Cerebral palsy is a debilitating condition where the brain fails to function properly due to some type of injury.
As a result, a child may have muscular problems.
Some even become restricted to wheelchairs due to an inability to walk.
So, why does cerebral palsy occur in the first place? Although there are incidents where a child may develop the condition due to an illness or a fetal problem, in many cases cerebral palsy is the result of a birthing injury.
In fact, in the U.
S.
alone, it is estimated that 20% of all palsy cases are the result of problems in the delivery room.
This is why so many personal injury lawyers are inundated with palsy cases.
Yes, often times the condition is the result of an accident, but in the medical world, accidents are often directly related to malpractice.
What is malpractice? It occurs when a medical professional treats a patient in a manner that clearly defies what is expected in the industry.
For example, my brother developed cerebral palsy due to a birthing injury.
Basically, he developed bleeding in his brain due to being birthed vaginally.
This was a problem because he was premature, as he was born at just 6 months.
The situation was considered malpractice, because even at that time it was well-known that babies that are premature must be born by C-Section.
My parents' personal injury attorney proved this fact throughout the course of the case, which resulted in a generous settlement.
Granted, this settlement does not resolve the difficulties my brother would have to suffer for the rest of his life, but it did give my family some sense of justice.
Plus, the settlement helped to pay for his medical bills.
And this was important, as my brother had to undergo over 12 major surgeries throughout his childhood.
Anyway, if you are suffering a similar situation with your child, there are legal options out there.
But in order to take advantage of them, you need to investigate personal injury attorneys in your area.
You can do this by searching online or even looking at your local Yellow Pages.
Alternatively, there's the option of finding attorneys by referral if you happen to have friends or family who have recently used one.
In conclusion, cerebral palsy is not always a disease that 'just happens.
' If medical professionals stay updated with their training, the chances of a baby developing the condition are significantly lessened even during difficult birthing situations.