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Denver Cerebral Palsy Attorneys


Helping Families of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Denver, CO

There’s no room for error when your child’s health is concerned. It’s the hospital’s responsibility to make sure that everyone on the delivery team has the necessary training and experience to do the job right. When doctors and other medical personnel make mistakes that inure a child, it causes devastating birth injuries.

Cerebral palsy is often caused by preventable birth injuries. A child with cerebral palsy may go on to live a rich and fulfilling life, but this will require extensive medical treatment, in-home care, and other costly interventions.

Residents of Denver, Colorado, can enjoy various types of family activities, like visiting the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, or catching a Rockies game at Coors Field.

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy caused by medical malpractice, contact the experienced trial lawyers at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Our firm has won record-breaking settlements and verdicts for our clients. The independent rating agencies Avvo and Super Lawyers have both recognized Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. for providing outstanding service to our clients.

Our partner, Jim Puga, focuses his practice on children who have suffered cerebral palsy at the hands of doctors. He has also dedicated his spare time to the issue, teaching other attorneys and serving on the board of directors for the Birth Trauma Litigation Group at the American Association for Justice.

There’s no charge for your initial consultation—call (303) 759-9945 to learn more today.

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What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a group of neurological disorders affecting the cerebrum, which is the part of the brain that controls motor function. CP affects movement and muscle control, and have serious difficulty with muscle control.

There’s no cure for cerebral palsy, but there are a lot of effective medical treatments and interventions. Over one million Americans have cerebral palsy, and there are millions of family members and others working to help people with CP lead healthy and productive lives.

There are a number of red flags that should alert parents of cerebral palsy. Infants with CP may show floppy motions and have difficulty rolling over on their own. They may drag one leg behind when crawling and often have difficulty maintaining their balance when standing. These children are likely to fall behind others when it comes to meeting developmental milestones, such as crawling, standing, and walking.

Additional symptoms of cerebral palsy include:

  • Stiff muscles
  • Difficulty walking or crawling
  • Exaggerated reflexes
  • Learning difficulties
  • Tremors
  • Lack of coordination
  • Difficulty maintaining balance
  • Drooling
  • Involuntary movement
  • Delays in development milestones
  • Favoring one side of the body while moving
  • Seizures
  • Lack of bladder control
  • Hearing and vision impairment
  • Difficulty eating and swallowing
  • Difficulty speaking

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Available Treatments for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy will become apparent within the first few years of a child’s life. Most treatment is aimed at helping a child learn to live with CP and develop strategies for independent living. The disabilities caused by CP are lifelong, and as a result, they are expensive to treat and overcome.

It’s important to get an early diagnosis of cerebral palsy to provide your child with effective treatments and interventions. A team of healthcare professionals will design a comprehensive plan to help meet the child’s medical, physical, psychological, and education needs. This will include treatment and assistance from medical specialists, therapists, counselors, and social workers to make sure the child receives the following:

  • Medications to reduce muscle stiffness, muscle relaxation, acid reflux, sleeping difficulty, constipation, and to reduce drooling
  • Surgery to restore movement, correct scoliosis, treat bladder control issues, reduce vision loss, and repair dislocated joints. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) reduces stiffness in the legs
  • Adaptive PE helps increase strength, maintain muscle tone, and prevent atrophy and dislocation of the joints
  • Occupational therapy to assist with life skills, fine motor
  • Nutrition counseling to stay informed about healthy eating habits
  • Psychological counseling to assist with pain management, anxiety, depression, and other issues
  • Tutoring to assist with classroom learning
  • Vision assistance to provide vision tests, prescribe corrective lenses, and corrective treatments
  • Speech therapy helps develop mouth control for speaking and eating
  • Housing assistance to facilitate the transition to a group home or independent living
  • Hearing assistance to provide hearing tests and improve hearing with hearing aids

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Cerebral Palsy and Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional deviates from accepted treatment norms, causing injury to a patient. If your child was harmed because someone on the delivery room team did something that a reasonably qualified medical professional would not have done or if they failed to perform an action that a reasonably qualified professional would have taken, it may have been medical malpractice.

Negligence in the delivery room may have devastating consequences for the newborn child. Research indicates a definite connection between loss of oxygen and cerebral palsy. That’s why it’s crucial to monitor the baby’s vital signs at all times. The OB/GYN in charge of the delivery must be constantly aware of the child’s condition. If there are complications, the doctor must be prepared to take immediate action, including performing an emergency C-section to protect the child.

To prevent cerebral palsy, both mother and child must receive adequate medical treatment throughout the prenatal period, during labor, and while the child remains in the hospital after delivery.

Negligent medical treatment that may cause cerebral palsy includes:

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How Your Medical Malpractice Attorney Can Help

When someone’s negligence injures your child, the hospital may not be honest about it. A thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding your child’s injury is the only way to find out what really happened.

The Denver medical malpractice attorneys at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. have a proven track record of winning cerebral palsy medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors and hospitals. We take the following steps to get justice for families whose lives have been devastated by substandard medical treatment:

  1. Interview hospital administrators and all medical staff involved in the child’s delivery and hospital care, including before, during, and after the delivery took place
  2. Review medical records
  3. Review hospital policies and procedures
  4. Obtain all relevant documents, including internal hospital communications, personnel employment histories, shift scheduling, and staff training
  5. Consult with expert witnesses

We are always prepared to take your case to trial if the other side refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer.

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Compensation for Cerebral Palsy Medical Malpractice

“Damages” is a legal term that refers to a monetary award that’s provided by the negligent party to compensate for an injury or loss. In Colorado, there are three types of damages that victims of medical malpractice may be entitled to claim: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages cover compensation for verifiable monetary losses, such as medical expenses, lost income, and professional assistance required to care for a person with cerebral palsy.

Non-economic damages include how the loss or injury impacts the victim and their family, such as emotional distress, loss of love and companionship, and reduced enjoyment of life.

Punitive damages may be available in cases of fraud, malice, and willful or wanton misconduct. These damages act as punishment and are designed to discourage others from performing similar acts of malfeasance in the future.

When Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. files a claim or lawsuit for cerebral palsy medical malpractice, it includes the following types of damages:

  • Current and future medical expenses
  • Loss of income
  • Medications
  • Pain and suffering
  • Specialized care
  • Mobility devices such as wheelchairs and walkers
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Educational interventions
  • Physical therapy
  • In-home care
  • Reduced earning potential
  • Communication technology
  • Wheelchair ramps for your home
  • Wrongful death

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How Long Do I Have To File a Birth Injury Claim?

The answer to this question depends on your state’s statute of limitations for medical malpractice. However, we advise you to take action immediately. The sooner an attorney can examine your medical records and start building a case, the better your chances of getting the compensation your child needs.

At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we believe our calling is to help children injured at birth and their families. As parents ourselves, we know the agony of feeling like “something’s wrong” and the devotion that these children need and deserve. When you are our client, your child comes first. Let us deal with the doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies while you and your family focus on healing.

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Helping You Get the Resources You Need To Care for Your Child

If you believe your child suffered a birth injury that led to cerebral palsy, don’t hesitate to contact Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Our Denver birth injury lawyers will review your medical records at no cost and let you know if we can help get you and your child the justice you deserve. When we take on a case, we front the cost of all expenses, and you don’t owe us anything unless we win.

Call (303) 759-9945, and let us go to work for you today.

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