California Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Cerebral Palsy and Birth Injuries – Understanding Medical Negligence Claims

Fertility Law Group – Fighting for Families Affected by Birth Injuries

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common and devastating birth injuries caused by medical negligence. Affecting movement, muscle coordination, and posture, CP is a lifelong condition often caused by oxygen deprivation or brain trauma during labor and delivery. At Fertility Law Group, we help families in California seek justice when medical errors lead to preventable birth injuries.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s ability to control muscles. It occurs due to damage to the developing brain, often from a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) during birth. CP can range from mild motor difficulties to severe disability requiring lifelong care.

Types of Cerebral Palsy:

Spastic CP: Characterized by muscle stiffness and difficulty with movement (most common type).
Dyskinetic CP: Causes involuntary muscle movements and difficulty controlling limbs.
Ataxic CP: Affects balance and coordination, making walking and precise movements difficult.
Mixed CP: A combination of the above types.

How Medical Negligence Causes Cerebral Palsy

While some cases of CP result from natural complications, many are preventable. Medical malpractice can cause CP when doctors and nurses fail to act appropriately during labor and delivery.

Common Medical Errors That Lead to CP:

Failure to monitor fetal distress: If a baby is deprived of oxygen, doctors must act quickly to prevent brain damage.
Delayed C-section: A prolonged labor or distressing birth may require an emergency cesarean section. Delays can cause irreversible brain damage.
Misuse of delivery tools: Forceps or vacuum extractors can cause head trauma leading to CP.
Failure to treat maternal infections: Untreated infections like chorioamnionitis can lead to brain inflammation and CP.
Medication errors: Incorrect use of labor-inducing drugs like Pitocin can cause excessive contractions, restricting oxygen to the baby.

Get Help Now

If you have questions about your rights or your options, please contact us for a free consultation. There is no obligation and we keep all inquiries strictly confidential.

Lifelong Costs of Cerebral Palsy: Why a Life Care Plan Is Essential

Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition requiring medical care and assistance throughout life, which can amount to millions of dollars. Families need a comprehensive life care plan to ensure their child receives the proper support and can lead a happy, fulfilled and productive life. Families should not be faced with devastating medical expenses on top of the challenge of caring for their child with special needs.

What a Life Care Plan Covers:

Medical treatments & surgeries – Ongoing care, including orthopedic and neurological treatments.
Rehabilitation therapies – Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Assistive devices – Wheelchairs, communication devices, and adaptive equipment.
Home & vehicle modifications – Accessible home renovations and wheelchair-adapted transportation.
Caregiver assistance – Home nursing, special education, and long-term disability care.
Lost earning potential – If the child cannot work due to their disability.

Compensation for Cerebral Palsy Lawsuits Due to Birth Injury

Families who file a medical malpractice lawsuit in California for cerebral palsy can seek damages for:

Past and future medical expenses
Therapies and rehabilitation costs
Assistive technology and home modifications
Lost future earnings
Pain and suffering
Punitive damages (if medical negligence was extreme)

Even though the laws in many states limit the amount of a person’s damages for pain and suffering, there are no damage caps on economic expenses, and in Cerebral Palsy cases the economic damages can exceed ten million dollars alone, which accounts for the care, education and services a person with CP may benefit from over their lifetime.

How Fertility Law Group Can Help

At Fertility Law Group, we fight for families whose children have suffered due to birth injury negligence and have the utmost compassion and understanding for what affected families and their child are going through. Our team in California works with top medical experts, life care planners, and financial specialists to maximize compensation and ensure that children with CP receive the care they need and that the persons or hospitals responsible for the birth injury are held accountable. If you have any questions or would like to understand your legal options, please contact us for a free, confidential consultation.