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Utah Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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Cerebral Palsy
According to a survey done by the group United Cerebral Palsy, an estimated 800,000 people have cerebral palsy in the United States. It is a condition that can be hard to handle for the entire family, and requires strength and patience for parents as they raise their child. Cerebral palsy is a condition that is often talked about, but many people do not realize how complex it really is. 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. The impairment of movement and function throughout the body can result following this lack of oxygen.

The majority of cerebral palsy cases occur during pregnancy and 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 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 yet 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 encephalitis.

Signs of cerebral palsy may not begin to show themselves until the child starts to develop, making it hard to pinpoint exactly how it came about 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 Utah as soon as possible. You may be able to sue your doctor and other medical professionals who may have been involved for damages related to medical malpractice that resulted in your child's cerebral palsy condition.

Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
The first step to starting a cerebral palsy lawsuit in Utah 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 Utah lawyer 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 a person with cerebral palsy can put upon a family can be strong, and your Utah cerebral palsy lawyer should fight for you to receive the maximum amount of compensation available for your child and your family. Having a Utah 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, as well as ensure that the individual who caused your child's cerebral palsy cannot hurt another child the same way again.