Birth Defects / Cerebral Palsy

A variety of factors during pregnancy and childbirth can lead to babies born with birth defects. One such defect is cerebral palsy—a condition caused by damage to the brain, which impacts a person’s ability to balance and move.

Birth defects are sometimes caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy, or by medical malpractice (negligence on the part of health care providers) during labor and delivery. Delays in reaching the typical milestones in a child’s motor development (holding up his or her head, sitting up, crawling, standing, etc.) may point to the possible presence of cerebral palsy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 303 children in the U.S. are affected by cerebral palsy. Their limbs may be stiff or move uncontrollably; they may not be able to sit or stand unaided, and face various other challenges. A CDC study showed that 75% of the children who had cerebral palsy suffered from other disabilities as well—such as seizures and vision or hearing loss.

While the symptoms of cerebral palsy can be fairly mild, they can also be severe enough to require lifelong care. Children with severe cerebral palsy may need extensive physical therapy and expensive medicines and medical equipment (such as wheelchairs and braces) in order to make their lives as comfortable as possible.

If you believe that your child may have been injured by exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy, by the negligent actions of health care providers during childbirth, or by such providers failing to appropriately test or treat the mother during pregnancy, you should discuss your situation with an attorney experienced in handling birth injuries. You may be able to seek compensation, on your child’s behalf, for past and future medical costs, past and future pain and suffering, loss or reduction in his or her ability to earn a living, and more.

If you have already been offered a settlement for your child’s injuries, you might also benefit from having that proposal evaluated by an experienced attorney before deciding whether to accept its terms.

The caring and efficient New York personal injury attorneys at Ronai & Ronai LLP offer more than a decade of experience in helping clients who were harmed by someone else’s negligence. Backed by our dedicated support staff, we are ready to work tirelessly to help you and your child.

For a free initial consultation, please call us at 1-800-664-7111, or fill out and submit our online “Contact Us” form.