What is Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the way the brain sends communication to the muscle groups and the body. It’s caused by a brain injury or malformation while a child’s brain is still developing, and can impact body movement, posture, balance, motor functioning skills, as well as muscle control, weakness and tone. Infants are at risk of cerebral palsy before, during or immediately after birth.

Although cerebral palsy is called a “non-life threatening” condition, receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis often comes with overwhelming feelings of shock and worry for parents of a newborn. Our Vancouver cerebral palsy lawyer team has helped many families across British Columbia seek compensation and better understand how they can support and raise a child with cerebral palsy.

With cerebral palsy, physical symptoms start to show in the first few years of life and can range from slight tremors and poor coordination to complete paralysis. Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive condition, meaning the brain damage caused at the time of birth will not cause further degeneration. (Read more about the signs of cerebral palsy in newborns.)

When Cerebral Palsy Is a Result of Medical Negligence

While there is no single cause of CP, birthing complications are responsible for approximately 10% of cerebral palsy cases. This can include medical negligence during pregnancy or the birthing process, injury, infections, accidents, or abuse.

With treatment and rehabilitation (such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy), children can still have a bright and happy future ahead. However, the cost of appointments, travel, missed work for parents, medication, equipment and more can really add up.

If your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of medical negligence, you are entitled to fair and just compensation that can ease some of the financial stresses ahead.

Our compassionate Vancouver cerebral palsy lawyer team can help you assess whether the condition was caused by medical negligence, and put together a medical malpractice claim to recoup costs for your child’s medical and home care expenses, rehabilitation, physical therapy, special education, counseling and supplies such as wheelchairs or braces (if required).

Hire a law firm with over 35 years of experience working on complex brain injury cases