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New Jersey 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. It is a condition that can be difficult to handle, depending on the severity and category of the child's condition. The condition encompasses a group of chronic disorders involving varying degrees of brain damage, which effect the brain's ability to control and regulate the nervous and muscular systems. The main cause for cerebral palsy is a lack of oxygen to the brain before, during, or after birth, resulting in impairment of movement and function throughout the body, also known as cerebral palsy. While the initial damage can be quite severe, the condition is not progressive, meaning the child should not experience any other loss of brain function in later years.

The majority of cerebral palsy cases occur during gestation, while the remaining percentage of cases occur during birth and even up to the age of three. Certain maternal and fetal factors during pregnancy can increase the risks that a child will be born with cerebral palsy. Many of these risk factors can be identified by a doctor during pregnancy; he or she may advise the mother on steps to take to lessen the risks the risk of the baby being born with the condition. Studies show that there may be a genetic factor for cerebral palsy, but it is still being debated by scientists and medical professionals worldwide and is not a solid fact.

While a fetus may not develop cerebral palsy during gestation, the condition may develop during the birthing process, if the labor is too long or very stressful for the mother, the baby may be unable to get enough oxygen while in the birth canal, or if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the neck for too long. If the delivery is handled improperly, the resulting problems can include fetal stress and possibly brain damage that may later be identified as cerebral palsy. And while it is more rare, development of cerebral palsy during the first few years of life may also occur, due to illnesses such as jaundice, bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis. Unfortunately, a cure is not yet known for cerebral palsy; the only thing that parents can do is manage the disorder to the best of their ability and try to provide the best treatments and care available.

It can sometimes be very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of a child's cerebral palsy. Signs of cerebral palsy do not begin to show themselves until the child starts to develop, leaving many parents angry, upset, and bewildered at how this happened in the first place. If your child has recently been classified as having cerebral palsy, and you suspect that it is a direct result of your doctor's actions or negligence, it is in your family's best interest to contact a personal injury lawyer or attorney in New Jersey as soon as possible. If the doctor is at fault, a lawyer or attorney can assist you in making a claim against your New Jersey physician for compensation related to your child's condition.

Cerebral Palsy Lawyer / Attorney and Lawsuits
The first step to starting a cerebral palsy lawsuit in New Jersey is to set up an initial consultation with an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer or attorney. During this meeting, your lawyer attorney should be able to 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 been handled. They may also be able to estimate what your compensation may be, based on statistics and reports, or even by gathering a team of experts to estimate future costs of education, therapy and medical expenses relating to your child's condition.

The financial strain a person with cerebral palsy can put upon a family can be large. 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. A specialized and experienced New Jersey cerebral palsy or personal injury lawyer should fight for you to receive the maximum amount of compensation available for your child and your family. 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. Do what is best for your family, and hire a lawyer or attorney today.