How do I get cerebral palsy legal aid?
To get cerebral palsy legal aid, start by reaching out to a specialized birth injury lawyer.
An attorney experienced in medical malpractice cases involving mistakes made during childbirth may be able to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit on your family’s behalf.
These legal professionals offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay unless you win.
Skilled birth injury lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and guide you through the process of seeking compensation for cerebral palsy caused by a medical mistake.
Cerebral Palsy Guide works with an extensive network of birth injury lawyers who can help families in all 50 states.
Together, they’ve secured over $962 million for families affected by preventable birth injuries.
Watch our short video to learn more about cerebral palsy legal assistance.
Learn what types of medical negligence can cause cerebral palsy and how to pursue financial compensation for your child’s treatment. Call us for legal help today at (855) 220-1101. View Transcript.
Duration: 1 min 29 sec
Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a lifelong condition that can require constant care and treatment.
It is also expensive. “How expensive?” you may ask.
Between therapy, medications, and special home accommodations, the CDC estimates that the lifetime cost to care for someone with CP is over 1.6 million dollars!
Understandably, many parents and family members aren’t prepared to pay for these unplanned medical expenses. Seeking legal aid can help families get much-needed compensation if there is evidence their child’s condition could have been prevented.
A qualified birth injury lawyer can figure out whether an act of negligence led to your child’s cerebral palsy.
Some examples of medical negligence include:
- Failing to detect infections during pregnancy
- Missing signs of fetal distress or lack of oxygen
- Neglecting to perform a C-section in a timely manner
- Using excessive force during delivery
- Neglecting to monitor a mother or baby’s heart rate during labor and delivery
- Improperly using forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery
- And failing to treat severe newborn jaundice
The best way to find out if your child is eligible for legal aid is to speak with a birth injury lawyer.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation and see if you’re entitled to compensation that can help your child get life-changing care.
If you qualify, we can connect you with top-quality cerebral palsy legal aid that can mean getting the financial compensation your family deserves.
Find out if we can help with a free legal case review right now.
Cerebral palsy legal aid settlement amounts
By seeking cerebral palsy legal aid, many families are able to access compensation through a settlement.
Cerebral palsy lawsuit settlements are negotiated payouts agreed upon by the child's family and the at-fault health care providers.
Most birth injury lawsuits result in out-of-court settlements, reducing the time it takes to resolve the case. This means your family can receive much-needed financial support for your child's treatment more quickly.
- $10.5 million for a Missouri family
- $9 million for the family of a 5-year-old in Colorado
- $8 million to a family in North Carolina
- $7 million for an Illinois family
- $6.5 million for a Washington family for oxygen deprivation from delayed delivery
- $5.9 million to a family in Texas whose child received delayed medical care
- $5.5 million to an Oklahoma family
- $4.1 million to a New Jersey family for mismanaged fetal distress
- $3.35 million for a New Hampshire family
- $2.4 million to the family of a child in Massachusetts
If your child’s condition could have been prevented, seeking cerebral palsy legal aid can result in a life-changing amount of money for your family.
Call Cerebral Palsy Guide right now at (855) 220-1101 or Click to Live Chat to see if you qualify.
Cerebral palsy lawsuits explained
If you suspect your child’s brain damage could have been prevented, you may be eligible for financial compensation through a cerebral palsy lawsuit.
"Injury prevention and upholding a high standard of care for patients are promises that nurses and other medical professionals have made. Assessing risks and providing correct interventions are key to nurse care."
—Katie Lavender, registered nurse, labor and delivery
The best way to determine if your child’s cerebral palsy was preventable is to seek cerebral palsy legal aid from a qualified lawyer.
An experienced lawyer can guide you through the entire process with as little added stress as possible. These specialized birth injury attorneys have the skills needed to provide expert legal support for cerebral palsy cases.
This includes evaluating medical records and documents for signs of medical malpractice and determining the causes of cerebral palsy.
Benefits of filing a cerebral palsy lawsuit
An important benefit to filing a lawsuit is that it can provide peace of mind for parents of a child living with cerebral palsy.
Parents and caregivers may feel a sense of justice by holding negligent medical professionals responsible for medical malpractice.
Another main benefit of cerebral palsy legal assistance is pursuing financial compensation. Money from a cerebral palsy claim can help cover the costs of treatment, therapy, medication, surgery, and more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that the lifetime cost to care for an individual with cerebral palsy is over $1.5 million.
Many parents are not prepared for these unplanned medical expenses. A U.S. study reported that 40% of families of children with special health care needs experience financial difficulties due to their child's condition.
If you suspect your child’s condition could have been prevented, consider seeking cerebral palsy legal aid to learn more about getting compensation.
Call a member of our team right now at (855) 220-1101 to see if we can help.
How to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit
When seeking cerebral palsy legal aid, you'll go through several steps in the lawsuit process to secure compensation. Your personal injury legal team will guide you, so you can focus on caring for your child.
Although each cerebral palsy case varies, most lawsuits follow the steps below.
1. Get a free legal consultation
Top cerebral palsy attorneys provide free case reviews, so you can find out whether you may have a valid claim with no financial risk.
During this step, a patient advocate will gather information regarding your child’s injury and connect you with a cerebral palsy lawyer if you qualify.
It is important to note that you do not need a cerebral palsy diagnosis to get a free case review. Skilled birth injury attorneys have the resources to determine if your child’s symptoms could be an indication of cerebral palsy.
2. Gather evidence
Your cerebral palsy attorney will gather the documentation needed to show that negligence by the medical professionals caused your child’s condition.
- Diagnostic reports that show your child has cerebral palsy or symptoms of the condition
- Maternal health records outlining any risk factors during pregnancy
- Medical records detailing the events before, during, and shortly after birth
- Reports from medical experts linking your child's condition to mistakes during childbirth
By gathering this important evidence, your attorney can build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
3. File a cerebral palsy lawsuit
After gathering strong evidence, your cerebral palsy attorney will file your lawsuit in the appropriate court. Once filed, you become the plaintiff, and the doctor, nurse, or hospital involved in your child's birth becomes the defendant.
4. Negotiate a settlement
Cerebral palsy lawsuits typically end in either a settlement or a trial verdict, with most cases settling out of court. In a settlement, the defendants agree to pay a lump sum to the plaintiff, concluding the lawsuit without going to trial.
5. Take the case to court if needed
If both parties cannot agree on a cerebral palsy settlement, the case may proceed to a trial where both sides present their arguments to a judge or jury. Trials can be risky because if the court finds the defendant not guilty, you will not receive any compensation.
How to know if you have a case
Parents or guardians of a child with cerebral palsy may have a valid claim if medical malpractice played a role in their child’s injury.
To sue for cerebral palsy, your attorney will gather evidence that shows your child’s condition could have been prevented. Your lawyer must prove that certain symptoms or events suggest something went wrong in the delivery room that led to your child’s CP.
Preventable brain injuries leading to cerebral palsy are often the result of medical negligence and errors before, during, or after delivery.
- Disregarding jaundice that leads to kernicterus (brain damage)
- Failing to detect a lack of oxygen in the baby or umbilical cord problems
- Ignoring issues with the mother or child’s heart rate during delivery
- Misusing forceps or vacuum extractors (assisted delivery tools)
- Neglecting to perform a necessary cesarean section (C-section)
- Not diagnosing or treating infections during pregnancy, like meningitis
- Using excessive force during delivery
If any of the situations listed above occurred before, during, or shortly after your child's birth, you may have a valid case and should consider seeking cerebral palsy legal aid.
Get a free case review right now to see if we can help.
Determining cerebral palsy compensation amounts
Several factors influence the value of your medical negligence claim, which can affect the potential compensation awarded.
First, your lawyer will calculate the costs of past and future medical treatment needed as your child transitions into adulthood.
- Assistive devices
- Different types of therapy
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Medications
- Mobility aids
- Modifications like handicap-accessible vehicles
- Special educational needs
- Surgery
Your attorney will use these figures to help ensure your family receives the financial support necessary for your child's future.
When should I seek cerebral palsy legal aid?
Seek cerebral palsy legal assistance as soon as possible. Starting the legal process early can help you secure financial compensation more quickly.
Additionally, a critical factor in filing a birth injury lawsuit is the statute of limitations, which sets a time limit for filing your case.
Most families have 2-3 years to file their cerebral palsy lawsuit. Typically, the statute of limitations begins when the injury occurred or when it should have been reasonably discovered.
The statute of limitations varies for each state, so it is very important to consult a reputable birth injury law firm in your area to determine how long you have to file.
Seeking cerebral palsy legal aid from an experienced attorney means they will ensure your case is filed before your specific deadline.
For these reasons, it's important to take action without delay.
Get legal help for cerebral palsy
If you believe that your child’s condition could have been the result of medical malpractice, seek cerebral palsy legal aid as soon as possible.
Starting the lawsuit process early may help your family receive much-needed financial compensation to cover the overwhelming costs of cerebral palsy treatment.
The best way to determine if you’re eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit is to contact an experienced lawyer.
Cerebral Palsy Guide has a national network of legal partners who are ready to provide cerebral palsy legal aid to families across the country. Together, they have recovered over $962 million for preventable birth injuries.
Call (855) 220-1101 or fill out this form for a free case review right now to see if we can connect you with expert cerebral palsy legal aid in your area.