Cerebral Palsy Claims

A cerebral palsy medical negligence claim alleges that a healthcare provider's failure to meet the standard of care during pregnancy, childbirth, or the neonatal period resulted in a child developing cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder. The claim seeks compensation for the child's lifelong disabilities, medical expenses, and related damages caused by the negligence.

About Service

About Cerebral Palsy Claims

If your child has cerebral palsy and you believe that this was caused by medical errors during pregnancy or birth, you are likely to be entitled to claim compensation on their behalf.

Cerebral palsy refers to neurological conditions arising from brain damage which affect movement, muscles, balance and posture. It can cause learning and developmental difficulties, problems with eating and issues with vision and speech. It can also be caused later in childhood, for example, if a child contracts meningitis or suffers a head injury. The amount of compensation in a cerebral palsy case is generally substantial, to consider the extent of care that will be needed over a child’s lifetime.

At P.A. Duffy & Co Solicitors, our medical negligence team can represent your child in bringing a compensation claim. We know how important it is to secure a payment that will support your child for the rest of their life, and you can be assured that we will work tirelessly to achieve the right outcome.

How We Can Help

It is often the case that the reason a child has cerebral palsy cannot be identified. It may be that it has arisen during pregnancy, for example, because of a bleed on the brain, and no one is to blame. In some cases, however, medical failings may play a part. This is very difficult for parents to hear, and you will no doubt want someone to be held accountable. While there sadly is no way to undo the damage that has been done, by securing the best possible compensation for your child, you can ensure that they have the care they need for the future.

Circumstances that can give rise to cerebral palsy include:

Insufficient oxygen at birth, which could have been avoided
Inadequate monitoring of a baby’s heartbeat during birth
A delay in delivering a baby
An infection in pregnancy that was not diagnosed or was not adequately treated
Low blood sugar levels in the baby after birth, referred to as neonatal hypoglycaemia) that was not noticed or not adequately treated
Jaundice that was not properly treated

If you believe that you or your baby may have received inadequate care or issues were not spotted and dealt with in time, you are strongly advised to speak to a legal expert. If you ask us to represent you, we will ask our medical experts to look at your baby’s medical history in detail as well as carry out examinations. Where we believe that a valid claim exists, we will prepare a strong case on your behalf and notify your healthcare provider.

FAQs

Cerebral palsy is a complex condition, and, in some cases, it can take years to fully understand the extent to which a child has been affected and the level of care they may require. To ensure your child is adequately compensated, it may be advisable to wait to settle the claim until there is sufficient medical evidence available in support. If your child’s claim is likely to be lengthy, we can ask for interim payments to be made in the meantime so that you can afford the help you need and pay for other expenses, such as adapting your home and providing specialist equipment.