While the vast majority of medical injuries happen to adults, unfortunately, children can also sustain injuries at the hands of medical professionals, even during the birthing process. When those injuries are the result of negligence or a mistake by the physician or the healthcare facility, you can pursue a medical malpractice claim to recoup compensation for the costs associated with your child’s care. A child who suffers injuries during the birthing process might have additional educational expenses, require ongoing medical care, and may also need rehabilitation and therapy. A birth injury attorney in Los Angeles can help the parents and the child prepare for the future.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy results from damage suffered by the brain, usually from a lack of oxygen, and almost always either during the fetus’ development in the womb or during the birthing process. Usually, the condition is discovered within the child’s first six months of life. It is a condition that can affect muscle coordination, the ability to move one’s body at will, and posture. About 10,000 babies born annually show the symptoms of cerebral palsy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cerebral palsy is one of the most serious injuries that a baby or young child can develop, and in most circumstances, will require a lifetime of medical care.
When Should You Enlist Help from a Birth Injury Attorney?
While there are times that cerebral palsy occurs naturally or through no one’s fault, there are times when medical errors may have caused the problem, or when medical professionals could have prevented the damage from happening. In those situations, the parents can pursue legal action with the help of a birth injury attorney in Los Angeles. Whether your physician mishandled the signs of your child in distress, or used improper techniques during the birthing process, it is essential to know and understand the differences between accidental injuries (i.e., through no one’s fault) and medical neglect.
Looking at the Long-Term Needs of Cerebral Palsy
It can be devastating to learn your child will suffer from a lifelong disability, but you must secure their future and ensure your child will have access to the care and resources he or she will need throughout his or her life. You must have access to what you need to ensure your child gets effective care in the years ahead. A birth injury attorney in Los Angeles can help you move forward after your child has suffered the devastating effects of a birth injury. With the help of a cerebral palsy attorney, you can:
• Recover the financial resources you will need to make living accommodations at your home for your child’s needs.
• Pursue therapy for you and your family after the traumatic experience.
• Pay for your child’s medical care in the years ahead.
• Pay for the additional living costs resulting from the injury to your child.
Consult with a Los Angeles Birth Injury Attorney
There is a statute of limitations for pursuing a medical malpractice claim or personal injury claim that occurs as a result of medical negligence. You must pursue your claim within a timely fashion. If your child has been born with cerebral palsy, you must find out as quickly as possible what caused the injuries. There could be supporting evidence that determines whether your child’s injury was caused by insufficient or inadequate medical care. To learn more about birth injuries from a birth injury attorney in Los Angeles, call the Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, M.D., Esq. at (310) 289-2600 for a free initial consultation.