This article has been fact checked by an experienced birth injury attorney. Sources of information for the article are listed at the bottom.
For any content issues please Contact Us.
Parents of children born with cerebral palsy in the area rely on Des Moines cerebral palsy lawyers for legal guidance and representation. They specialize in medical malpractice and help families affected by birth injuries that cause cerebral palsy.
Does Negligence Cause Cerebral Palsy?
Children affected by cerebral palsy face lifelong disabilities. In some cases, cerebral palsy symptoms and associated conditions are severe enough that a child needs 24-hour, lifelong care.
Cerebral palsy results from brain damage, which most often occurs in pregnancy, during labor and delivery, or shortly after birth. A medical professional can make a mistake during any of these periods that leads to brain damage and permanent disabilities.
Get Matched with a Leading Birth Injury Attorney in Your Area
Get Help NowAs an example, if a doctor doesn’t diagnose or treat a maternal illness during pregnancy, it can affect the fetus’s developing brain. A doctor might fail to notice signs that the fetus is in distress or losing oxygen during labor, resulting in damage.
After birth, improper care or delay in treatment for any conditions or troubling symptoms can cause lasting damage.
Do I Need a Des Moines Cerebral Palsy Lawyer for My Child?
If your child has a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, talk to a local lawyer specializing in medical malpractice and birth injuries. Even if it turns out medical malpractice did not cause your child’s injuries, it’s worth investigating.
When doctors and other care providers make mistakes that lead to lifelong disabilities, they should be held accountable.
A lawyer with experience in these cases can review your situation, collect evidence, and work with medical experts to build a case against those responsible.
Working with a lawyer means you can take on big hospitals, insurers, and their legal teams. You have a much better chance of getting a fair settlement or even a jury verdict that will cover the costs of your child’s care.
How to Find a Des Moines Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
Finding a lawyer in Des Moines isn’t difficult, but finding the right one for your family might take some time. Look for the following as you narrow down the options:
- Expertise in medical malpractice
- Experience taking on and winning birth injury cases
- Proven wins for clients like you
- References from past clients
- Free initial consultations to answer your questions
- Contingency payment
- Adequate time and resources to handle your case
Most importantly, choose a lawyer you feel comfortable with and who gives you confidence in a successful outcome for your child.
How Much Compensation Can I Get for Cerebral Palsy?
Every case is different, and compensation amounts vary. These examples of wins for local families show you what could be possible if you work with the right lawyer:
- A Polk County jury awarded Debra Gardner $13.5 million after her child was born with birth injuries that led to cerebral palsy. She filed against two doctors and Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines. Her lawyers argued that the staff failed to adequately monitor the progress of her pregnancy and fetal development. Her son Nathaniel suffered brain damage and is now disabled.[1]
- In a small town east of Des Moines, Dr. Lynette Isles has faced numerous disciplinary charges over negligent care. In one case, her negligence resulted in serious brain damage to an unborn baby. That baby now has severe quadriplegia cerebral palsy. A jury awarded the family $18.1 million.[2]
Cerebral Palsy Treatment and Support in Des Moines
With legal representation secured, you can focus on your child’s medical care. Several facilities in Des Moines offer excellent care and specialists for children and adults with cerebral palsy.
Blank Children’s Hospital
Blank Children’s Hospital serves children and their families. Specialists in developmental pediatrics, diagnostics, gastroenterology, neurology, orthopedics, surgery, and other areas can evaluate your child and provide individualized treatment plans.
Children also benefit from therapy, behavioral services, nutrition counseling, and other support services.[3]
1200 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 241-5437
MercyOne Children’s Hospital
Also located centrally in Des Moines, MercyOne Children’s Hospital offers several areas of specialty care that benefit children with cerebral palsy: neurology, surgery, gastroenterology, behavioral medicine, therapy, and others.[4]
1111 6th Avenue
East Tower
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 247-3121
ChildServe
ChildServe offers clinical, community-based, and home services for children with disabilities and developmental delays. With a multi-disciplinary approach, teams of specialists develop the best treatment and support plan for each child.
ChildServe offers case management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, orthotics, adaptive equipment, brain injury rehabilitation, orthopedic care, and more.[5]
Your child’s cerebral palsy might have been preventable. If a doctor is to blame, a Des Moines cerebral palsy lawyer can explain your rights and help you seek justice and damages.
Get Matched with a Leading Birth Injury Attorney in Your Area
Get Help NowReferences
- The Dispatch-Argus. (2007, September 6). Polk County Jury Awards $13.5 Million in Injured Baby Case.
Retrieved from: https://qconline.com/news/iowa/polk-county-jury-awards-13-5-million-in-injured-baby-case/article_14e10afb-c409-5cca-81b5-a84d99a068cc.html - Kauffman, C. (2021, July 29). Iowa Doctor Accused of Incompetence Faces Fifth Round of Licensing Sanctions. Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Retrieved from: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/07/29/iowa-doctor-accused-of-incompetence-faces-fifth-round-of-licensing-sanctions/ - UnityPoint Health. (n.d.). UnityPoint Health - Blank Children's Hospital.
Retrieved from: https://www.unitypoint.org/locations/unitypoint-health---blank-childrens-hospital - MercyOne. (n.d.). MercyOne Children's Hospital.
Retrieved from: https://www.mercyone.org/desmoines/location/mercyone-childrens-hospital - ChildServe. (n.d.). Get to Know ChildServe.
Retrieved from: https://www.childserve.org/about/