebral palsy, or CP. It is a condition that can be difficult to handle, depending on the severity and category of the child's condition. Cerebral palsy encompasses a group of chronic disorders involving varying degrees of brain damage, which affect the brain's ability to control and regulate the nervous and muscular systems. CP can cause patients to lose all control of their muscles, making any type of voluntary movement nearly impossible. It can also make speaking difficult, rendering some patients unable to communicate verbally. With proper physical and cognitive therapy, patients with less severe forms of cerebral palsy can gain enough control of his or her limbs to lead a relatively normal adult life. For those less fortunate children, they may never know life outside of a wheelchair.

Cerebral palsy occurs when a baby's brain is deprived of oxygen for an extended period of time. While CP can develop while in the womb, it also occurs during birth. It is at this point that the brain is most susceptible to damage. If the brain is deprived of oxygen for any period of time, it can have life-altering consequences. One of the most common reasons that a child develops CP is medical malpractice and doctor's negligence during this crucial time.

Labor and delivery is a crucial time for mother and child. If one thing goes wrong, it can trigger many more things and have severe consequences. If the physician waits too long before deciding to perform a C-Section, the child could suffer from oxygen deprivation, leading to cerebral palsy. Also, if the doctor does not notice and properly treat fetal distress, this too may lead to a form of CP.

You trust these doctors and nurses to ensure that your baby is as healthy as possible; if they make a mistake during the labor process, they should have to pay for that mistake. It should not be your responsibility to pay out of your own pocket for something you had no control over. If there is enough evidence, these mistakes can be construed as medical malpractice. If you suspect that medical malpractice is the cause of your child's CP condition, you should speak to a lawyer immediately.

Filing a Lawsuit and Finding a Lawyer / Attorney
The first step to starting a cerebral palsy lawsuit in Indiana is to set up an initial consultation with an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer or attorney. During this meeting, he or she should advise you right away on whether you have a viable case against your physician, and roughly what your chances of success are based upon previous cases they have argued. They may also be able to estimate what your compensation may be. To do so, your Indiana lawyer attorney will most likely gather a team of experts to estimate future costs of education, therapy and medical expenses relating to your child's cerebral palsy.

The financial strain upon a family with a child suffering from CP can be expensive. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) has reported that the average lifetime cost of cerebral palsy is an estimated $921,000, not including hospital visits, emergency room visits, residential care, and other out of pocket expenses. Your Indiana cerebral palsy lawyer should fight for you to receive the maximum amount of compensation available for your child and your family.

Having a Indiana lawyer or attorney specialized in the personal injury and cerebral palsy areas of law will also help increase your chances of getting the damages your family deserves. The money you win in your case will help you give your child the best possible medical treatment in the future and a better quality of life.