Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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Chicago cerebral palsy lawyers specialize in working with families on medical malpractice and birth injury cases. They represent children harmed by medical negligence and left living with permanent disabilities. Lawyers help these families recover damages needed for ongoing care.

Medical Negligence and Cerebral Palsy – What’s the Connection?

A medical malpractice case involves negligence on the part of a doctor or other medical professional. When they make a mistake or fail to provide adequate care, and someone gets hurt, they can be held liable for damages.

Your child’s cerebral palsy might have resulted from negligence. Some examples of situations that can lead to cerebral palsy and could be considered malpractice include:

• Not providing adequate care during pregnancy resulting in illnesses that harm the developing fetus
• Failing to monitor the fetus for distress during labor
• Ignoring or reacting late to signs of distress
• Failing to consider a mother’s risk factors for complications
• Not performing a timely c-section
• Not diagnosing or treating jaundice in the newborn

When Should I Hire a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer for My Child?

For a parent, it’s not easy to determine if cerebral palsy resulted from negligence. Your focus is on your child’s care. This is why it’s essential to talk to a lawyer, whether negligence seems obvious or not. They can go over your information and decide if you have a case for malpractice.

One of the most important reasons to talk to and potentially hire a lawyer is the costs of treatments your child faces. Cerebral palsy often requires lifelong care, costly treatments, and assistive technology. If a doctor caused this condition, they are liable for the damages. A lawyer can help you get a settlement or lawsuit verdict in a fair amount.

Finding the Right Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Start your search for a lawyer by finding a local firm with a national reach. They should specialize in medical malpractice and have experience litigating on behalf of birth injury victims.

Take firms up on offers of free initial consultations. This is your chance to ask questions and find out if you have a strong case. Interview at least a few firms or lawyers before hiring one.

Ensure the lawyer you hire has the relevant experience, references from past clients and proven wins, contingency payment, and the time and resources to devote to your case.

When Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Win for Clients

There are many examples of wins lawyers get their cerebral palsy clients in Chicago. Many remain undisclosed settlements, but some make the news. These illustrate what the right lawyer can do to a family wronged by medical malpractice.

Lisa Ewing filed her lawsuit on behalf of her son Isaiah and eventually won a $53 million jury award in 2016, a record for Cook County. Isaiah has severe cerebral palsy and needs lifelong care, treatments, and assistive devices, including a wheelchair. The verdict amount will help cover his costs.

Ewing’s lawyers found at least 20 mistakes doctors made when Isiah was born at the University of Chicago Medical Center. These included a failure to monitor the mother, failure to perform a c-section in time, and failure to notice Isaiah was losing oxygen.[1]

A boy born at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center in 2009 had several conditions that were not life-threatening but required surgery. A doctor at the facility performed 25 surgeries on him over two years. On the last procedure, he punctured the pulmonary artery.

The boy suffered brain damage from disrupted blood flow and now has cerebral palsy. The family’s lawyers argued that the doctor was negligent in this accident and also that he performed experimental procedures on the boy. They helped the family get $30 million in a settlement to cover his lifelong care expenses.[2]

Treatment and Resources for Cerebral Palsy in Chicago

In addition to legal advocacy, your child needs the best medical care. Early and effective treatments for cerebral palsy and associated conditions improve outcomes. Here are a few facilities that can help you in Chicago.

Anne & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

This leading Chicagoland medical facility for pediatrics treats all types of conditions, including cerebral palsy. The specialists here use a team approach to evaluate each child and create an individualized treatment plan.

Specialties beneficial for children with cerebral palsy include orthopedics, neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, dentistry, and orthotics. Children also benefit from a rehabilitation team with physical, occupational, and speech and language therapists.[3]

225 E. Chicago Ave.

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 227-4000

Shriner’s Children’s Hospital

Shriner’s has locations around the country, including a facility in Chicago that treats children with cerebral palsy. The multidisciplinary team here includes orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation physicians, therapists, nutritionists, orthotic specialists, social workers, and more.[4]

2211 N. Oak Park Ave.

Chicago, IL 60707

(773) 622-5400

Shirley Ryan Ability Lab

The Ability Lab treats cerebral palsy patients of all ages. The lab uses computerized motion and gait analysis along with other evaluation methods to create the best treatment plan for each patient. The spasticity clinic focuses on improving function and reducing pain. The pediatric lab caters to children’s unique needs.[5]

355 East Erie

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 238-1000

Treatment and care for cerebral palsy are often lifelong. To cover the costs and make sure your child has what they need, consult with a Chicago cerebral palsy lawyer about filing a lawsuit and recovering damages.