Cerebral Palsy Lawyer in Cherry Hill NJ

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Cherry Hill Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

Strong advocacy from our Cherry Hill cerebral palsy attorneys when medical negligence causes harm

At Ferrara & Gable, our Cherry Hill cerebral palsy lawyers work with obstetricians and other birth injury professionals to show what happened to cause your child to develop cerebral palsy and why the hospital or birth injury doctors should be held accountable. We also work with your doctors and our network of doctors to explain every way that cerebral palsy is currently affecting every aspect of your child’s life and will affect your child for the rest of his/her life – including the possible complications. We thoroughly detail the expected cost of your child’s care.

Free Case Evaluation

Call 856-779-9500 now or fill out the form above to receive a free confidential consultation.

Ferrara & Gable - Cherry Hill Injury Lawyers

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What is cerebral palsy?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that cerebral palsy (CP) is a combination of disorders that affects a person’s movement, balance, and posture. Cerebral refers to the brain. Palsy refers to muscle weakness and muscle difficulties.

The symptoms vary from person to person. Some people with CP may be able to live functional lives, with a lot of help. Most people with CP struggle every day of their lives. CP can also cause intellectual disabilities, seizures, vision problems, hearing challenges, speech difficulties, scoliosis, contractures, and other disorders.

CP occurs when a developing brain is damaged – often during childbirth.

There are several types of cerebral palsy depending on the part of the brain that is affected:

  • Spastic Cerebral Palsy. This is the most common type of cerebral palsy. About 80 percent of people with CP have spastic cerebral palsy. CP patients have increased muscle tone, which makes their muscles stiff and their movements awkward. Spastic cerebral palsy is further classified based on the part of the body that is affected.
  • Spastic Hemiplegia/Hemiparesis. Children and adults with this type of CP are affected more on one side of their body than on another side.
  • Spastic Quadriplegia/Quadriparesis. This type of CP affects all four limbs, the trunk, and the face -and usually causes a full range of challenges.
  • Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy. This type of CP causes “problems controlling the movement of their hands, arms, feet, and legs, making it difficult to sit and walk. The movements are uncontrollable and can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky.” The person’s muscle tone can change from day to day and within any given day.
  • Ataxic Cerebral Palsy. This type of CP causes balance and coordination difficulties.
  • Mixed Cerebral Palsy. Some people have multiple types of CP.

What causes cerebral palsy?

There is no one set cause for CP. Cerebral palsy may develop in utero. It could be the result of medical negligence. It could result from a birth injury. There could be a genetic factor.

At Ferrara & Gable, we work with doctors who can testify about why your child developed CP. Acts of negligence that can lead to cerebral palsy include:

  • Oxygen deprivation during the delivery
  • An infection affecting your newborn’s brain, which developed during the delivery
  • Mother and child blood type incompatibilities
  • Failure to address jaundice symptoms
  • Failure to use a proper Cesarean-section procedure
  • Failure to treat an umbilical cord prolapse
  • Bleeding into the brain
  • Improper use of forceps or other delivery tools
  • Lack of communication
  • Other surgical errors

Various diseases such as herpes are maternal risk factors. Illnesses in the fetus or newborn that may increase the risk of cerebral palsy include bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, and severe or untreated jaundice.

What are the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy?

The signs of cerebral palsy differ depending on your child’s age, according to the CDC:

  • Newborns – less than six months of age. Your child feels floppy or stiff. Your child’s head “lags when you pick him up while he’s lying on his back.” Your newborn seems to overextend his/her back and neck as you cradle your newborn in your arms. Your child’s legs are stiff and cross over/scissor when you pick your child up.
  • Babies older than six months. Your child doesn’t roll over, can’t bring her hands to her mouth, has difficulty bringing her hands to her mouth, and reaches with only one hand.
  • Babies older than 10 months. Your child crawls in a lopsided way, moves on his/her buttocks, or hops on his/her knees – instead of crawling on all fours.

According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms include:

  • Movement and coordination symptoms. Spasticity (stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes), muscle tone variation, ataxia (lack of balance and muscle coordination), rigidity, tremors (uncontrollable jerky movements), favoring one side of the body, difficulty picking things up, and difficulty walking.
  • Speech and eating symptoms. Difficulty speaking, delayed speech development, and difficulty eating or swallowing.
  • Developmental symptoms. Delays in achieving certain motor skill milestones, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and delays in growth.

Some children with CP may have seizures, vision and hearing problems, bladder and bowel problems, and mental health challenges.

Possible complications include contracture, malnutrition, heart and lung disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sleep difficulties, chronic pain, intestinal problems, oral health disorders, and skin disorders.

The symptoms may take months or even up to a year to develop.

What treatments are helpful for children in Cherry Hill with cerebral palsy?

Diagnostic tests include an MRI, cranial ultrasound, EEG, lab tests, different physical tests, and mental tests.

The Mayo Clinic states that children and adults with CP often require long-term care. Your child may need to see many different types of doctors and therapists. Your medical team should develop an overall treatment plan. There is no cure, but many treatments starting with early intervention can help.

The treatments for cerebral palsy include medications, therapies, and surgical procedures.

  • Medications such as muscle or nerve injections, oral muscle relaxants, and medicines to reduce drooling can help.
  • Therapies include physical therapy and occupational therapy which help with mobility, strength, balance, independence, and daily functioning. Your child may need speech and language therapy, recreational therapy, and psychological therapy.
  • Surgeries may include orthopedic surgery and selective dorsal rhizotomy which involves cutting nerve fibers.

Many other treatments may also be necessary.

Which Cherry Hill healthcare providers are liable if your newborn develops cerebral palsy?

The possible defendants in a Cherry Hill cerebral palsy claim based on medical malpractice include:

  • The obstetrician
  • Any other delivery staff
  • An anesthesiologist
  • The hospital
  • Nurses

Do you have a Cherry Hill cerebral palsy lawyer near me?

Ferrara & Gable’s office is located at 601 Longwood Avenue in Cherry Hill, NJ. You can park nearby. We’re also reachable by the Rt. 38 bus. We do schedule phone and video conferences if your child is too ill to come to our office.

We’ll answer all your questions and fight for all the compensation your child deserves.

Our Cherry Hill cerebral palsy attorneys help families throughout South Jersey

Our lawyers understand how traumatic a cerebral palsy diagnosis is. At Ferrara & Gable, our Cherry Hill cerebral palsy lawyers are skilled at holding healthcare providers accountable for medical malpractice. We demand compensation for your child’s physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of function, loss of quality of life, disfigurement, medical bills, and other damages. Call us or contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll help your child live his/her best life possible.