As a parent, you’re likely familiar with the challenges that come with raising a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy and the questions that linger about what could’ve been done to prevent it. You may be wondering if medical negligence played a role in your child’s condition, and what that means for their future.
At Anidjar & Levine, our experienced Florida cerebral palsy lawyers can help you determine if medical negligence contributed to your child’s condition. With the guidance of a dedicated Florida medical malpractice lawyer, you can take the first step toward securing the support your family needs.
Understanding Cerebral Palsy and Its Causes
While expecting a healthy baby, you may be surprised to learn that cerebral palsy can occur due to various factors. This neurological disorder affects muscle tone, movement, and coordination. Cerebral palsy can result from genetic mutations, infections, or injuries to the brain during fetal development or childbirth.
In some cases, the condition may be caused by a specific event or factor. To confirm a diagnosis, doctors will assess your child’s motor skills, muscle tone, and reflexes against established diagnostic criteria.
They may also conduct imaging tests like MRIs or CT scans to rule out other conditions. Understanding the underlying factors contributing to your child’s condition is important for determining the best course of action and exploring potential legal options. Our Florida personal injury lawyer can help if you think your child’s condition was caused by medical malpractice.
Proving Medical Negligence Caused Your Child’s Condition in Florida
To prove that medical negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you’ll need to establish that the healthcare provider’s care fell below acceptable medical standards.
Establishing Negligent Care
If your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you likely have many questions about what caused their condition. To determine if medical negligence played a role, you’ll need to examine the care your child received.
This means evaluating the care standards in place at the time and whether healthcare providers deviated from those standards. A negligent diagnosis or failure to diagnose can be a significant factor in cerebral palsy cases.
You’ll need to investigate whether your healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted care standards, leading to your child’s condition. By doing so, you can establish a link between the negligent care and your child’s cerebral palsy.
Linking Negligence to Injury
After establishing that your healthcare provider deviated from accepted care standards, you must now prove that this negligence directly caused their cerebral palsy. You’ll need to demonstrate a clear link between the negligent act or omission and your child’s condition.
For instance, if your doctor failed to perform an emergency cesarean section, resulting in oxygen deprivation, your Florida cerebral palsy lawyer will need to show how this negligence led to your child’s brain injury and subsequent cerebral palsy diagnosis. Negligence examples might include delayed or misdiagnosis, medication errors, or inadequate fetal monitoring.
Injury types may include brain damage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or other birth-related injuries. Your cerebral palsy lawyer can help you build a strong case by gathering evidence and expert testimony to establish the causal link between negligence and injury.
Our Florida Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Build a Strong Claim for Compensation
While handling the process of seeking compensation for cerebral palsy, you’ll need to focus on building a strong claim that effectively presents the circumstances surrounding your child’s birth and the resulting injury.
To do so, it’s important to prioritize evidence collection. This includes gathering medical records, witness statements, and any other documentation that supports your claim. Additionally, expert testimony from medical professionals can greatly strengthen your case.
These experts can provide valuable insights into the standard of care during your child’s birth, as well as the long-term effects of the injury. By presenting a thorough and well-supported claim, you’ll be better positioned to secure the compensation your child needs to thrive.
Calculating the Lifetime Costs of Cerebral Palsy
Calculating the lifetime costs of cerebral palsy requires a thorough understanding of the various expenses associated with this condition. You’ll need to take into account the costs of medical treatment, including surgeries, medications, and therapy sessions.
Additionally, you’ll need to factor in the costs of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and communication aids. A detailed cost analysis will also take into account the costs of home modifications, transportation, and education.
Moreover, you’ll need to take into account the costs of potential complications, such as respiratory infections and seizures. A Florida cerebral palsy lawyer can help you with this process, increasing the chances that you receive the compensation you may be entitled to.
Securing a Brighter Future for Your Child in Florida
As a parent, you want to secure a brighter future for your child with cerebral palsy. That means ensuring they receive the lifelong support and care they are entitled to. By holding negligent parties responsible, you can take the first step toward creating a more stable and promising future for your child.
Raising a child with cerebral palsy requires a lifetime of focused care, and obtaining the necessary support can be an intimidating task. You’ll need to plan for lifelong therapies, including physical, occupational, and behavioral therapies, to help your child reach their full potential.
Financial planning is also important to guarantee you can afford these therapies, as well as adaptive equipment and accommodations. A Florida cerebral palsy lawyer can help you secure the financial support you need to plan for your child’s future. By taking proactive steps, you can increase the chances that your child receives the care they need to thrive.
Contact Our Florida Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Now that you’ve explored the challenges of cerebral palsy and the legal process, you’re better equipped to secure the compensation your child needs. Anidjar & Levine can guide you through the necessary evidence, medical expert witnesses, and legal subtleties to build a strong claim. We’re ready to help you recover compensation to help your child build a brighter future.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
We Can Help.
