Cerebral Palsy Lawyers in New Jersey
Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most catastrophic, heart wrenching birth injuries, partly because this lifelong condition can usually be prevented with timely delivery of the baby. This traumatic birth injury affects the brain and central nervous system, including parts of the body that controls motor skills, muscles, cognition, sight, and hearing. Cerebral palsy is caused by low oxygen levels in the baby’s brain due to physical conditions in the womb, fetal distress, medical errors, and delayed C-sections.
Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy
The most common cause of cerebral palsy is depressed oxygen levels or birth asphyxia. This is also known as hypoxia. These lapses in oxygen can damage the brain before and during delivery or after birth.
Cerebral palsy specifically caused by medical malpractice commonly occurs in these situations:
- Labor and delivery room doctors and nurses fail to monitor fetal heart rate.
- Prolapsed or compressed umbilical cords are not detected.
- Infections and underlying health concerns are not treated during pregnancy.
- Emergency medical procedures, such as C-Sections, are delayed or not performed.
- Hospital staff and anesthesiologists are not available in time.
- Failure to recognize fetal macrosomia (unusually large for gestational age or more than 8lbs 13oz)
- Use of excessive force during childbirth.
- Improper use of forceps.
- Placental abruption.
- Uterine rupture.
Each year, 8,000 individuals are diagnosed with cerebral palsy. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke around 10% of severe cerebral palsy cases are caused by birth asphyxia. The Mayo Clinic also estimates that cerebral palsy affects 3 out of every 1,000 children born in New Jersey and throughout the United States.
Common Types of Cerebral Palsy
While cerebral palsy doesn’t shorten a child’s life, it does affect its quality. Depending on what portion of the brain was affected and the extent of the damage, the patient might be confined to a wheelchair, require mobility aids, or suffer from a limp and muscle weakness. The Mayo Clinic recognizes these types of cerebral palsy:
- Spastic cerebral palsy affects the muscles and reflexes. It accounts for three-quarters of CP cases.
- Athetoid cerebral palsy is associated with writhing muscle movements, tremors, and spasms. This condition makes up to twenty percent of cerebral palsy cases.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy causes involuntary muscle movements and poor coordination. It is present in approximately five percent of cerebral palsy (CP) patients.
Some individuals suffer from mixed-type cerebral palsy that includes a combination of these symptoms. The negative outcome such as the common cerebral palsy conditions above that are a result of cerebral palsy malpractice should not be taken lightly and victims should seek justice through a cerebral palsy lawsuit with the right cerebral palsy lawyers.
Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits in New Jersey
At the New Jersey birth injury law firm of Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, our New Jersey cerebral palsy lawyers will aggressively handle your cerebral palsy medical malpractice case and help you get justice in your cerebral palsy lawsuit against negligent hospitals, nurses, obstetricians, and any other health professionals involved.
Delayed C-sections cause many cerebral palsy cases, and we have successfully recovered one of the largest birth injury damages recoveries in New Jersey history, securing an $18.5 million birth injury jury verdict on behalf of a New Jersey family whose son developed cerebral palsy when a C-section was improperly delayed by the obstetrician. Recently, we won a $13 million settlement for an infant born with CP due to medical malpractice which led to a delayed C-Section.
We have also been named to the Best New Jersey Medical Malpractice Attorneys list by the Best Lawyers in America. In 2021 and 2023, we were named by the National Law Journal as the Medical Malpractice Law firm of the year for not only New Jersey but for the entire country. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
New Jersey Cerebral Palsy Lawyers
If your child suffers from cerebral palsy or other birth injury due to suspected medical malpractice or delays in care contact the New Jersey cerebral palsy lawyers at Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman. Our New Jersey cerebral palsy attorneys will respond as soon as possible to discuss your CP medical malpractice case and figure out a strategy that will enable us to win your cerebral palsy lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cerebral Palsy
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What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the name of a group of permanent and non-progressive disorders affecting motor skills. Cerebral palsy can result from either abnormal brain development or injury to the brain during pregnancy or at birth.
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How can medical negligence or malpractice cause cerebral palsy?
There are many ways that a doctor or medical professional’s malpractice can result in cerebral palsy. Some examples include failing to diagnose or treat a complication, ignoring warning signs, failing to resuscitate quickly, or delaying/failing to perform a c-section.
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What is a cerebral palsy lawsuit?
A cerebral palsy lawsuit is filed against the medical professional or hospital that caused the negligence which led to a child’s cerebral palsy. To prevail in a cerebral palsy lawsuit in New Jersey, you will need to prove that the medical professional breached their professional standard of care. You will also need to prove that their actions directly caused your child’s injuries.
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Do I need a cerebral palsy lawyer to assist with my lawsuit in New Jersey?
The short answer is yes. Cerebral palsy claims require significant effort and financial resources to clearly identify the act or instance of negligence that caused the cerebral palsy. It takes a law firm with experience, knowledge, and resources in both birth injury and cerebral palsy to be able to conduct a thorough investigation into your claim.
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What should you look for in a cerebral palsy lawyer?
When looking for a lawyer to assist with your cerebral palsy lawsuit, you need to find a practice with experience in both birth injury and cerebral palsy cases specifically in New Jersey. You also need to ensure they have the resources necessary to take on insurance companies, hospitals, and other parties.
