Austin Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

Cerebral palsy can come with a lifetime of challenges and complications. When a health care professional is responsible for you or a loved one having this condition, they also need to be held accountable for the consequences of their actions.

At Winckler, Harvey & McConnell, LLP, we understand the profound impact cerebral palsy can have on a child’s life and their family’s future. Our team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to holding negligent medical professionals accountable and fighting for the compensation a child deserves. We have more than 100 combined years of experience in these cases.

What Are The Various Types Of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that is the result of an injury during pregnancy or birth, which can affect movement and muscle tone. Understanding the different types can help you recognize the specific challenges your child may face:

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy: This is the most common type, characterized by stiff muscles and awkward movements, affecting one side of the body, both legs or all four limbs.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: This type impacts depth perception and balance, making coordination challenging.
• Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: This form involves uncontrolled, involuntary movements, and can cause slow, writhing motions or rapid, jerky movements.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Some children exhibit symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy, commonly a combination of spastic and dyskinetic CP.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy can be caused in a number of ways, often tied to brain damage during pregnancy or birth. Some of the most common causes include:

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE): A critical condition where a lack of oxygen to the brain causes significant brain damage.
• Infections during pregnancy: Maternal infections such as rubella or cytomegalovirus can impact the developing brain of the fetus.
• Birth trauma: Injuries during labor and delivery, such as prolonged labor or the improper use of delivery tools, can lead to brain injury.
• Fetal distress: Situations where the baby experiences distress during labor.
• Genetic mutations: Some cases of cerebral palsy are linked to genetic factors affecting brain development.

Is Your Child’s Cerebral Palsy A Result Of Medical Malpractice?

Determining whether a child’s cerebral palsy is due to medical malpractice involves examining the standard of care provided by medical professionals during pregnancy, labor and delivery. These cases are difficult to prove. Signs that medical negligence may have played a role include:

• Failure to monitor fetal distress
• Improper use of delivery tools
• Delayed C-section
• Inadequate treatment of infections

If you suspect that your child developed cerebral palsy as a result of medical malpractice, speak to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer. At Winckler, Harvey & McConnell, LLP, our extensive case screening process is based on our over 100 years of collective legal experience combined with input from our on-staff nurse paralegals. These types of claims are challenging in a legal setting. If we believe you have a solid case and we take your case, we will guide you through all aspects of your claim while answering the questions you may have.

Our Team Is Here For You

If you or your child suffered cerebral palsy from the reckless or negligent actions of a medical professional, do not let a hospital or insurance representative convince you to waive your right to file a claim. Instead, let us review your situation first to see if you have a malpractice case.

Call our Austin office at 512-593-7399 or email us here to schedule your free initial consultation with us today. Our Texas attorneys have a strong history of helping our clients and their families.