- Expert clinical negligence team approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
- No Win No Fee funding available
- Strong success rate across England and Wales
- Over 15 years’ experience in complex medical negligence claims
Can I make a cerebral palsy claim?
If your child is injured at birth, the impact can be both significant and traumatic.
The latest cerebral palsy statistics, published by UK charity Scope, suggest that one in 400 children are affected by the condition. In total, an estimated 30,000 young people are living with cerebral palsy – often with complex lifelong needs.
If negligent medical care is the reason for your child’s injury, you may be able to claim cerebral palsy compensation. Our team of solicitors have the expertise to secure the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Cerebral palsy is permanent, affecting children both physically and emotionally for the rest of their lives. Families are also deeply involved, which is why our team of medical negligence specialists will support you with compassion if you decide to claim.
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About cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is the name given to a group of disorders that affect a child’s mobility, balance and posture.
The cause is a brain injury, which may happen either before, during or soon after birth. The injury is generally to the white matter of the brain, which allows communication between different areas of the brain.
Not all children suffer from the condition in the same way, and symptoms differ from one person to the next. Some children with cerebral palsy may never be able to walk, and others can have epileptic seizures. It can even lead to a loss of vision or hearing. This multitude of associated symptoms can prompt cerebral palsy misdiagnosis in some cases.
If failures during birth led to complications, for the mother or baby, you might have encountered birth injury negligence.
Oxygen deprivation is a leading cause of damage to a child’s brain during birth. It can sometimes be the result of a mistake made by your midwife, or if an obstetrician fails to interpret test results correctly. It could also be another clinical misjudgement.
When any of the following causes are the result of poor medical treatment or care, you could be able to make a cerebral palsy negligence claim:
- Oxygen deprivation during birth
- Low blood sugar not treated or even diagnosed
- Jaundice being left unattended
- Meningitis or another similar condition not being detected
There are four main types – each of which could leave you entitled to make a cerebral palsy claim if caused by inadequate medical care. And each type can have a different effect on your child.
- Spastic cerebral palsy
Spasticity is the term for when someone’s muscle tone is stiff and tight – particularly if they try to move quickly. This makes it much harder to move, and it can be painful too.
This type of cerebral palsy is also the most common. It’s estimated that 80% of those with the condition will have a spastic impairment.
- Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
This type, which is also called athetoid or dystonic cerebral palsy, is where the muscles switch between being stiff and floppy. This will lead to random, uncontrolled movements of the body. It can also make it difficult to speak, swallow and breathe.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy
If a person has issues with their balance and coordination, the result can be clumsy or shaky movements. This is known as ataxic cerebral palsy. Most people with this type can still walk. It may cause problems with speaking and being understood.
- Mixed-type cerebral palsy
It’s not uncommon for someone with cerebral palsy to have a mixture of these types. The NHS and leading charity Pace provide more details on the four types and what they can mean for your child.
What are the consequences of cerebral palsy negligence?
Looking after a child with cerebral palsy can be exhausting, demanding and challenging. There’s a huge cost involved in making sure your child gets the care they need, both emotionally and financially.
Additional costs can include:
- Specialist equipment is often required, plus care and regular treatment.
- The demands of caring for a child with cerebral palsy can leave parents feeling emotionally drained.
- The possibility of end-of-life care limits the opportunity for a normal childhood and being able to watch a child grow up.
- Parents may struggle to meet the costs of basic care, often being forced to make difficult decisions to meet responsibilities i.e. leaving a job.
If you choose to proceed with a cerebral palsy claim, these are just a few of the factors that we will consider. At Been Let Down, our team understand the unique challenges and the lasting pressures you’ll be facing. We can support you and guide you through the process.
Do I have a valid cerebral palsy compensation claim?
Our team of medical negligence solicitors are deeply sensitive and will pursue the best possible outcome. When your child is suffering due to cerebral palsy misdiagnosis or negligent treatment, you deserve justice.
Get in touch if you think you have a case. We will listen to the details of your experience confidentially and sensitively, and we’ll let you know if we believe your cerebral palsy claim is likely to be successful. Your legal team will keep you informed as your claim progresses.
Our knowledge and experience mean that we are often able to secure substantial cerebral palsy compensation for families affected by this life-changing condition. This is essential for providing future care for your child. We’re here to make sure that your claim gives you a way to move forwards.
Why choose Been Let Down for your cerebral palsy claim?
Our solicitors are involved with many cerebral palsy claims in the UK, all on behalf of families in a similar position to yours. We’re here to make sure you get the compensation and support you need to help your child live a fulfilling life.
Here’s why you can trust us with your cerebral palsy compensation claim:
- We will consider all the long-term needs of your child. This includes ongoing care along with the impact on your child’s quality of life and their life expectancy.
- Your cerebral palsy claim will be handled in a sensitive and empathetic way at all times. We understand the stress and exhaustion that comes from caring for a child with cerebral palsy. Read our client reviews to learn more about our service.
- We make sure your cerebral palsy compensation claim receives the highest standards of attention from experts you can trust. We can help gather evidence, obtain medical reports from expert medical witnesses and help with any settlement negotiation.
- Our solicitors are all registered members of The Law Society, the independent professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. We are also regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, adhering to strict standards.
FAQs on cerebral palsy negligence claims
Yes. Our cerebral palsy solicitors take many cases on a ‘No Win No Fee‘ basis, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement.
This means you’ll generally pay nothing in the unlikely event that your claim isn’t a success. For more details, phone us on 0800 234 3234 or contact us and we’ll be happy to explain what this could mean for your claim.
The decision to make a claim is not one to take lightly. It can take careful thought to get to the point where you’re ready, since the wellbeing and happiness of your family comes first. If you think you have a claim and would like to start, we are here to help.
But cerebral palsy compensation can help you get care and support for the whole family. It could help to cover the cost of:
- Loss of earnings if you’ve given up work to care for your child
- Securing vital lifelong and specialist care
- Opportunities to make sure your child enjoys a happy and fulfilling life
When a claim is for cerebral palsy caused by medical negligence, we also know that you may be uneasy about seeking compensation from the NHS.
All NHS claims are handled by NHS Resolution, which is a dedicated body that deals with compensation claims. No frontline budgets are ever affected.
Don’t forget that a cerebral palsy claim can also be the best way to make sure the same mistakes or oversights never happen again. And it could mean others don’t share your experience.
To start, simply get in touch with a member of our legal team. You can call 0800 234 3234, ask for us to call you back or contact us online and we’ll take it from there.
The first step is a free no-obligation conversation with our legal specialists. It will let us find out more about your experience in your own words and exactly what happened to cause your child’s injury. We can then tell you if we think our cerebral palsy solicitors can help.
We will also confirm if we can take your case on a No Win No Fee basis.
Cerebral palsy claims can be complex. It can take months or even years before symptoms start to become known. This is often because some of the typical symptoms aren’t noticed until your child is late in reaching a milestone in their development e.g. sitting or walking.
While there are time limits for medical negligence claims made by adults, this does not apply when you are making a cerebral palsy claim on behalf of your child.
You can start a cerebral palsy compensation claim at any time until your child’s 18th birthday – at which point, a three-year limit comes into effect.
We always suggest speaking to our legal team as soon as you think you have a claim. By doing so, the details – which we appreciate can still feel raw and upsetting – will still be fresh in your mind. That will give your claim the strongest chance of success.
No two cerebral palsy claims are ever the same. Each one that our medical negligence solicitors take on will be unique to a child and their family.
By looking at every factor involved with your case, we will look to secure an amount of cerebral palsy compensation that properly reflects the needs of your child.
This amount can cover factors such as your child’s pain and suffering, which can be determined by Judicial College Guidelines. There are also expenses that are unique to your family – such as treatment costs, home adaptations or lost earnings.
Contact us today
Get in touch with Been Let Down’s friendly and experienced team of cerebral palsy solicitors by phone or email today. You can call us on 0800 234 3234 or contact us online and a member of our team will call you back.