Cerebral Palsy

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Cerebral Palsy Claims 

Cerebral palsy caused by medical negligence can have a truly devastating effect on a person's life. It is essential that anyone who has cerebral palsy due to medical errors is provided with the compensation needed to enable them to live as normal a life as possible. 

The solicitors at JMW have helped countless children with cerebral palsy caused by medical negligence to win their fight for justice. These cases are very complicated, and it is important to seek help from specialist clinical negligence solicitors who have the experience to help you and your family.

For a free assessment of your cerebral palsy claim in complete confidence, call us on 0345 872 6666 or complete our online enquiry form and one of our specialists will be in touch. We handle cases of this type on a no win, no fee basis or legal aid. Legal aid is still available for many cerebral palsy claims and JMW is able to make an application on behalf of families.

JMW is one of a small number of firms trusted to join the legal panel for the National Bobath Centre for Cerebral Palsy. 

“JMW have supported us as a family from the beginning, when we first found out Vinnie-Ray had suffered brain damage. We cannot thank Steven Brown enough for handling Vinnie’s case with expertise and in a professional, friendly and sensitive manner. JMW are like an extended family.

The support we receive from Steven and the Deputyship team goes above and beyond. Without JMW in our corner Vinnie wouldn't be where he is today. We have been able to get carers in place for Vinnie and specialist equipment, adaptations and treatment, which has made a massive difference to him and to the family.

Vinnie will never get better, but JMW have helped to ensure that he will receive the best care and treatment to give him a better quality of life.”

Viv Randall, grandmother to JMW client Vinnie-Ray

How JMW Can Help

We have secured many multi-million-pound compensation settlements for people who have cerebral palsy due to negligence by a medical professional. This financial award helps clients to access the accommodation, care and equipment they need in order to live with the condition.

The key things to look for in a cerebral palsy lawyer are:

  • Previous experience of securing high-value settlements on similar claims, you can read about the cases JMW has helped on here
  • A ranking in independent legal guides Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500
  • Inclusion in the Law Society's Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme
  • A focus on medical negligence solely

At JMW we meet these criteria and, as well as being professional and efficient, we deal with these claims with sensitivity and understanding.

Our team will do their utmost to ensure your case is successful and that the maximum amount of compensation is awarded. We are highly skilled and experienced in these types of claims and can provide the guidance that will not only help you and your family now, but for many years to come.

Legal aid is still available for most cerebral palsy claims and JMW is able to make an application for legal aid on behalf of families. We also handle cases on a no win, no fee basis. 

Charlie's Story

This video shows Charlie, a young client of JMW's, who suffered avoidable brain damage at birth and now has cerebral palsy. Charlie's father explains the difference having JMW on their side has made to their lives.


FAQs

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain and is not an abnormality of the nerves or muscles.

This damage usually occurs:

  • During the development of the foetus
  • Shortly before or after birth
  • During birth
  • During infancy

The condition covers a huge range of non-progressive brain damage, which can vary in severity from fairly mild (causing minimal physical impairment), to severe, resulting in profound physical and mental disabilities. Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition and cannot be treated. There are various different types, including spastic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy and dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

For more information on cerebral palsy, visit the NHS website.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

There is no combination of factors that always results in cerebral palsy, and it is well recognised that the foetal brain is well equipped to sustain periods of relative deprivation of oxygen. A surprising number of babies who have a very difficult time during and soon after birth go on to do very well, and conversely, some babies who have fairly uneventful births develop cerebral palsy.

Sometimes, there may be signs that the baby was in distress during labour and steps should have been taken to deliver the child sooner, for example with a Ventouse, forceps or caesarean section. It is often a delay in delivery that causes brain damage as a result of the baby being deprived of oxygen.

There are also other causes of cerebral palsy mainly occurring in the time shortly after birth, including:

  • Hypoglycaemia caused by not effectively monitoring a baby’s blood sugar levels
  • Kernicterus caused by mismanagement of newborn jaundice
  • A failure to diagnose an infection such as meningitis.

How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually involves a period of waiting for the definite and permanent appearance of specific motor problems, but most cases can be diagnosed by 18 months. Until recently, there was a widespread belief that all cases of cerebral palsy were a result of birth complications but, following extensive research, it is now realised that this is not so. Even though the cause of many cases of cerebral palsy is not known, it is estimated that about 10% can be directly attributable to brain damage during birth. These causes fall broadly into two groups:

  • Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy involves rigidity and involuntary jerky muscular contractions of all four limbs and is usually caused by a prolonged period of hypoxia. Mental capacity is often affected in this type of cerebral palsy
  • Athetoid cerebral palsy is characterised by involuntary writhing movements of the limbs and is usually caused by hypoxia of a shorter but more profound duration. In this type of cerebral palsy, the intellect is often preserved

How Much Compensation Am I Entitled To?

Anyone living with severe cerebral palsy will require assistance in many aspects of their life. These can include:

  • 24-hour specialist care
  • Specially adapted accommodation
  • Aids and equipment
  • Education costs
  • Assistive technology

However, these can be very expensive, and families struggle to afford them without financial help. This is where compensation comes in. The money awarded is intended to cover the cost of everything that enables a person to lead as fulfilling a life as possible in spite of their avoidable disabilities. 

The child's lifelong care, therapy and accommodation needs, together with their earning potential had they not suffered the negligence, determine the value of their claim. A team of experts, including medical professionals, care experts and various therapists, is instructed to assess the child and what they need to enjoy a good quality of life.

Very detailed witness evidence is vital to establish how much compensation should be allocated for the child. Witness statements will usually be necessary from the child's parents/carers to try to build up a picture of the child and their day-to-day life, as well as including details of their care requirements and any behavioural problems. It is also important to consider whether any independent witness evidence is necessary, for example, from teachers, support workers, doctors, therapists and the case manager.

Once all the necessary evidence has been obtained, it will be exchanged with the trust's solicitors. Usually, before the trial, a meeting takes place with the trust's legal team (which is usually attended by the family) to try to tie up the outstanding issues and ideally agree on the amount of compensation payable. If no settlement is agreed here, the case may progress to a trial for a judge to determine the outcome.

For a family that has been left devastated by their child's avoidable and significant injury, and consumed with worries about how they fund their specialist care, there is a significant sense of relief when their case settles.

We explore why specialist accommodation is necessary for people living with cerebral palsy to help them better cope with the condition. Read about the difference it can make to lives here.

What Our Clients Say

Explaining Why Cerebral Palsy Compensation is So High

Due to the high level of assistance required, a child with cerebral palsy can receive an amount that initially seems very high, often running into the millions of pounds. However, this amount is carefully calculated to ensure all the high level of care required can be provided throughout their life.

Despite this, there can be a misconception that such an amount represents a 'windfall' for the family. To understand how far-reaching these misconceptions are, we carried out a survey asking for people's opinions on compensation amounts. The results were startling, and highlight a perception among many people that compensation amounts awarded to those whose lives have been drastically affected through medical negligence seem too high.

This perception is incorrect, and to challenge it we have created an infographic. The visual explains why large compensation awards are often necessary for children with severe cerebral palsy, and shows the many different factors that must be considered when deciding on a final figure. It also includes a breakdown of typical figures involved. The infographic, which is based on a JMW case that settled for £10 million, shows that even though the amount seems high, it only covers costs to help with things most people take for granted.

Types of Cerebral Palsy Claims

Cerebral palsy can be caused by many different types of negligent medical treatment. The list below covers some of the main causes that the specialist solicitors at JMW have come across in the cases we have handled, but is by no means exhaustive:

  • Delays in delivery
  • Poor interpretation of heart rate monitor
  • Misuse of drugs used to speed up labour
  • Failure/delay in diagnosing infection
  • Poor treatment of newborn jaundice, leading to kernicterus brain damage
  • Errors leading to dangerously low blood sugars - hypoglycaemia
  • Failure to carry out a C-section in a timely manner

The condition is relatively rare, and is even more rarely caused by negligence. However, if there is evidence that negligence was involved, for the lawyers investigating these cases, the focus is usually the care provided to the mother and unborn child during labour and the period shortly after birth.

Making a Cerebral Palsy Claim

The first step to making a cerebral palsy claim is to obtain full disclosure of GP and hospital records for the mother and child. These must include records of the baby's heart monitoring (CTG traces) and, in particular, any brain MRI/CT scans, or cranial ultrasound scans. 

We also look at any relevant guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) or the Royal College of Obstetricians, which might assist in identifying what monitoring/assessment or treatment that should have been provided.

Following a detailed analysis of the notes, a witness statement is taken from the mother, and possibly her partner (or any other person present at the birth), which is carefully cross-referenced with the relevant medical records.

Investigating the Negligence

A team of experienced doctors and midwives are called upon to prepare reports on the care provided to mother and baby and whether critical mistakes were made. Expert opinions are crucial to establish whether the medical staff were responsible for the baby's brain damage. 

If the expert evidence indicates that poor care has led to the child's cerebral palsy, the solicitor and barrister will begin making preparations to progress the claim.

Progressing the Claim

Occasionally, full admission of legal liability is made when a letter is sent to the trust responsible for the care provided setting out the allegations. This can enable your child to access an interim compensation payment, which can be crucial to ensuring your child has the specialist care they need. 

A case manager will be appointed and through them, the parents can obtain the necessary aids and equipment to care for their child. This can include a vehicle that can accommodate a wheelchair (if the child is wheelchair dependent), any relevant therapies such as speech, language and physiotherapy, as well as suitable accommodation if appropriate.

If the trust decides to defend the allegations then the case will continue until admission is made, an out-of-court settlement is agreed, or it finally goes before a high court judge to decide the outcome. However, few cases ever reach court and most are settled successfully at a much earlier stage.

Talk to Us 

It is essential to have a solicitor experienced in this field of medical negligence law because cerebral palsy cases are often strongly contested. Our specialist lawyers will do their utmost to help you claim the maximum amount of compensation, which can be in the millions of pounds, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Legal aid is available for cerebral palsy claims and most children will qualify as it is only the child's income and assets that are taken into account. We are also able to take on cases on a no win, no fee basis. 

For an assessment of your potential claim, please contact us on 0345 872 6666, or complete our online enquiry form and one of our specialists will contact you shortly. 

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