Parents often pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit following their child’s development of cerebral palsy in order to recover compensation for things such as medical bills, future surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, assistive devices, and more.
People are generally aware of the problems that Cerebral Palsy sufferers have with movement. There are other conditions, however, that result from this brain injury that can be just as devastating.
Mental Impairment
Some people with Cerebral Palsy end up suffering severe mental impairment. They may never be able to handle their own bills, live on their own, cook their own food, or complete school. Such individuals need help getting by in life, and this often requires a considerable amount of money.
Speech and Hearing
Speech and hearing are very much related, and Cerebral Palsy sufferers sometimes have trouble with both. People who have dyskinetic cerebral palsy oftentimes have trouble controlling the muscles in their face. This means that speech is sometimes very difficult for them. People who have Cerebral Palsy sometimes have very severe hearing problems as well. This can complicate speech problems, and of course, it can affect their quality of life in general.
Eyesight
Some children with cerebral palsy have severe vision problems. This isn’t because of their eyes, rather, it’s because of the muscles that control their eyes. If their body cannot control those muscles, their eyes may not line up properly and that may cause problems with their vision. This can translate to problems reading or performing other tasks.
Vision problems can generally be corrected with glasses or surgery, but such procedures are often very expensive.
Precise Movement
Some people with Cerebral Palsy start to shake uncontrollably when they try to control their muscles. This can mean that holding a pen, picking up a glass of water, or performing other simple tasks can be difficult to impossible.
If you hire a cerebral palsy attorney to handle your claim, one of the most-important things they will do is to help calculate the total amount of damages your family will be seeking. This is done by not only reviewing medical records, but also through the help of expert witnesses.