The majority of births in the United States happen without notable complications. However, medical mistakes are too often made during labor and delivery and are not fully explained to parents, despite the resulting serious injuries that cause life-long harm. Here is a guide to some of the most serious types and causes of birth injuries:

Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is caused by permanent injury to a baby’s brain by trauma or a lack of oxygen. Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition with the common symptoms of seizures, speech delays, learning and other developmental delays and abnormal muscle tone. If complications during birth go unrecognized, they can cause lack of oxygen to the brain and permanent damage. Preventable birth injuries caused by misuse of vacuum extractors and other birth-assisting tools can increase the chances of traumatic injury to the brain.

Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is the condition of nerve damage in the neck and arm with impaired motion in the arm and hand. The effects of the condition can run from severe to mild depending on how extensive the nerve damage is. The condition can be caused during birth if a doctor or midwife pulls on the baby’s head during delivery.

Cortical Blindness
Cortical blindness also known as CVI is a type of birth injury that affects the ability to process visual information, such as depth perception and light perception. Cortical blindness frequently occurs along with cerebral palsy. CVI can be caused by decreased oxygen to the brain during the birth process. Other causes of CVI include hydrocephalus, developmental birth defects, head injury, and infections like meningitis. If healthcare providers discover, monitor, and remedy the conditions, irreversible damage may be avoided. The vision loss may be partial or total, but unfortunately is usually lifelong.

If you are concerned about a misdiagnosis or possible medical error, contact the law firm of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC in New York. For 46 years, we have advocated for clients of all ages, to help their financial burden, and make future healthcare safer for others. You can speak directly to our attorneys by calling (516) 684-2900. There is no fee.

Cerebral palsy and autism are different conditions that sometimes have similar symptoms. They both manifest early in life, they are both related to brain malfunction, and they both present some of the same symptoms. Because of this, cerebral palsy is frequently misdiagnosed as autism in young children. If your child has been diagnosed with autism but shows symptoms of cerebral palsy such as involuntary motions or low muscle tone, you should get a second opinion from a different physician. It’s also important to have an attorney you can look to for guidance if it turns out that your child was misdiagnosed at an early age.

Pegalis & Erickson, LLC, represents parents of children who were misdiagnosed or otherwise let down by their medical providers. If you are concerned about a misdiagnosis or possible medical error contact the law firm of Pegalis & Erickson LLC in New York. For 45 years we have advocated for people of all ages, in order to help our clients financially and make healthcare safer for everyone. You can reach us today by calling (516) 684-2900.

Receiving a diagnosis of cerebral palsy for an infant can be a devastating blow for any parent. Understandably, the most urgent question most parents have is what the likely outlook is for their child. In most cases, it won’t be clear what a child’s long-term prognosis will be until the age of 2 or 3. It is statistically highly probable, however, that your child will have some level of intellectual disability, be unable to walk, or have a chronic condition such as epilepsy. It’s important to keep in mind that physical therapy and other forms of treatment may improve your child’s prognosis and make it easier for him or her to enjoy a better quality of life despite the disorder.

The attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC have been representing parents in cases involving birth injuries for more than 40 years. For a free consultation at our law office in Long Island, New York, contact us today at (516) 684-2900.

Some birth injuries require immediate care, such as oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain. After any sort of birth trauma is diagnosed, the first step to take is to ensure that your child gets the medical treatment he or she needs. Depending on your child’s specific condition, he or she may be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Each hospital’s policies are a little different, but in general, parents can see their baby in the NICU as soon as the newborn has been stabilized and settled in. A nurse or patient navigator will explain what to expect from your child’s stay in the NICU.

Once your baby is stabilized and the situation has calmed down, you should have a longer, in-depth conversation with the healthcare providers, which includes the neonatologist in charge of the NICU, who are treating your child. Take notes and ask plenty of questions. Ask whether your baby should have any additional medical tests or treatments, or should be seen by other specialists such as infectious diseases, pulmonology, cardiology, ophthalmology, and neurology, depending on the situation.

Families affected by birth trauma near Long Island, New York can turn to the medical malpractice lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC. Call (516) 684-2900 for the answers to your legal questions.

Cerebral palsy can occur as the result of birth trauma, leaving children and their parents facing the possibility of a lifetime of complications. Physical therapy is often one of the first treatments recommended for cerebral palsy.. Having your child tested through early intervention programs available in your area, can greatly help your child achieve better physical growth and development.

Physical therapy can help children with cerebral palsy improve their mobility as well as coordination, balance, flexibility, posture, and endurance. The amount of physical therapy that is recommended depends on the severity of symptoms and what other treatments are being used. Other therapies often recommended include occupational therapy, which focuses on helping a child achieve the attributes of daily living such as dressing and eating. Sometimes speech therapy may be necessary to help your child with speaking.

If your child is living with cerebral palsy or another birth injury in New York, contact Pegalis & Erickson to discuss your situation with an experienced birth injury attorney. Contact our office today at (516) 684-2900 Or email us here.

Cerebral palsy can be a devastating diagnosis for parents to hear. This disorder, which affects muscle tone, balance, and movement, can occur as the result of a birth injury during delivery or right afterwards. Because the effects of cerebral palsy can lead to a lifetime of complications and medical expenses, you should consider contacting a cerebral palsy lawyer if you suspect your child’s condition was caused by medical negligence.

For parents, there is no single road map to follow for raising a child with cerebral palsy. Some children with cerebral palsy have minor symptoms that may only require minimal support services. In other cases, the symptoms can be so severe that the child cannot walk. Speech difficulties and intellectual disability are also possible. Parents of children with cerebral palsy need to work closely with their children’s’ medical team to determine the best treatment options. They also need to make plans for the future if their children’s symptoms are severe enough that they will not be able to care for themselves or support themselves.

If you believe that medical negligence in New York played a part in your child’s illness, the birth injury attorneys at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC are here to help you seek compensation. Speak to an attorney today by calling (516) 684-2900.

The underlying cause of cerebral palsy is damage to the brain or the abnormal development of the brain. In some cases, a baby’s brain may sustain damage because of birth injuries, which might be the result of medical malpractice. Birth complications such as uterine rupture, umbilical cord problems, and the detachment of the placenta can increase the risk of cerebral palsy.

It’s also possible that a doctor will fail to diagnose serious conditions, and fail to treat them properly or quickly enough. For example, jaundice of the newborn or infections during pregnancy can result in brain damage if not treated. Less commonly, cerebral palsy may be acquired after 28 days of life. Acquired cerebral palsy may be caused by brain infections like meningitis or by brain injuries.

Was your child diagnosed with cerebral palsy because of medical malpractice? Call Pegalis & Erickson, LLC at (516) 684-2900 to speak with a birth injury lawyer on Long Island, New York.

Cerebral palsy is a category of movement disorders. It is a non-progressive disorder, which means that it doesn’t grow worse over time. Unfortunately, it’s also currently incurable. Children with cerebral palsy have varying degrees and types of impairment, but parents can generally expect that they will require a lifetime of care. After the diagnosis, you may have lots of questions about what cerebral palsy means for your family. A cerebral palsy lawyer can guide you through this difficult transition.

What can cause cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is the result of damage to the developing brain. This damage may be inflicted by injuries, diseases, or developmental disorders. It may occur during pregnancy or at or around the child’s birth. In some cases, cerebral palsy is the result of medical negligence. For instance, a healthcare provider may fail to detect and treat fetal distress during labor. Fetal distress may indicate a need for an emergency C-section to restore oxygen to the child’s brain and prevent brain damage.

How will cerebral palsy affect my child?
Cerebral palsy affects each child differently, although all forms of cerebral palsy affect a person’s movement, muscle tone, or posture. Some children have involuntary movements, rigidity, abnormal reflexes, problems swallowing, or eye muscle imbalance. A child with cerebral palsy may have any of the following problems:

• Developmental delays
• Difficulty walking
• Speech delays
• Seizures
• Intellectual disabilities
• Psychiatric conditions
• Vision or hearing impairments
• Abnormal pain perceptions
• Swallowing issues
• Urinary incontinence

Are there any treatments available?

Although cerebral palsy is incurable, treatments are available to help children achieve greater functional abilities and better quality of life. A child’s treatment plan depends on his or her needs. Medications, physical therapy, and orthopedic surgery can improve problems associated with movement. Speech therapy can help children overcome communication barriers. Parents may be referred to a life care planner to get a good idea of the care their children will need for a lifetime.

The medical negligence law firm of Pegalis & Erickson, LLC puts its considerable resources to work on behalf of the families we represent. It’s our mission to help families affected by medical malpractice get the compensation they need to take care of their children. You can call (516) 684-2900 to request a confidential consultation with a cerebral palsy lawyer on Long Island, New York.

Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders that can stem from birth injuries, which may be the result of medical malpractice in some cases. Many children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year, yet the misconceptions about it are still widespread. It’s often assumed, for instance, that children with cerebral palsy will never improve their functional abilities. Although there is no cure for cerebral palsy, intensive and ongoing therapy can help these children reach their full potential. Some children can benefit from surgeries to improve their movement abilities.

Another common myth about people with cerebral palsy is that they will never be able to lead a productive life in the community. In fact, patients with cerebral palsy all have varying levels and types of impairments. With the right services, many of them go on to enjoy independence, hold down a job, and start families.

The cerebral palsy lawyers at Pegalis & Erickson, LLC work closely with families to help them secure the compensation they need to arrange for specialized medical care for their children. If your child has been diagnosed with a birth injury in Long Island, New York, call us at (516) 684-2900.