Cerebral Palsy Lawyers in Florida

Demand Justice for Your Child

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most commonly occurring movement disorder in children. However, CP is not always an unavoidable complication caused by genetics or unforeseeable circumstances of a mother’s pregnancy. In many cases, cerebral palsy is caused by a medical provider’s mistake before, during, or shortly after a child is born.

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you suspect a medical professional’s negligence is the cause, Gunn Law Group, P.A. in Tampa, FL wants to hear your story. We are a group of catastrophic medical malpractice injury attorneys who work on high-value claims that are hotly contested by medical groups and insurance providers. Where other law firms shy away from intensive cases, we charge headlong into the legal battle, swinging away for our clients and their children.

When so much is on the line, you need fighters in your corner. Call our firm at (813) 993-1448 now.

When Cerebral Palsy is Caused by Medical Malpractice

It is widely accepted throughout medical communities that cerebral palsy is usually caused by brain damage suffered by a developing fetus, newborn, or infant. Most cases – upwards of nine-out-of-ten –occur due to brain damage before the child is born. The remaining cases happen during birth or within 30 days after the child is born, with only a slim percentage happening further along in the child’s life. No matter when cerebral palsy begins in a child’s development, there is an inordinate amount of cases that can be linked to a medical professional’s neglect and carelessness.

There are three direct causes of cerebral palsy that can be caused by medical malpractice:

• Oxygen deprivation: If a child’s blood oxygen levels drop significantly for even a few minutes, it can cause significant brain damage that may cause cerebral palsy. Oxygen deprivation can happen in utero, but it may also occur during birth if the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the newborn’s neck.
• Brain damage: Physical damage to a child’s brain can also cause CP and many other types of lifelong complications. For example, if a doctor misuses forceps while a child is being born, they could apply too much pressure to the head, permanently damaging the brain.
• Unsafe medication: Women who are on medication while pregnant need to be careful about potential side effects that could affect their unborn children. Some medications could affect an unborn child’s blood oxygen levels or create other dangerous side effects, such as the failure of developing organs.

Depending on the harm caused and when it happened, a variety of medical professionals could be to blame for the child’s cerebral palsy. Obstetricians are typically in charge of an unborn child’s and a pregnant mother’s health, for example, and could be liable for CP that develops while the child is unborn. Doctors and nurses may be responsible for brain damage that occurs during or after the child is born.

Four Forms of Cerebral Palsy

The difficulties your child experiences due to their cerebral palsy will depend on the type of CP they have. Getting a clear diagnosis of a child’s CP can be difficult early in the child’s life when symptoms might be minimal. Oftentimes, it helps to allow pediatricians several years to work with and treat a child, so that they can get a better understanding of the child’s cerebral palsy and disabilities.

There are four types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic: The most common type of cerebral palsy, spastic CP causes muscle stiffness that limits a child’s movements and mobility. Severe cases may leave a child confined to a wheelchair for their entire lives.
• Dyskinetic: This type of CP is characterized by a lack of musculoskeletal control, resulting in unpredictable movements, like leg jerks or arm spasms. Dyskinetic CP symptoms are unpredictable and constantly changing, making it a challenge to predict the day-to-day needs of the child.
• Ataxic: Children with ataxic cerebral palsy have mild to severe balance issues. Walking and standing may be difficult or impossible. Dexterous activities like writing or typing might also be uncomfortable due to the sluggish feeling often caused by ataxic CP.
• Mixed: When a child has the symptoms of more than one form of cerebral palsy, it is called mixed CP.

Florida requires all birth injury claims to be filed within four years of the child’s birth, though, so you might not be afforded the chance to wait too long before filing a claim. If you have the Florida cerebral palsy lawyers from Gunn Law Group, P.A. working on your claim, then you can rest assured knowing that we will be constructing a solid claim to file before the statute of limitations ends.

Compensation to Make Your Child’s Life Easier

Our team is comprised of hard-hitting, tenacious attorneys who are passionate about what we do for our clients. If your child has cerebral palsy due to a medical provider’s negligence, we want to fight for every penny of compensation that might be available so your child can live as comfortably as possible. We know that we are not fighting just for now, but also for better days throughout your child’s entire life.

We may be able to seek compensation in the form of:

• Costs of medical treatments leading up to your child’s birth
• Lifelong physical or specialized therapy for your child
• Special accommodations, like wheelchairs, access ramps, etc.
• Lost wages related to stopping work to care for your child
• Emotional trauma your child will likely experience due to their CP

When all possible damages are considered and calculated, the worth of your cerebral palsy claim could be seven figures or more. Responding insurance companies are sure to try to dodge their responsibility to avoid such a large payout. With us on your side, though, you will be represented by a legal team that focuses entirely on catastrophic injury claims with high damage values.

Dial (813) 993-1448 to arrange a free consultation with our firm.