The birth injury lawyers of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. are serious lawyers for serious birth injuries.
If your child was born with a birth defect or birth injury that may be attributed to negligence during prenatal care, we advise you to consult with a plaintiff's lawyer who has experience representing children and families living with the lifelong struggle a birth injury can bring. The legal team of Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. has helped a number of families and children who have suffered serious injury during labor or delivery.
Should your obstetrician have detected a risky condition and recommended a C-section? Was your child injured during labor and delivery? Did substandard prenatal care result in irreversible damage to your baby? If so, you and your family need the services of an experienced, accomplished and determined birth injury attorney. At Elk & Elk Co., Ltd., our medical malpractice team has nearly 50 years experience helping families in this very situation. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-877-ELK-4-USA or fill out our no-obligation case evaluation form by clicking here.
When brain injuries occur in the period of time following a birth, care providers often refer to the birth injury as Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). This term describes the mechanism and location of the injury from oxygen deprivation causing brain damage. Ultimately, this term may be replaced with a formal diagnosis of CP.
A child diagnosed with cerebral palsy may have one of the following types of CP:
- Spastic cerebral palsy: Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common form of cerebral palsy. With this form of cerebral palsy, some muscles will be tight, stiff and weak, causing difficulty in movement.
- Athetoid cerebral palsy: Lack of muscle control leads to spontaneous, unwanted movements.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy: A child may have difficulty with balance and may display shaky movements of hands and feet. Speech may also be affected.
- Mixed cerebral palsy: Including elements of two or more types of CP.
Both a child with a birth injury and his or her family face tremendous challenges, losses and expenses. Life will never be the same for the parents — and a child with cerebral palsy will never have full control over his or her body. A developmental disorder will be a lifelong challenge to overcome.
While money will not mend your broken dreams after your baby or toddler has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, HIE, or other birth injury; money can open doors of opportunity for your child through therapy, adaptive equipment and other aids.
If your baby has suffered a birth injury as a result of negligent prenatal or perinatal care, you will need a medical malpractice law firm that understands the complexities of a birth injury case. With Elk & Elk Co., Ltd. on your side, you will have an entire team devoted to your case: Doctors, nurses and other professionals and, of course, our experienced, accomplished attorneys.
Elk & Elk Co., Ltd.'s birth injury attorneys can be reached at 1-877-ELK-4-USA. We welcome your inquiry 24/7/365. Or fill out our free case evaluation form. We pledge to respond promptly and listen to what you have to say.
Frequently asked questions about spastic cerebral palsy:
Q: What is spastic cerebral palsy?
A: Spastic cerebral palsy is a form of cerebral palsy that is the most common type of cerebral palsy. It causes the muscles to be stiff and permanently contracted.
Q: How common is cerebral palsy?
A: A U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention study shows that the average prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) as 3.6 per 1,000 children or about 1 in 278 children. This first report of the prevalence and characteristics of CP, the most common cause of motor disability in childhood, are from Georgia, Alabama and Wisconsin. The study found the prevalence to be remarkably similar across all three sites, ranging from 3.3 in Wisconsin to 3.8 in Georgia. All sites reported the highest prevalence among boys, African-Americans and those living in low- and middle-income neighborhoods. Prevalence rates were lowest among Hispanic children.
Q: How common is spastic cerebral palsy?
A: Fifty to 75 percent of cerebral palsy cases are diagnosed as being spastic cerebral palsy.
Q: What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
A: Cerebral palsy is caused by a problem in the brain that affects a child's ability to control his or her muscles. Problems in different parts of the brain cause problems in different parts of the body. There are many possible causes of problems, such as genetic conditions, problems with the blood supply to the brain before birth, infections, bleeding in the brain, lack of oxygen, severe jaundice, and head injury.
Q: Why should I hire a medical malpractice lawyer in the event of spastic cerebral palsy?
A: 1) to protect your rights 2) to make sure your specific situation is investigated to the fullest 3) to hold accountable anyone who negligently contributed to a cerebral palsy diagnosis 4) to help you get the compensation you need to get your life back on track as quickly as possible.
