West Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

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Call a West Virginia cerebral palsy lawyer if you believe medical mistakes caused your child’s condition. An experienced lawyer can determine if you have a case for medical malpractice. If so, they can help you seek compensation for your child’s treatment and care.

Do I Need a West Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?

You need a lawyer if your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy can be caused by negligence, which means you might have a reason to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit.

An experienced cerebral palsy lawyer can help you determine if your case is valid and if your child was harmed by negligence. Figuring out if medical malpractice caused your child’s cerebral palsy isn’t easy, but with qualified legal guidance, you’ll know the best actions to take.

As your child gets older, whether or not you ever file or win a medical malpractice suit, you will need a good lawyer for other legal actions.

For instance, if your child experiences discrimination, if the local schools fail to provide appropriate special education services, or if you need to draft legal documents for your child’s protection, you must have the right lawyer to guide you in your choices.

How Can a Lawyer Help My Child?

The first way your lawyer can help you is by providing information, guidance, and expert advice. The right lawyer will take some of the burdens off your shoulders and help you get through this process more smoothly.

You’ll also get peace of mind, and your child will get a better chance at the best care. An expert West Virginia cerebral palsy lawyer can give you the best shot at winning a malpractice lawsuit that will result in a monetary award.

A lawyer will also be by your side, guiding other difficult decisions, such as fighting against discrimination or getting better school services.

A lawyer can draft essential documents for you, including a living will, setting up a trust, or starting a conservatorship.

Medical Malpractice and Disability Rights in West Virginia

A medical malpractice lawsuit is likely the most significant legal battle you face on behalf of your child. All states have malpractice laws, and most favor medical professionals over victims.

Statute of Limitations

In West Virginia, for instance, you can only file this kind of lawsuit within two years of discovering that medical negligence occurred.

A hard limit, known as a statute of repose, prevents a lawsuit from being filed more than ten years from the actual incident. Exceptions can be made for minors, extending the time limit to their 12th birthday.[1]

How Much Compensation Can I Get for Cerebral Palsy?

Another limitation is that noneconomic damages are capped in the state, so you can only recover a certain amount for things like pain and suffering.

The cap for noneconomic damages in West Virginia was set at $250,000 but is adjusted annually for inflation with a maximum of $375,000. The cap for catastrophic injuries is $500,000 to $750,000.[2]

Certificate of Merit

Within 30 days of filing your lawsuit, you must also notify all defendants with a thorough explanation and provide a certificate of merit.

A certificate of merit is a document signed by an appropriate medical expert that states your case is valid and that malpractice likely occurred.[3]

Discrimination

The laws protecting disabled individuals from discrimination are more favorable. The West Virginia Human Rights Act can be applied if your child is denied access and opportunities. The West Virginia Human Rights Commission describes how to file a complaint.[4]

Federal laws are also important if your child is denied appropriate education services and accommodations.

Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Cases in West Virginia

West Virginia cerebral palsy lawyers are always fighting on behalf of the young victims of medical negligence. They can often win justice for their clients and compensation, as was the case for one family that received a $7.1 million award from a judge in their case in 2018.

A U.S. District Judge agreed with the family’s lawyer and found that the doctor cited in the evidence failed to meet an appropriate standard of care.[5]

The baby in the case was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in 2013 and suffered brain damage. The doctor in the case failed to transfer the struggling newborn to a hospital better equipped to help her.

The judge decided on the amount for the damages because this little girl would never be able to walk or live independently.

Another case is ongoing in the state in which a family blames Raleigh General Hospital staff for their child’s birth injuries.

The baby was born at the hospital in Beckley, West Virginia, in 2016 and was later diagnosed with microcephaly and other conditions related to the difficult delivery.[6]

The family believes the baby’s health problems could have been prevented with better care. Their lawyer is taking their case to trial to prove that the staff failed to accurately monitor fetal well-being during labor.

How to Find a West Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

If you can find a great lawyer like those fighting on behalf of families in these successful cases, you stand a good chance of getting justice for your child.

You should only choose a lawyer who has experience with these situations because the laws tend to favor the defendants, not the victims. Medical malpractice cases are not easy to win.

Look for a lawyer or a law firm specializing in medical malpractice, birth injuries, and cerebral palsy. A general lawyer will not have the expertise you need.

Look for the best lawyer through referrals from other parents or community groups that work for disabled children.

Interview lawyers before hiring the one you feel is best for your family.

Finding out that your child has this lifelong condition and will live with cerebral palsy and disabilities forever is devastating. Knowing that inadequate medical care is to blame for this is upsetting.

With the right West Virginia cerebral palsy lawyer, you can take steps to protect your child now and in the future.