Arkansas Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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An Arkansas cerebral palsy lawyer represents families of children with cerebral palsy to help them get justice for disabilities caused by medical malpractice. An experienced lawyer can help you hold negligent medical professionals accountable and get compensation for your child.

Why Do I Need an Arkansas Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?

As you come to terms with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for your child, it might not cross your mind at first to have a lawyer on your side. But if your child was born in the state, an Arkansas cerebral palsy lawyer can help you decide your next steps.

Many cases of cerebral palsy occur through medical malpractice, which are preventable mistakes made by medical professionals. For instance, a doctor who uses too much force to deliver a baby could cause infant brain damage. A nurse who did not adequately monitor the heartbeat could impact the baby’s development.

Malpractice laws and cases are complicated, and you may struggle with what steps to take next without expert advice. If you are struggling with expenses related to caring for your disabled child, contact a reliable lawyer.

Further, your child may end up a victim of discrimination. There are laws to protect the disabled from this, and if your child’s rights are violated, seek a lawyer.

How Can the Right Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help My Family?

The benefits can be huge if you find the right lawyer to work with you on your child’s case. One of the most important is getting compensation. Your disabled child will need care for the rest of his life, which costs money.

If a doctor or other healthcare worker was responsible for your child’s injury, a malpractice case could bring a settlement that will help support your child.

The laws are complicated, though. You’ll also likely go up against big insurance companies. An experienced Arkansas cerebral palsy lawyer can help you navigate the process and give you better odds of success.

You may not even be sure if malpractice played a role in your child’s diagnosis, but the right lawyer can figure it out and let you know if you have a case.

Medical Malpractice and Birth Injury Laws in Arkansas

The laws that govern malpractice cases, such as those against doctors whose negligent actions caused a birth injury, are complex and don’t always favor the victims.

For instance, if a court finds you to be even partly negligent in your child’s diagnosis, no matter how serious the mistake the doctor made, your compensation can be reduced.

You should also understand the statute of limitations on malpractice cases in Arkansas. You have two years from the negligent action to sue. Or, if the error wasn’t immediately obvious, you get only one year from the time of discovery.

Rights for the Disabled in Arkansas

You may also want to hire a lawyer in Arkansas if your child faces discrimination. Federal laws ensure access and educational opportunities for people with disabilities. They also protect against discrimination.

If your child is not being given fair access at school, for instance, this may be a situation in which a lawyer can help you make a case and sue the district for equal rights. In addition to federal laws, disabled people in the state are also protected by the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993.

Arkansas Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Cases

Many families have already filed lawsuits against healthcare professionals in Arkansas over cerebral palsy and other birth injuries. In one recent example, a mother sued a midwifery service for the harm caused to her baby born with cerebral palsy.[1]

The mother is accusing the midwives of several instances of malpractice. She was diagnosed with a kidney infection and a strep infection during pregnancy and has stated that the midwives did not take these diagnoses seriously. The diseases have the potential to harm the unborn child.

During labor and delivery, the woman filing the lawsuit claimed that the midwives failed to monitor fetal heart rate. They did not call 911 when she requested it during the home birth, and they were unable to notice the baby was distressed.

The newborn girl had seizures immediately after birth and struggled to breathe. After treatment at the hospital, the baby received a diagnosis of meningitis, brain damage, and cerebral palsy.

The midwife who failed to manage this birth and whose inactions caused a severe and permanent disability in the baby has had her license revoked in the state of Arkansas. Whether the mother will win her case against the midwife remains to be seen.

How to Find the Right Lawyer for Your Child

Finding the best Arkansas cerebral palsy lawyer to work on behalf of your child is essential in getting the best outcome. As you search for an excellent legal team, keep in mind that you need someone who is an expert in malpractice laws and birth injuries. Your lawyer should also show a proven track record of helping families like yours.

You can search through the state bar association for a lawyer with relevant experience. Another way to find the best lawyer is to talk to other parents of children in the same situation. They might recommend a professional who has the proof to back up claims of specializing in birth injury cases.

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another type of birth injury, you might feel it limits your options. But with the right lawyer, you can fight for your child’s rights and the compensation needed for years to come.