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Contact experienced Maryland cerebral palsy lawyers if you think your child’s condition was triggered by medical negligence. An expert in medical malpractice laws and disability rights can help you make important decisions to help get justice and recover damages.
Does Medical Malpractice Cause Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders caused by brain damage. Many complications and factors during pregnancy, labor, and delivery can cause brain damage in a baby. It’s not always possible to find one cause.
In some cases, a baby’s brain damage and resulting cerebral palsy can be traced to a doctor’s preventable mistakes. Failing to provide adequate care is medical malpractice if it harms the patient, resulting in damages.
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Get Help NowDo I Need a Maryland Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?
If you have a child with cerebral palsy, you most likely will need a good lawyer at some point if you think malpractice occurred. You may not be sure a preventable medical error caused your child’s condition, but the right lawyer will know.
You may suspect that your child’s school has not given them all the services or technologies necessary or that they are suffering from direct discrimination in some way. A lawyer who specializes in these kinds of laws can provide valuable guidance.
How a Maryland Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help You and Your Child
A lawsuit can help you get justice for your child, recover damages that will provide care and treatment for life, and ensure that your child receives a good education and access to the same opportunities as other children.
For your best chances of success, you need the help of an experienced attorney who understands medical malpractice laws in Maryland.
A good lawyer can be an invaluable guide, providing you with the information and legal steps you need to know. Your lawyer will fight for your rights to help get the funding to which your child is entitled through disability payments, government sources, settlements, or, in some instances, a trial.
A lawyer can also help you set up a trust or draft legal documents for your child’s future care.
How to Find a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer in Maryland
First, to find a good Maryland cerebral palsy lawyer, search only for those specializing in disabilities and malpractice. The laws regarding these situations can be complicated, and you need an expert, not a general lawyer.
Start your search with other parents. If you know others who have been through a similar situation, they may have a trusted lawyer or law firm to recommend. You can also search online or through the state Bar Association.
As you search for a lawyer to represent your child and your family, ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable with the person or team you hire.
Don’t be pressured into hiring just any lawyer. A good lawyer will happily answer questions, provide references, share relevant cases and experiences, and discuss payment.
Maryland’s Medical Malpractice Laws
Every state has its own set of laws governing lawsuits over medical malpractice. They can be restrictive, so it’s essential to understand the rules that could prevent you from getting justice. One consideration is the time limit, known as the statute of limitations.[1]
In Maryland, you cannot file a malpractice suit more than five years from when the negligence occurred or three years from when you realized it happened.
Before filing that lawsuit, you must get a certificate from a qualified medical expert to state that your case has merit. It can be challenging to understand without the assistance of the right lawyer.[2]
You should also know that state law caps the amount of money you can recover for your child for non-economic costs. This includes things like pain and suffering, and the amount is capped at $860,000.
Disability Rights in Maryland
You may need to file a lawsuit for your child over medical malpractice initially but later find that your child’s rights are being violated. Federal and state laws protect people with disabilities and ensure they have equal opportunities and access to things like education and workplaces.[3]
If your child is experiencing discrimination, you can complain to Maryland’s Commission on Civil Rights, but it helps to have a good lawyer on your side.[4] A lawyer with expertise in cerebral palsy and disability rights will understand whether you have a case for the state or if federal laws are being violated.
Knowing what to do to ensure your child’s rights can be confusing, but expert legal teams will guide you.
How Much Compensation Can My Child Get for Cerebral Palsy?
All cases are unique, and no past evidence can determine what will happen in yours. Still, it helps to learn more about previous lawsuits to know what to expect for your child when you take legal action.
One example of a successful case took place in Baltimore, where a jury awarded a boy and his family $21 million. The boy developed cerebral palsy after being born at Harbor Hospital in 2002.
The family’s legal team argued that the staff should have performed an emergency C-section to deliver him and that if they had, he would not have suffered the brain damage that led to his disabilities.
The boy experienced oxygen deprivation during delivery because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. The staff was aware of the issue but continued with the vaginal birth, which ultimately took too long and caused damage.
The boy is now severely disabled, but the money from the lawsuit will help provide for the lifelong care he needs.
Contact a Maryland cerebral palsy lawyer today if your family is in a similar situation or if you aren’t sure if medical malpractice played a role in your child’s disability.
An expert attorney will provide you with guidance, support, and information and give you the best chance to win your case.
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Get Help NowReferences
- Maryland General Assembly. (n.d.). Statutes Text. Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings. §5–109.
Retrieved from: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-109 - Morton, H. (2021, August 11). Medical Liability/Malpractice Merit Affidavits and Expert Witnesses. National Conference of State Legislatures.
Retrieved from: https://www.ncsl.org/financial-services/medical-liability-malpractice-merit-affidavits-and-expert-witnesses - ADA National Network. (n.d.). What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
Retrieved from: https://adata.org/learn-about-ada - State of Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. (n.d.). File a Complaint.
Retrieved from: https://mccr.maryland.gov/Pages/Intake.aspx