Michigan Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

The world changes profoundly when your child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. As a parent, you may be overwhelmed with questions: What went wrong? Could anything have been done differently? You notice developmental delays, muscle stiffness, and you wonder about the cause. Perhaps you recall a difficult delivery or moments when you were concerned about your baby’s oxygen supply. There is a possibility that your child’s cerebral palsy is a result of a birth injury due to medical malpractice.

Facing medical bills, therapy costs, and an uncertain future can be daunting. The compassionate Michigan cerebral palsy lawyers at American Baby and Child (ABC) Law Centers are here to support you. We understand the challenges you are dealing with, and we are dedicated to fighting for the resources your child needs to thrive.

A birth injury lawsuit can help secure the financial compensation necessary to provide your child with the best possible care and future opportunities. Let us help you navigate this difficult time and work towards a brighter future for your family.

When facing the emotional and financial challenges of a birth injury, you need a legal team that understands your situation and this complex area of law. At ABC Law Centers, birth injury cases are our primary focus. This dedicated approach means we possess a unique understanding of the medical and legal intricacies involved in cerebral palsy cases, providing knowledgeable and comprehensive representation.

Our Michigan-based attorneys work closely with each family and will be accessible and supportive throughout your legal journey. We know that navigating a birth injury claim resulting from medical negligence can be overwhelming, and our compassionate team is here to guide you every step of the way. From the initial consultation to the resolution of your case, a Michigan cerebral palsy lawyer can provide the personalized attention and care your family needs during this challenging time.

Choosing ABC Law Centers means choosing a team that genuinely cares about your child’s future. We fight tirelessly to secure the financial compensation required to cover medical expenses, therapies, and other essential resources. Let us be your advocates, working to ensure that your child has the best possible opportunities for growth and development.

Cerebral palsy is most often the result of a birth injury. The term “birth injury” can be broadly defined as any type of harm to a baby that occurs during or near the time of birth. This includes trauma (excessive force/pressure), birth asphyxia (oxygen deprivation), neonatal infections, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. These birth injuries can cause cerebral palsy and other complications.

Birth injuries are often preventable, meaning that they occur because of negligent actions by medical professionals or hospital systems. If this negligence causes a permanent health condition or disability, such as cerebral palsy, it constitutes medical malpractice. Parents have the option of pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit on behalf of their child.

Cerebral palsy has many possible causes, including brain damage as well as genetic factors. Many cases stem from preventable birth injuries involving medical malpractice.

Of course, for parents who are not medical experts, it can be difficult to determine the difference. If you are unsure of exactly what caused your child’s cerebral palsy, or whether a medical professional or organization acted negligently, feel free to reach out to us for a case evaluation.

Completing a consultation with us is free of charge and completely confidential. There is no obligation to pursue a case with us following the initial evaluation. We can provide our professional opinion on what caused your child’s cerebral palsy, and whether we think you may have a case.

However, because we are not doctors, we cannot offer medical advice.

As a parent, noticing signs that your child may not be developing as expected can be deeply concerning. If you suspect that your child may have suffered a birth injury resulting in their developing cerebral palsy, understanding the symptoms can help you seek timely intervention and support.

There are different types of cerebral palsy (CP), each with distinct characteristics and indicators. The main types of cerebral palsy include spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed cerebral palsy. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type, affecting around 70-80% of those diagnosed. Ataxic cerebral palsy is the least common type.

Common symptoms of cerebral palsy often include developmental delays, such as a delay in reaching milestones like sitting, crawling, or walking. You might observe muscle stiffness or abnormal muscle tone, making your child’s movements appear rigid or exaggerated. On the other hand, some children may exhibit low muscle tone, resulting in floppy or overly relaxed limbs. Additionally, difficulty with coordination and precise movements, such as grasping objects or bringing hands together, can be a red flag.

If your child has trouble swallowing, experiences excessive drooling, or displays unusual posture, these could also be indicators of cerebral palsy. Seizures, hearing or vision problems, and intellectual disabilities are less common, but can accompany the condition.

Trust your instincts as a parent. If you see any of these indicators, talk to your child’s pediatrician right away. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to improving outcomes and enhancing your child’s quality of life.

When looking for a qualified cerebral palsy attorney, it may be useful to get answers to the following questions:

• What is the firm’s legal focus?
  Lawyers who specifically handle birth injury cases are much more knowledgeable about the intricacies involved in this area of law.
• Does the attorney consult medical professionals?
  Medico-legal consultants have in-depth knowledge of standard of care. They can help to determine exactly where malpractice may have occurred, and how medical professionals should have acted in specific scenarios. We have in-house certified nurses who assist with our cases, and also consult leading medical experts across the nation.
• Has the lawyer handled cases similar to your child’s?
  Do they understand your child’s unique symptoms, and the medical complications/errors that may have caused them?
• How successful have their past cases been?
  You can ask about their record of verdicts and settlements. We provide information on ours along with a detailed explanation of how these numbers are calculated.
• What other qualifications does the attorney have?
  You may want to ask about their participation in important legal groups (such as the Birth Trauma Litigation Group), awards, peer-reviewed publications, etc.
• What do former clients think of this attorney?
  Other clients’ experiences can tell you what working with an attorney is like. See our testimonials here.
• Does the attorney work on a contingency fee agreement?
  This means that you would pay nothing unless they win or settle your case. This policy is a sign of their confidence in their legal abilities and minimizes the financial risk to clients.

These considerations are important when choosing an attorney that’s right for you and your child. Our step-by-step guide offers more detailed information on choosing a good cerebral palsy and birth injury attorney.

Each case is unique, but there are steps of the legal process that are involved in all of our cases:

1. Initial contact:
   Our firm is available to speak with you 24/7 with compassion. Our intake specialists will reach out at a convenient time for you to ask questions about your pregnancy, birth, and child’s health. You can share any information you deem relevant and ask any questions. We are here to listen. If you are interested in pursuing a case, the intake specialist will provide one of our attorneys with the details of your case, and they will look for malpractice.
2. Case evaluations:
   This is when the attorneys, along with one of our in-house nurses, work to determine if they think you have a birth injury case. We may call to ask a couple of follow-up questions after the initial intake. After the case evaluation, we will let you know whether we think malpractice occurred; you can then decide whether you would like to work with our firm. In some situations, we may not be the best fit for your case, and will refer you to a trusted colleague who will be better equipped to help you. We would ask for your consent before making a referral.
3. Retainer:
   If we believe that we can assist with your case, we will send a retainer document that describes the legal process. An attorney will speak with you on the phone to make sure that you understand this document and answer any questions you may have. We will ask you to send a signed copy back to our office.
4. Medical authorizations:
   After the retainer, we will send you some forms authorizing us to obtain your medical records.
5. Investigating a case:
   Once we have received your medical records and other necessary paperwork, we will begin investigating the details of your case and getting input from leading medical experts. We are committed to keeping you informed on our progress, but you will not need to participate much during this phase. We understand that our clients are often very busy, and that caring for their children must be their top priority.
6. Pursuing a case:
   After we file a case and all the paperwork is processed, you will participate in a deposition. This is a meeting during which you will need to answer questions under oath. Typically, depositions take one day to complete. You may also need to attend settlement conferences and mediation if the occasion arises. In some cases, your child will also need to undergo a medical exam, which will be organized at your convenience.
7. Settling a case:
   Many cases can be resolved via settlement rather than proceeding to trial. To determine the future care needs of your child (which should influence the settlement amount), we will consult with life care planning experts and economists. We will then advise you on whether we think the settlement offer is fair, but the decision of whether to settle or proceed to trial is ultimately up to you.
8. Going to court:
   If you do not receive a settlement offer and accept it, you may need to go to court for further litigation.
9. After a case is closed:
   If we are successful in obtaining financial recovery (a settlement or verdict), part of this will be our compensation. This is called a contingency fee agreement. You will be informed of what percentage we will take during the initial intake phase. If we do not succeed in obtaining a recovery, you will not pay us anything.

If you suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy may be the result of a birth injury, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about the future. The caring team at ABC Law Centers is here to support you through this challenging time. Our experienced cerebral palsy lawyers understand the complexities of birth injury cases and are dedicated to fighting for the justice and resources your child deserves.

At ABC Law Centers, we recognize the emotional and financial burdens that come with a cerebral palsy diagnosis. We are committed to providing compassionate, personalized legal assistance tailored to your family’s unique needs. By contacting us, you can take the first step towards securing the financial compensation necessary to cover medical expenses, therapies, and other essential resources for your child’s care and development.

Together, we can work towards a brighter future for your child and your family. There is hope, and we’re here to help you find it.

Yes. Although our firm is based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, we handle cases in the state of Michigan and nationwide. We work with co-counsel and local counsel in states where the firm is not licensed to practice law.