When parents first discover that their child has developed a birth injury such as cerebral palsy or birth paralysis, they often have far more questions than they do answers. The Phoenix , Arizona personal injury lawyers of Phillips & Associates would like to answer some of the most commonly asked questions in an effort to assist parents through this very difficult time in their lives.
How did my child develop cerebral palsy?
What developmental problems might my baby encounter?
What can I do to help my child?
When should I contact personal injury lawyers?
How can I tell whether my child’s birth injury was caused by medical malpractice?
Cerebral palsy is caused by any one of a number of factors that injure the brain either during or shortly after birth. In many cases, the injury is created by the actions of the doctor or other member of the medical staff. Contact our personal injury lawyers if you suspect any of the following mistakes were made by your doctor:
If you are unsure whether you encountered any of these problems during your pregnancy or delivery, our personal injury lawyers can assist you in obtaining statements and records from your doctor and/or hospital.
Parents in Phoenix, Arizona who file personal injury suits with our lawyers should be aware of the full impact that cerebral palsy or other birth injury might have on their family.
In addition to having muscle coordination problems, children with cerebral palsy will also experience other challenges in their everyday life. As they begin to learn about the world around them, parents may notice that they learn at a slower rate than other children. In fact, up to 50 percent of children with cerebral palsy have a learning disability that requires special teaching aids and techniques. In Phoenix and the rest of Arizona, these educational programs can be very costly. Our personal injury lawyers can help parents to recover some schooling costs.
Even outside of school, everyday activities can be extremely difficult for children with cerebral palsy. Depending on the extent of the cerebral palsy, speaking, chewing, and swallowing might take intense concentration. Speech problems may include slurring, slow speech, and grimaces while speaking.
It is estimated that seizures are common in up to half of children with cerebral palsy. During a seizure, the brain sends a rapid series of irregular messages to the body, causing the child to stop what he or she is doing and either cease movement or shake uncontrollably. Seizures can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Fortunately, effective medication is available to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of seizures.
To learn more about the lifetime support programs available for children with cerebral palsy in the Phoenix, Arizona area, contact the personal injury lawyers of Phillips & Associates.
The best way to assist timely diagnosis and treatment of a birth injury is to immediately report any unusual behavior to the child’s medical provider. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, cerebral palsy may not become apparent until several months after the baby’s birth. In general, the best course of action is to trust your instincts. If your baby seems unresponsive or “behind” in their development, seek medical attention immediately.
It is essential for you to seek legal representation as soon as possible. In Phoenix , Arizona, personal injury lawyers must be contacted within a specific timeframe, called a statute of limitations. This timeframe is in place so that the appropriate documents, statements, and medical records can be located in a timely fashion.
Protect your rights; as soon as you suspect that your child’s birth injury was caused by medical negligence or malpractice by a doctor in Phoenix or elsewhere in Arizona, contact the personal injury lawyers of Phillips & Associates.
Birth injuries can be caused by a number of factors, both natural and those caused by doctors and medical staff. It may be impossible, at first, to determine whether your child’s birth injury could have been avoided or lessened at the time of your baby’s birth. Our personal injury lawyers have years of experience in combining medical records with statements from experts to determine whether your doctor took every precaution necessary to minimize the risk of birth injury.
If you suspect that medical malpractice contributed to your child’s birth injury, contact the Phoenix, Arizona personal injury lawyers of Phillips & Associates today. We can help you to determine fault in your birth injury case, and to obtain the compensation for the emotional distress and medical bills caused by the birth injury.
If you live in or near Phoenix, Arizona, and have questions about your birth injury case, contact the personal injury lawyers of Phillips & Associates by completing the form below.
