Cerebral palsy is not one distinct condition, but an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect a child’s ability to move and develop muscle tone. These disorders are caused by damage to the baby’s developing brain during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or immediately after birth. When the medical professionals you trusted with the birth of your child fail to provide an appropriate level of care, you have the right to hold the negligent parties responsible for your child’s injuries.
Because cerebral palsy results in permanent disabilities, your child will need a lifetime of care that can come at a considerable cost to your family. It is estimated that raising a child with cerebral palsy costs almost 10 times as much as raising a child without disabilities. Those costs can include expenses for medical care, daily care and the limitations that disability imposes.
Medical costs
Direct medical costs include expenses such as:
- Doctor appointments
- Hospital stays
- Medications
- Physical therapy
Non-medical costs
Non-medical costs can quickly add up and include such things as:
- Special education services
- Vocational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Home modifications
- Vehicle modifications
Indirect costs
Indirect costs are those costs that are more difficult to quantify but that still affect a family’s finances, such as:
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Premature mortality
The attorneys at Kline & Specter, PC, are experienced litigators who have helped the families of birth injury victims recover millions of dollars for their injuries. With five physicians on our team of attorneys, we have the ability to thoroughly investigate your case and understand the medical nuances of the situation that led to severe injury. With that knowledge, we can fight for the justice and the compensation that your family needs to live with your child’s lifelong injuries.
Some of our attorney’s major verdicts and settlements include $100 million for a baby who suffered severe brain damage because of doctors’ mistakes, $57 million for an infant with cerebral palsy because of a midwife’s errors, and $42 million for a baby who suffered severe brain damage because of misuse of forceps during birth.
If your child suffered injuries during labor and delivery, call 800-243-1100 today for a free case consultation with Kline & Specter. We welcome clients throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and across the United States. Where appropriate or required under local rules, we work along with local counsel.