CEREBRAL PALSY COMPENSATION CLAIMS

This is one of the most tragic conditions to affect a family and the suffering and pain involved only increases when the condition is the result of medical negligence on the part of one of the health professionals. If you want to receive the damages that your child deserves for the harm that has been done, our nationwide network of lawyers can help you to make a cerebral palsy compensation claim. Public funding through the legal aid scheme is available for those under the age of 18 years without any parental contribution and for those who are not eligible for legal aid our lawyers will consider using the no win no fee scheme.

This condition occurs when areas of the brain that control certain bodily functions are impaired, often caused by oxygen starvation during birth, preventing them from being properly utilised. If these problems are caused by clinical negligence a cerebral palsy compensation claim should be made to safeguard the financial future of the victim and to ensure that carers have sufficient assets to properly care for the victim in the future.

The main causes of cerebral palsy include a lack of oxygen to the brain due to spending too long in the birth canal during delivery, a badly performed vacuum delivery extraction, badly judged use of delivery forceps, a delay in deciding to use a caesarean section, a failure to recognise the changes in the foetal heart rate and a prolapsed umbilical cord which denies the passage of oxygen to the baby child’s brain.

There are three main types of cerebral palsy :-

• Ataxic CP affects about one in ten patients and is characterised by poor muscle tone and inadequate sense of balance. Patients often move slowly and have poor coordination.
• Athetoid CP is prevalent in less than one fifth of all patients and causes a lack of balance and poor motor skills. Movements might seem purposeless or involuntary at times. These movements are likely to be more obvious in the arms, face and trunk of the body.
• Spastic CP is the most common form and affects about 80% of the total number of patients who experience this condition. Patients suffer from disruption of muscular movements that appear stiff and jerky.

Our solicitors are all members of the Law Society panel of medical negligence experts which is open to less than 1% of UK lawyers. Panel membership is only open to those who can prove their skill, experience and specialist ongoing training in this complex and difficult discipline.

If you or your child have suffered personal injury and you fear you may have been the victim of incompetence or negligence there is no time for delay. In order to know what options you have you should seek expert legal advice as soon as possible. Our solicitors operate a free service whereby you can meet us in person or chat over the telephone with one of our friendly experts and obtain initial advice. If you subsequently decide to proceed no further then that is your right and you will not be charged for our initial advice.