Fletchers Solicitors expert Cerebral Palsy support for you
All clinical negligence cases are entrusted to the award-winning Medical Negligence Department at Fletchers Solicitors; a dedicated practice which forms part of a wider Group network. This dedicated unit brings unparalleled expertise and experience to each case, ensuring that clients receive the highest level of legal representation and support. Specialising in birth injury cases of the highest complexity, including Cerebral Palsy cases. The Fletchers team provides comprehensive and compassionate support, leveraging their deep understanding of medical complexities and legal nuances to secure the best possible outcomes for families affected by negligence.
Working for you on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis, Fletchers’ team supports you through every stage of diagnosis and therapy, whilst our legal, medical and rehabilitation specialists evaluate your child’s situation.
Your child’s case may take many years to settle—and it should—because a case settled too early is unlikely to give you the maximum compensation award. At Serious Law, we understand the importance of waiting to see how your child develops, so that the life-long impact of their condition can be expertly assessed.
However, just because a cerebral palsy case takes time, it doesn’t mean that you must wait years to receive financial help and support for your child and they work hard to secure interim payments.
Securing your child’s long-term future care
As cerebral palsy case specialists, Fletchers Solicitors are there to help you and to fight to win your case, achieving the highest-value compensation award possible for your child.
Of course, a successful legal case cannot change what has happened to your child, but it can help you to secure justice and find some closure.
And whilst no amount of money can change your situation, a maximum compensation award can help to make your child’s life more comfortable, and alleviate some of the worries you may have about their long-term future and care.
Make a cerebral palsy compensation claim
Give your child the best chance of a comfortable future
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it’s important to know that you are not alone.
Affecting as many as one in every 400 live births each year, cerebral palsy describes a group of neurological disorders caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance and posture. It can occur during pregnancy, childbirth or shortly after birth.
Coming to terms with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is difficult and overwhelming for many parents, particularly if you believe that the medical team made mistakes.
Help is here for you. Choosing first-class, specialist solicitors gives your child and your family a better chance of improving your situation. We’re an experienced team that you can lean on—one that empathises with your situation and is responsive to your needs.
It’s the start of a long journey, which involves much more than legal representation. With our help, you have the chance to give your child the very latest therapy and support, as well as getting financial assistance to secure the best possible quality of life for your child and your family.
Can I make a cerebral palsy claim?
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe that medical negligence may have caused their condition, you may be able to make a cerebral palsy claim on behalf of your child.
In some cases, your child may have developed cerebral palsy during or after labour because of the decisions and actions of the medical team who were responsible for you and your baby.
That could be because they did not react quickly enough to signs of distress from your baby. They may not have monitored your baby’s heart rate correctly. Yours may have been a high-risk pregnancy, and that wasn’t reflected in the care you received.
In cerebral palsy medical negligence cases, it is your solicitor’s role to prove that the actions or inactions of medical staff directly contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy, and it could have been prevented if the medical team had taken a different, reasonable course of action. If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy could have been prevented, please get in touch with Fletchers Solicitors to discuss your case for cerebral palsy compensation.
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Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
Spotting cerebral palsy symptoms may be vital, as this could mean your child has a faster diagnosis and they can receive the correct support and treatment sooner. Every child with cerebral palsy has symptoms that are unique to them and the severity of symptoms varies significantly from child to child. However, it is important to note that ff you spot one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean your child has the condition.
In our experience, for babies 0-6 months old, you should look out for the following when you pick them up:
- Their head seems particularly stiff or floppy
- They arch their back and neck excessively as if trying to push you away
- Their legs become rigid, and they either cross them or move them apart from each other
We have seen how babies aged 6+ months can sometimes have difficulty moving their hands up to their mouths or bringing them together. You may also notice that your child doesn’t roll over either direction, whether that is on the floor or in a cot, in addition, one hand or leg may drag for crawling babies aged 10 months or older. You may have also noticed that they shuffle along on their bottom or hop on their knees if they’re not crawling yet.
Other signs you may have noticed in your baby include jerky or clumsy movements and difficulty with fine motor skills. Your child may be starting to sit, stand or walk later than their peers. We advise that you trust your instincts if you see any of these signs or if something doesn’t feel right to you as a parent. Make an appointment with the doctor immediately and discuss your concerns and observations with them.
Cerebral Palsy treatment
While there isn’t a cure for cerebral palsy, by help people just like you, we have seen how the right Cerebral Palsy treatment can help manage your child’s symptoms. The key is working closely with doctors and therapists to create a personalised plan. Every child with cerebral palsy has unique needs, so what might be helpful for one person can be very different for another. The treatment for your child’s cerebral palsy may include:
- Pharmaceutical: Your child’s doctor might prescribe medicines that can relax stiff muscles, making it easier for your child to move around and do everyday things.
- Physical therapy: Therapy is also a popular option. Physical therapy will help your child become stronger and more flexible, while occupational therapy will help them with everyday tasks like getting dressed. Speech and language therapy can also help your child better express themselves.
- Surgery: This is not always needed but can relieve muscle tightness or fix awkward bone positions.
- Support equipment: To help your child’s mobility and comfort, you might be offered aids like a brace for their legs or a special chair that makes sitting down more comfortable.
