Washington Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Washington D.C. Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects muscles and motor skills. As one of the leading causes of disability in children, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy can have life-altering effects for families.
Was your child diagnosed with CP that you believe may have been caused by medical negligence during childbirth? If so, your child might be entitled to financial compensation. While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, financial compensation can help you build the best life for your child.
At Bertram & Murphy, our cerebral palsy attorney has successfully helped families secure settlements for children and their families to help balance the child’s pain and suffering, as well as costly medical care and lost wages related to cerebral palsy.
To learn more about how our cerebral palsy lawyers in Washington, D.C., can help you, contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Was Your Child Diagnosed with cerebral palsy in Washington, D.C.? Our Attorneys Want to Help
At Bertram & Murphy, we understand the challenges faced by parents of children diagnosed with CP. For over 25 years, our lead trial attorney Catherine D. Bertram has fought on behalf of families just like yours.
When you choose our law firm to handle your cerebral palsy lawsuit, you can expect:
- A Free Consultation – We provide free consultations for families who are thinking about filing a cerebral palsy claim in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. A consultation is an informal meeting where you can have all your questions and concerns addressed by an experienced legal professional. You’ll learn about how the lawsuit process works, the amount of compensation you might be entitled to, and what evidence we need for our doctors to review the care to see if you have a case. There is no cost to your family for the initial medical reviews by experts.
- Experience You Can Trust – Prior to starting her law firm, medical malpractice attorney Catherine D. Bertram was the Director of Risk Management at Georgetown University Hospital. While in this position, she deepened the understanding of how negligent birth injuries occur and how they lead to conditions like cerebral palsy. Ms. Bertram brings her unique background in risk management into focus in every case she handles involving birth injuries and cerebral palsy.
- A Track Record of Success – For over 25 years, our legal team has secured verdicts and settlements worth millions of dollars for victims of medical malpractice. We are prepared to aggressively fight on your family’s behalf every step of the way and pursue full and fair compensation for your child and your family.
Cerebral Palsy as a Result of Medical Negligence During Labor and Delivery
While the cause of cerebral palsy isn’t always known, it is often attributed to negligent medical errors during labor and delivery.
Specifically, these types of birth injuries and errors may cause CP:
- Oxygen deprivation during delivery
- Failure to order proper prenatal testing
- Failure to timely transfer you and your baby to a higher level of care
- Failure to cool your baby’s brain after a difficult delivery
- Physical trauma due to improper use of delivery instruments, such as forceps
- Infections and other conditions that go undiagnosed and untreated in pregnant mothers
- Brain hemorrhage before birth
Was your child’s birth difficult? Did your child develop seizures, brain damage or CP after birth? Are you wondering if delays or medical negligence caused your child’s injuries? To learn if you and your child might be entitled to compensation, give us a call. Our D.C. cerebral palsy lawyer has extensive experience in these types of cases, and our team wants to meet with you for a free consultation.
Symptoms and Complications of Cerebral Palsy in Children Who Suffered Birth Injuries
Cerebral palsy manifests differently in each child. The symptoms vary based on the specific type of CP that the child has.
These are some of the most common symptoms and early signs of CP:
- Poor muscle coordination and lack of balance
- Excessive or underdeveloped reflexes
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Involuntary movements
- Impaired fine motor control
- Delays in reaching milestones, such as crawling, pushing up on arms, and speaking
- Excessive drooling and difficulty eating or sucking
Costs Related to Treating and Adapting to Life with Cerebral Palsy
The lifetime expenses related to caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be significant. These are some of the main costs you may incur:
- Medical Care – Most children with CP require long-term medical care. This includes visits to specialists, prescription medications, hospitalizations, and other medical care to monitor their condition.
- Special Services – Your child might need home nursing care, speech therapy, assistive devices, rehabilitation, and other special services.
- Home Modifications – You might need to implement modifications to your home to accommodate your child’s condition, including ramps, lifts, lowered sinks, and more.
Potential Compensation for Families Dealing with Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Negligence
Financial compensation is designed to make you and your family “whole” again as much as possible. In other words, compensation can offset the financial strain associated with your child’s condition.
Financial compensation for cerebral palsy lawsuits is divided into two categories:
- Economic Damages – Compensation for economic damages covers costs for medical care, special services, home modifications, lost wages, and any out-of-pocket expenses related to your child’s condition.
- Non-Economic Damages – This covers pain and suffering, mental distress, and other psychological suffering related to your child’s negligently caused CP.
Health Care Providers Who Could Be Liable for Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy
There could be multiple defendants in a cerebral palsy lawsuit. It depends on how the negligence occurred. Examples of potentially liable parties include:
- Doctors, including OB-GYNs, neonatal pediatricians, ER doctors, family doctors, and others
- Resident doctors
- Nurses
Our cerebral palsy lawyers have relationships with top medical experts who can review your child’s case. Based on their recommendations, we can create a custom legal strategy to maximize your chances of securing a full and fair settlement or verdict in your favor.
Find Out How Our Cerebral Palsy Attorneys in Washington, D.C. Can Help Your Family
Are you thinking about pursuing a lawsuit for cerebral palsy that may have been caused by medical negligence? Our D.C. cerebral palsy attorney would like to speak with you about your options for pursuing compensation.
While cerebral palsy is not reversible, financial compensation can help ensure your child has access to the care they need to thrive and be safe. Compensation may also cover their lost wages if they might not be able to work in the future.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a cerebral palsy lawyer at our Washington, D.C. office.
