West Virginia Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Representing Families of CP-Afflicted Children

When medical malpractice affects a family, the results can be catastrophic and long-lasting. One such instance is cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy occurs in 2 out of every 1,000 births, but it does not always have to be the result of a birth injury.

Sometimes the defects are seen while the baby is still in the womb, but in other cases the symptoms do show until the child is a toddler. Cerebral palsy is not just one disorder, but rather a category of disorders that affect the brain and nervous system.

Thus, the following are often affected:

• Muscle coordination
• Motor skills
• Ability to learn and speak

There are many cases of cerebral palsy where science is unable to determine what caused the condition. However, we do know some of the causes of this disorder.

All know factors that increase the risk of the presence of cerebral palsy are:

• Infection or bleeding in the brain
• Head trauma
• Severe jaundice
• An infection in the mother during pregnancy

Sometimes, this is outside of anyone's control, but it may also be due to the fact that a doctor failed to diagnose a problem such as jaundice or rubella. If this is the case, they could be held responsible for whatever happens to the child.

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, call Fitzsimmons Law Firm PLLC today at (888) 492-4303 or contact us online. Our West Virginia cerebral palsy attorneys can help you seek the compensation you need.

What Are the Four Types of Cerebral Palsy?

Medical experts recognize four main types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic cerebral palsy – Also referred to as pyramidal cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by strained, stiff, and unnatural movement as well as difficulty grasping and holding objects. This is the most common type of cerebral palsy.
• Athetoid cerebral palsy – Sometimes called extrapyramidal or dyskinetic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy affects between 10 and 20 percent of cerebral palsy patients and is characterized by uncontrolled writhing movement, impaired speech, and difficulty swallowing. Athetoid cerebral palsy is most commonly associated with asphyxia at birth.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy – Ataxic cerebral palsy is a type of cerebral palsy that affects a person's balance, coordination, and depth perception. Individuals with ataxic cerebral palsy tend to experience tremors which makes tasks such as buttoning clothes and writing difficult. Only 5 to 10 percent of people with cerebral palsy are diagnosed with this type.
• Mixed cerebral palsy – People with mixed cerebral palsy experience symptoms of more than one of the above mentioned varieties. This can occur when multiple parts of the brain are damaged, with the most common combination of symptoms being athetoid and spastic movements.