Las Vegas Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Cerebral palsy is an incurable disorder in which brain damage impairs an individual’s ability to think, speak, walk and/or otherwise coordinate his or her muscles. At the Law Offices of Bertoldo, Baker, Carter & Smith, our highly qualified Las Vegas cerebral palsy lawyers are committed to helping those diagnosed with CP recover compensation for damages if the condition was caused by medical malpractice.
According to the National Center on Birth Defects & Developmental Disorders (NCBDDD), approximately 764,000 Americans are currently living with cerebral palsy. While cerebral palsy affects 1 in every 278 children, in most cases, this condition is diagnosed in infants under 2 years old. Those with milder cases of cerebral palsy may not be diagnosed until they are 4 or 5 years old, as more subtle cognitive dysfunctions won’t be apparent until infants have matured a bit.
Cerebral Palsy Types
Cerebral palsy can manifest in different ways, depending on the part of the brain that is damaged. The different types of cerebral palsy include:
- Ataxic cerebral palsy: Affecting between 5 and 10 percent of all CP patients, ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by poor muscle tone, difficulty walking and tremors.
- Athetoid cerebral palsy: Affecting about 10 percent of all CP patients, athetoid cerebral palsy is marked by involuntary, purposeless movements that complicate speech, eating, grasping or other movements requiring coordination.
- Spastic cerebral palsy: Affecting approximately 80 percent of all CP patients, spastic cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the cerebral cortex (the outer lawyer of the brain); it is characterized by involuntary, jerky movements as well as muscle and joint deformities, which will significantly affect mobility and coordination.
- Mixed cerebral palsy: Affecting between 5 and 10 percent of all CP patients, mixed cerebral palsy refers to a condition that is a mix of any two of the above types of CP. The most common mix involves spastic and athetoid cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
The precise symptoms a cerebral palsy patient will experience will depend on the type and severity of his condition. Among the most common symptoms of cerebral palsy are:
- Difficulty speaking and/or making precise movements (i.e. writing, buttoning a shirt, etc.)
- Drooling and/or problems swallowing or sucking
- Lack of coordination
- Mental retardation
- Muscle stiffness
- Over or poorly toned muscles
- Seizures
- Spasticity and exaggerated reflexes
- Tremors
Because the initial brain injury is typically caused by an isolated trauma, the injury and the associated symptoms don’t worsen over time.
Cerebral Palsy Treatment & Legal Support in Las Vegas
Like symptoms, treatments for cerebral palsy will depend on the nature and severity of the condition. However, because there is currently no cure for CP, treatments generally involve minimizing the symptoms and helping patients live as independently as possible. Common cerebral palsy treatments include surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy and various medications, ranging from anti-convulsant drugs to muscle relaxants.
Help For Parents Whose Children Are Diagnosed
If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in Las Vegas, we welcome you to attend a complimentary consultation to find out if you have a birth injury case and are entitled to a settlement. Even if you are not sure what caused your child’s cerebral palsy, we will conduct an investigation to find that out. If your child was injured before, during, or after the birthing process, resulting in a lack of oxygen to his/her brain, we will find out why and will fight to ensure the responsible party is held accountable.
Even though a monetary award cannot reverse your child’s CP, it can help you provide him/her with the highest quality treatments and ensure the highest quality of life.
