According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. While some cases are unavoidable, many families discover that their child’s condition was the result of a medical mistake that could have been prevented during labor or delivery. The Cerebral Palsy birth injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller can help you investigate what happened and explore your legal options for securing your child’s future.
Based in Dallas, our firm works with families nationwide as they face the challenges of a birth injury. At Ferrer Poirot Feller, we are committed to advocating for children and families affected by medical negligence.
To schedule a free, confidential consultation, please contact our team at (888) 485-8844.
Get Legal Support for a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Case
Birth injury cases are some of the most complex in medical malpractice law. It demands a law firm with extensive medical insight and the financial strength to confront major hospital systems and their insurers. Since 1981, Ferrer Poirot Feller has been a steadfast advocate for families across the country facing these difficult circumstances.
We start with a private consultation where we listen to your concerns and answer your questions with care. During this meeting, we carefully review your account, address your questions, and provide a clear overview of the legal process.
Once retained, our team conducts a thorough investigation into every stage of the pregnancy, labor, and delivery. This includes obtaining and analyzing critical medical records, such as fetal heart monitoring strips, delivery notes, and newborn care charts.
We work with a national network of board-certified medical experts, including obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatric neurologists. These professionals review your case to determine if the medical care provided to you and your child fell below the accepted standard and if that failure caused the brain injury resulting in Cerebral Palsy.
Our No Fee Guarantee means your family will never bear the financial burden of pursuing a claim. We cover all costs in advance, including investigation, expert consultations, and litigation.
Attorney’s fees are only collected if we achieve a successful outcome on your behalf. This approach allows you to focus fully on your child’s care while we manage the legal complexities of your case.
Understanding Cerebral Palsy and How It Affects Children
Cerebral Palsy is not a single condition but a group of neurological disorders that affect movement, balance, and posture. It results from abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain, most often occurring before birth.
The impact of CP varies greatly from person to person. Some individuals may experience only a mild limp, while others may rely on a wheelchair and require lifelong care. The main types of Cerebral Palsy are:
- Spastic CP: The most common type, characterized by stiff muscles and awkward movements.
- Dyskinetic CP: People with this type have trouble controlling the movement of their hands, arms, feet, and legs, making it difficult to sit and walk.
- Ataxic CP: This is the least common type and involves problems with balance and coordination.
- Mixed CP: Some people have symptoms of more than one type of Cerebral Palsy.
While CP is a lifelong condition, a diagnosis is just the beginning of understanding a child’s potential. With the right medical care, therapy, and support, children with CP can lead full and meaningful lives.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy? How Medical Negligence May Be Involved
A common misconception is that all cases of Cerebral Palsy are unavoidable acts of nature. While this is true in some instances, a significant number of cases are the direct result of a brain injury that occurred because a doctor, nurse, or hospital failed to provide appropriate medical care during the childbirth process.
Most preventable birth injuries are caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain, a condition known as birth asphyxia or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Even a brief period of oxygen deprivation can result in the death of brain cells, leading to permanent and irreversible brain damage.
Healthcare providers are trained to identify signs of fetal distress and to act promptly to protect the baby from harm. When they fail to respond appropriately, this may constitute medical negligence. Cerebral palsy birth injury attorneys thoroughly investigate the medical care provided to determine whether negligence contributed to the child’s condition.
Medical Mistakes That Can Lead to Cerebral Palsy
A birth injury can happen at any point during labor and delivery. A thorough investigation of the medical records often reveals one or more critical errors made by the medical team. Some of the most common forms of negligence that can lead to a CP diagnosis include:
Failure to Monitor and Respond to Fetal Distress
A baby’s heart rate provides a clear indication of how well they are tolerating labor. Doctors and nurses have a duty to properly interpret fetal heart monitoring strips and to intervene quickly if the baby shows signs of distress.
Delaying a Necessary Cesarean Section (C-Section)
When a baby is in distress, is too large to pass through the birth canal, or is in an abnormal position (like a breech position), a timely C-section is often the safest option. An unreasonable delay can lead to a prolonged oxygen deprivation injury.
Improper Use of Delivery Tools
Tools like forceps or a vacuum extractor can be helpful in a difficult delivery, but they can cause serious head trauma and brain bleeds if used with too much force or placed incorrectly.
Failure to Treat Maternal Infections
Infections in the mother, such as Group B Strep, can be passed to the baby during delivery and lead to meningitis, a serious infection that can cause brain damage. Proper screening and treatment are the standard of care.
Mismanagement of Umbilical Cord Problems
Issues like a prolapsed cord (where the cord slips down before the baby) or a nuchal cord (wrapped around the baby’s neck) can cut off the baby’s oxygen supply. A failure to address these emergencies promptly is a form of negligence.
Failure to Manage Newborn Conditions
After birth, a failure to properly treat severe jaundice (kernicterus) or meningitis can also lead to the brain damage that causes Cerebral Palsy.
These medical mistakes are severe violations of the standard of care and can permanently change a child’s life.
How Our Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Investigate a Birth Injury
A successful Cerebral Palsy lawsuit begins with a detailed investigation into what happened before, during, and after delivery. Our legal team partners with respected medical experts to examine the facts, identify possible errors, and determine whether medical negligence played a role in your child’s condition.
What to Expect During Your Free, Confidential Case Evaluation
When you reach out to our team, we begin with a free, no-obligation consultation where you can share your story with someone who understands the sensitive nature of birth injury cases. During this call, we’ll ask questions about your pregnancy and delivery and explain how the legal process works. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to decide what’s right for your family.
Step One: Gathering the Medical Records Needed to Investigate the Birth Injury
If you choose to move forward, we begin by collecting all relevant medical records that may provide insight into how the injury occurred. This includes:
- The mother’s prenatal care and obstetric history
- Complete hospital records from labor and delivery
- Fetal heart rate monitoring strips
- Newborn resuscitation and early pediatric care records
- Results from any imaging studies, such as MRIs or head ultrasounds
These records allow us to understand exactly what care was provided and where things may have gone wrong. Our team works with professionals who are trained to interpret complex medical data and identify signs of preventable harm.
Step Two: Independent Medical Experts Review the Records for Evidence of Negligence
Once we’ve gathered the necessary medical records, we forward them to independent specialists in birth-related care. An experienced OB-GYN evaluates the treatment provided during labor and delivery, while a neonatologist assesses the care given to the newborn immediately after birth.
These experts determine whether the medical team followed established standards of care and whether any deviations contributed to the child’s brain injury. If both a breach of care and a direct link to the injury are confirmed, we can proceed with a legal claim.
How Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawyers Help Build a Life Care Plan
Cerebral Palsy birth injury lawyers often work with specialists known as life care planners to determine the full range of support a child may need. A life care planner evaluates your child’s condition, medical history, and daily challenges.
Based on this assessment, they create a detailed plan that outlines the medical care, therapy, equipment, and services your child may require throughout their life. A comprehensive life care plan may account for:
- Doctor visits and hospital stays
- Ongoing physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Medications and future surgical procedures
- Equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, or communication devices
- Home or vehicle modifications for better mobility and access
- In-home nursing or personal care services
- Special education programs and job training opportunities
The plan outlines projected costs and gives your legal team a clear way to show the long-term financial impact of the injury. It often plays a major role in showing the long-term impact of the injury.
Types of Compensation in a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawsuit
Cerebral Palsy birth injury lawyers pursue financial compensation to support the full range of care a child may require. Legal claims address both measurable financial losses and the emotional and physical effects caused by the injury.
Recovering the Cost of Medical Care and Lost Future Earnings
Economic damages refer to the financial burdens associated with a child’s condition. Using the life care plan as a guide, these damages may include:
- Medical bills and therapy costs
- Hospital stays and long-term treatment
- Assistive equipment and necessary home modifications
- Loss of the child’s future ability to earn income
This compensation helps ensure your child’s care continues, even when you’re no longer able to provide it yourself.
Seeking Compensation for Pain, Loss of Function, and Emotional Harm
Non-economic damages focus on the personal harm experienced by the child and family. These losses are not financial in nature but reflect significant changes in quality of life. They may include:
- Pain and suffering experienced by the child
- Loss of the ability to engage in everyday activities
- Emotional distress felt by parents and caregivers
Although these harms cannot be measured in dollars alone, they are a meaningful part of any birth injury case.
How a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawyer Can Support Your Family
Cerebral Palsy birth injury lawyers help families navigate the legal system, coordinate expert evaluations, and build strong cases grounded in medical and financial evidence. A legal claim can provide access to the funding needed for therapies, assistive equipment, educational services, and in-home care.
With experienced legal support and guidance from qualified professionals, families are better positioned to secure the resources their child will need to grow, learn, and live with greater independence and stability.
Talk to a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Lawyer About Your Child’s Future
A Cerebral Palsy diagnosis brings many questions about your child’s care, independence, and long-term support. If the condition was caused by a preventable medical mistake, you have the right to seek accountability and pursue financial resources that can improve your child’s quality of life.
Filing a lawsuit is not about assigning blame. It is about securing the support your family needs to manage lifelong challenges and create more opportunities for your child’s growth, development, and well-being.
The Cerebral Palsy birth injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller have been representing families across the country since 1981. Our team brings decades of experience and a deep commitment to standing up for children who have been harmed at birth.
To speak with someone today, call (888) 485-8844 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 to listen, answer your questions, and explain how we may be able to help your family move forward.