What Could Cause Cerebral Palsy at Birth?

Stewart Eisenberg | | Birth Injury Articles

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 323 children in the US suffer from cerebral palsy, a condition that may be caused by an injury to a developing brain. Cerebral palsy affects balance and posture. Certain types of medical mistakes before and during birth could cause your child to develop cerebral palsy. Possible medical mistakes may include:

  • Delaying a necessary cesarean section (C-section) during fetal distress could cause a baby to suffer oxygen deprivation, which may lead to brain damage and cerebral palsy.
  • The improper use of medical instruments, such as forceps or a vacuum extractor, could result in brain damage and cerebral palsy.
  • Maternal infections could cause a baby to suffer brain damage if the baby is not properly treated.
  • Additional types of emergencies during delivery, such as a prolapsed umbilical cord, could lead to brain damage if they are not treated in a timely manner.

These are only a handful of examples that may cause newborns to suffer cerebral palsy. Whether the mistake is medical malpractice would depend on the circumstances. Our law firm handles cerebral palsy birth injury cases. We investigate what happened to help you determine whether your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice.

Questions About Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits? Contact Our Philadelphia Birth Injury Lawyers

A cerebral palsy diagnosis in your child could affect you and your family. Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy and their severity can vary, many children with this condition will require significant assistance. Your child could also suffer from additional health problems caused by a brain injury. For instance, some children with cerebral palsy also have intellectual disabilities, deafness or seizures. Your child could require educational, medical and social services. Some children with cerebral palsy and related conditions could require around-the-clock care.

You should speak with one of the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers at Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry, P.C., to determine your eligibility for filing a medical malpractice claim. Compensation from a lawsuit could help pay for the costs of home modifications, rehabilitation services, loss of earnings as well as pain and suffering. To speak with one of our attorneys, please call (215) 585-2814 or fill out our online contact form.

Stewart Eisenberg | Personal Injury Attorney
Author: Stewart Eisenberg | Personal Injury Attorney

Stewart J. Eisenberg is the founder of Eisenberg Winkler Jeck Schwartz Schoenhaus & Sherry. He has tried over 50 jury trials and has more than 40 years of legal experience representing victims of sex abuse, medical malpractice, and auto defects. He tried a crashworthiness case against Honda for a seatbelt defect. His paralyzed client received a record verdict (at the time) of $55.3 million He was part of the legal team that helped bring about the landmark $2.46 billion Boy Scouts of America sex abuse settlement. His distinctions include being on the Super Lawyers’ list for more than 20 years(Top 100 in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania) and recognized by the Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania before attending Temple University School of Law where he served on the Law Review. He is frequently sought after to lecture other attorneys and has published numerous legal articles. He has also served as a Visiting Lecturer at Temple University, Beasley School of Law for the LLM in Trial Advocacy Program.