Maryland Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

Trusted Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Attorneys in Baltimore, MD

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that can be caused when a child suffers damage to their developing brain. This damage may affect the brain's ability to control bodily movement, and it may result in difficulty maintaining balance and posture. This condition can appear in infancy or early childhood, and it can permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination.

Cerebral palsy is characterized by a lack of muscle control and/or movement, along with weakness and difficulty with precise movements. Additional symptoms and related conditions may include, but are not limited to:

• Seizures
• Intellectual disabilities
• Delayed growth and development
• Hearing and vision impairments
• Speech and language disorders
• Incontinence
• Malnutrition
• Poor bone health

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has provided a full list of symptoms of cerebral palsy.

Sometimes, the symptoms of cerebral palsy may only be experienced on one side of the body. In other instances, the symptoms may affect the arms and legs equally or differently. There is no known cure. Parents of a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy (especially a severe form) are likely to face a lifetime of significant emotional, psychological, and economic obstacles as they do what they can to provide the best possible care for their child.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy can be caused by acts of medical malpractice and negligence occurring in and around the birth of the child that result in brain damage. The Centers for Disease control has compiled a list of risk factors for cerebral palsy.

Of paramount importance during any pregnancy, and especially during labor and delivery, is to ensure that the baby is getting sufficient oxygen. In some cases, birth injuries may result from complications during the labor and/or delivery of the baby. Some birth injuries are due to detachment of the placenta, uterine rupture, or oxygen deprivation due to the squeezing or twisting of the umbilical cord.

For example, birth injuries can occur when the baby is too big for a normal vaginal delivery and gets "stuck" in the birth canal for a prolonged period, resulting in a loss of oxygen because the umbilical cord is compressed or twisted. In other circumstances, the actual process of labor may last too long, causing injury to the baby. Finally, a birth injury also can result when a baby gets into an unsuitable position during childbirth (such as the breech position), a circumstance that may require a doctor to order an emergency C-section to avoid the possibility of a brain injury to the baby.

The Impact of Cerebral Palsy

People afflicted with cerebral palsy may face many medical, educational, and social challenges, including an impact on the ability to move, communicate, eat, sleep, and learn. If your child has potentially been injured before, during, or shortly after birth, it is important to contact an attorney to discuss your legal rights.

As experienced medical malpractice attorneys, the team at Silverman Thompson has successfully tried and resolved numerous birth injury cases, including those involving cerebral palsy. In many instances, cases have resulted in multi-million-dollar recoveries. In those cases, our attorneys successfully argued that the birth injuries would have been avoided with proper and timely medical care.

At our firm, we have the experience to resolve these cases and the necessary resources to retain knowledgeable and trustworthy medical experts to assist us in preparing your case.

Contact our Baltimore, MD Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been affected by a birth injury resulting in cerebral palsy, it is critical to have an informed, detail-oriented, and dedicated medical malpractice attorney who will tirelessly advocate for you and your case. At Silverman Thompson, we are ready to assist you, and we will work to ensure that you will have the resources you need to provide care for a child with cerebral palsy. Attorneys Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz have the experience needed to assist with these cases. Contact our Baltimore birth injury and cerebral palsy lawyers for a free consultation at 410-385-2225.