NJ Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a type of brain injury that affects cognitive abilities as well as motor function and muscle coordination. It can also affect speech, the ability to communicate and the ability to swallow and see. CP is caused by an abnormality in the brain. Those abnormalities can be related to damage to the brain from trauma or from a death of brain cells due to a lack of oxygen (asphyxia).

In children, CP may not be immediately apparent, however, as a child gets older and becomes a toddler, certain developmental milestones may not be met. These include characteristics of motor control, such as reaching, sitting up, crawling, walking and speech/language development.

Unfortunately there is no cure for CP and not all of those who suffer from it experience the same disabilities or symptoms.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

The onset of CP can be particularly distressing for a family when the condition is caused by birth injury from a lack of oxygen (birth asphyxia). Some conditions which may result in a lack of oxygen to the brain include:

• Umbilical cord entrapment or compression
• Placental abruption
• Traumatic injury to the brain during a forceps or vacuum extractor delivery
• The failure to timely effectuate delivery within 5-10 minutes following a 'shoulder dystocia'
• Undetected or untreated fetal and/or maternal infections
• Inadequate perfusion of blood and oxygen from the maternal placenta to the baby (placental insufficiency)

These conditions can result in hypoxia and then asphyxia and can cause Cerebral Palsy if they are not properly or timely addressed. When the brain does not receive the proper amount of oxygen, the brain cells become damaged, resulting in neurologic and motor impairment throughout the body. There may also be seizures and multi-system organ dysfunction as well, especially shortly after the delivery.

Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Coping with Cerebral Palsy requires perseverance, family support, and economic stability and resources. Treatment and accessories or home modifications for those suffering from CP include:

• Speech, occupational, and physical therapies
• Specialized Education and Social Services
• Computers with voice synthesizers to help with communication
• Surgery to loosen tense muscles or treat anatomical abnormalities
• Medications to treat seizure disorders, and/or relieve pain and muscle spasms
• Orthotic devices, such as braces and splints
• Walkers or wheelchairs
• Ramps, widened doorways
• Handicapped accessible motor vehicles

Aside from the physical and emotional challenges posed by CP, the financial consequences can be quite significant. Over the course of a lifetime, the costs associated with the care and treatment of a person with developmental disabilities and/or neurologic impairment can be significant. However, if the conditions were caused by birth injury as a result of careless and negligent acts and/or omissions by healthcare providers, those who suffer with CP, and their families, may be able to receive compensation for their damages and losses.

The New Jersey Cerebral Palsy attorneys at Blume Goldfaden have devoted many years to helping families prosecute cases involving birth injuries. We will put our extensive experience and resources devoted to this complex sub-field of medical malpractice law, to work for you and your family. To find out more about how we can help you with your Cerebral Palsy or other birth injury case, call our attorneys at 973-635-5400 for a no cost consultation.

Cerebral Palsy Verdicts and Settlements

• $8 Million Dollar Recovery - Cerebral Palsy
• $6.5 Million Settlement - Birth Injury - Medical Malpractice - Cerebral Palsy
• $1,930,000 Settlement - Medical Malpractice - Birth Injury - Cerebral Palsy

Click here to see more Blume Goldfaden verdicts and settlements.