Fayetteville, AR Attorney for Cerebral Palsy from Birth Injury

Learning that your child has cerebral palsy can be a difficult experience for a parent. This experience can be even more devastating if a parent learns that their child’s injury was due to the negligence of a medical practitioner. Fortunately, the parents of a child with cerebral palsy may be able to file a valid medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor responsible for their child’s injuries. If your child developed cerebral palsy due to medical negligence, you should consult with an experienced Fayetteville attorney for cerebral palsy.

Ken Kieklak, Attorney at Law, knows the pain and stress a parent may experience when caring for their injured child, and he is here for you in your time of need. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact Ken Kieklak at (479) 316-0438, or contact us online.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that is characterized by multiple health disorders that impact a person’s motor functions in a variety of ways. The primary symptom of cerebral palsy is an inability to control various muscles that can affect a person’s balance and posture.

There are multiple types of cerebral palsy that a newborn may develop. The types of cerebral palsy are divided into categories that refer to the type of movement disorder a child is experiencing. Generally, there are three main types of cerebral palsy: spasticity, dyskinesia, and ataxia.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 80% of people that develop cerebral palsy suffer from spastic cerebral palsy. Individuals that have spastic cerebral palsy typically have stiff muscles due to increased muscle tone. As a result, a person’s movements could be limited as the muscle tightness will make it more difficult to maneuver.

Spastic cerebral palsy can also be divided into sub-categories depending on the part of the body where a person is affected. For example, spastic diplegia or diparesis is a subcategory of spastic cerebral palsy where a person often experiences muscle stiffness primarily in their legs. As a result, a person’s legs may turn inwards as they try to walk due to muscle stiffness in their hips, legs, and other muscles. For a newborn, this can make it extremely difficult to learn to walk.

Spastic hemiplegia or hemiparesis is another form of spastic cerebral palsy that typically only affects one side of a baby’s body. Additionally, a child that experiences spastic hemiplegia will often have less range of motion in their arm than their leg.

Spastic quadriplegia or quadriparesis is the most dangerous type of spastic cerebral palsy as it affects multiple areas of a person’s body. Specifically, spastic quadriplegia can limit movement in a child’s extremities, torso, and face. As a result, this debilitating illness can impair a child’s ability to walk, their speech, vision, and could even affect their ability to learn.

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy occurs when a child’s ability to move their extremities is impaired, making it very difficult to learn to walk or even learn to sit down without falling. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy can also affect other functions like swallowing or talking. In severe cases, a child’s muscle tone can change multiple times a day from too tight to extremely loose, which can cause a number of health issues.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy usually impacts a child’s ability to balance themselves or their coordination. As a result, not only will a child have difficulty walking, they may struggle to perform simple tasks like lifting small objects.

Many cases of cerebral palsy are caused because a child suffered a head or brain injury during a delivery. This can happen under several circumstances if a doctor does not act with care when delivering a newborn. To learn more about the damages available for a medical malpractice lawsuit, continue reading and speak with an experienced attorney today.

Damages Available for Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawsuits in Fayetteville, AR

If your child was injured due to the negligence of a doctor in Fayetteville, Arkansas, you should pursue compensation for their injuries by filing a birth injury lawsuit. If a plaintiff prevails in a birth injury lawsuit, the court may award a number of damages to compensate the plaintiff. For example, a plaintiff can be compensated for money spent to receive medical treatment for a birth injury.

There are many factors that may affect the type of damages that a victim of medical malpractice may receive. Ordinarily, a victim would be awarded damages for medical expenses due to an injury. Other damages available include:

• Compensation for medical equipment
• Pain and suffering and mental anguish
• Compensation for disfigurement
• Damages for wrongful death caused by the injury

This is not an exhaustive list. To learn more about damages, you should speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Our Experienced Fayetteville, AR Birth Injury Lawyer for Cerebral Palsy is Ready to Work with You

If your child was a victim of medical malpractice, contact an experienced Fayetteville birth injury lawyer for cerebral palsy. Medical malpractice lawyer Ken Kieklak possesses over 20 years of experience litigating intricate injury cases, and he would be honored to help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your claim. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your legal situation, contact Ken Kieklak at (479) 316-0438.