Was your child’s CP caused by medical mistakes?
Speak with a lawyer or nurse today to review your case.
Speak with a LawyerFamilies Saved
Trusted Clients
Years Experience
Speak with a lawyer or nurse today to review your case.
Speak with a LawyerThe role of cerebral palsy lawyers extends far beyond filing paperwork. Families turn to these professionals because they need both answers and action. A skilled attorney can:
Ultimately, cerebral palsy lawyers help families find justice while ensuring children receive the support they deserve. Our network of dedicated birth injury lawyers have secured billions for victims.
Cerebral palsy can result from a range of medical errors, particularly during labor and delivery when a child’s brain is highly vulnerable. Common examples include:
When such mistakes occur, the consequences can last a lifetime. A cerebral palsy lawyer works with medical experts to connect the dots between what happened in the delivery room and a child’s diagnosis.
When medical mistakes cause your child’s cerebral palsy, you are entitled to seek substantial damages to help your family.
The process of prosecuting a claim for birth injuries like cerebral palsy spans from an initial intake meeting to court and mediation hearings aimed at holding responsible parties liable.
1. Free Consultation
The process begins with a no-cost consultation. Families can share medical histories, birth details, and questions without financial pressure. This initial meeting helps parents understand whether they may have a case.
2. Gather Medical Evidence
Lawyers then request and review a multitude of medical records including:
- Prenatal medical records
- Hospital birth records
- Fetal monitoring strips
- Delivery notes
- Pediatric records.
Independent medical experts are often consulted to analyze whether standards of care were followed.
3. File a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit
If evidence suggests negligence, the lawyer formally files a lawsuit against the responsible healthcare providers or companies.
4. Regular Updates on Your Case
Families should expect consistent communication. A dedicated lawyer provides updates, explains delays, and prepares parents for each stage of the process.
5. Negotiate a CP Settlement
Many cases resolve outside of court once the parties have gathered and shared all evidence. Negotiating a settlement can secure financial compensation faster, avoid the unlikelihood of trial outcomes, and reduce stress on the family.
6. Litigate Your Case
If settlement isn’t possible, the case may go to trial. Experienced cerebral palsy lawyers are prepared to present evidence before a jury to secure justice for your child.
Studies show that, each year, around 160,000 childbirth injuries occur that could have been avoided. While doctors and hospital staff work tirelessly to give mothers and babies the best care, they do make mistakes.
A number of medical mistakes have been linked to brain damage that causes cerebral palsy in infants. Some of the most common mistakes include:
Excessive delivery force: too much force while assisting a birth, especially with tools, can cause nerve damage, skull fractures, or internal bleeding.
Insufficient monitoring: when distress signs like abnormal heart rates or reduced oxygen go unnoticed, it may delay care that can prevent long-term injury.
Slow reaction to fetal distress: even when heartrate or oxygen warning signs are detected, a slow or inadequate medical response can worsen outcomes.
Delivery tool misuse: tools like vacuum extractors and forceps must be used with precision and care. Incorrect use can cause head trauma or spinal cord injuries, increasing the risk of cerebral palsy.
Delayed intervention: complications during labor necessitate immediate medical decisions like performing an emergency C-section. Delays can result in avoidable harm to the infant.
Misdiagnosis: failing to recognize and treat conditions like infections, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes can lead to complications that increase the risk of CP.
Understanding these risks can help families recognize when a preventable mistake may have occurred. If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy may have been caused by medical negligence, it’s important to speak with a lawyer who specializes in birth injury cases.
You may have the right to seek compensation to help with treatment, adaptive equipment, lifecare and pain & suffering. Contact us to speak with a lawyer today.
Here are some examples of the birth injury awards our partner lawyers have secured:
Speak with a lawyer today to review your case.
Cerebral palsy lawsuits are typically filed against the individuals or institutions responsible for a child’s injury. This may include:
While many families are understandably hesitant to file a legal claim against their doctors or nurses, it’s important to remember that these professionals carry insurance coverage specifically because mistakes happen.
And while the business of hospitals and medical practices will carry on without interruption, your family’s lives have been forever changed by your child’s injury.
The goal is not punishment, but accountability—and securing the financial resources a child will need for ongoing medical care, therapies, and adaptive support.
When investigating a potential cerebral palsy case, your attorney will rely heavily on detailed medical documentation. These records provide the foundation for determining whether a medical mistake occurred and whether it directly contributed to your child’s condition.
Please note, however, that your attorney will not ask you to retrieve these records yourself. Rather, they’ll use the information you provide during your consultation to issue subpoenas and medical record requests directly from medical providers.
Commonly requested records include:
Gathering these documents early allows your lawyer to consult medical experts, identify where standards of care may have been breached, and build the strongest case possible for your child’s future support.
Not all lawyers are equally equipped to handle birth injury cases. Parents should look for key qualifications:
Experience With Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Cases
Attorneys with a track record in CP litigation understand both the legal and medical complexities.
A Record of Success
Documented settlements and verdicts provide insight into an attorney’s ability to deliver results.
Resources to Fight Your Case
Birth injury lawsuits require expert witnesses, medical specialists, and access to advanced case research. A strong law firm has the financial resources to invest in fighting your case properly.
Medical Professionals/Nurses on Staff
Some firms employ nurses or medical experts directly, giving them immediate insight into records and hospital procedures.
No Fees or Costs Unless You Prevail
Our cerebral palsy lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning families pay nothing unless they receive a verdict or settlement. This allows parents to pursue justice without financial risk. Cerebral Palsy Center works only with experienced lawyers that have handled complex birth injury lawsuits for thousands of families.
Speak with a lawyer today to review your case.
Contact UsThere are several factors to consider when deciding how long to take legal action after you discover your child may have suffered a birth injury. These include:
Your Statute of Limitations
Every state has strict deadlines—called statutes of limitations—governing how long families have to file a lawsuit. In some states, parents may have only two years, while others allow more time for minors. Missing the deadline can mean losing the right to compensation.
Research more about your state’s statute of limitations, or contact us today to speak with a lawyer.
Consider the Time It Takes to Prepare a Lawsuit
Because these cases require extensive medical review, it’s best to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis. Early action allows attorneys to preserve medical records, consult experts, and build the strongest case before time runs out.
Due to local court rules and knowledge of judges and juries in your area, it’s usually advisable to involve a local attorney with the handling of your case.
However, the financial cost of gathering necessary evidence, filing a case, and pursuing a protracted claim against powerful hospitals and insurance companies can be a burden on many small-to-medium size qualified law firms.
Cerebral Palsy Center pairs an extensive network of experienced local birth injury lawyers with the financial resources of larger partner firms to make sure your case has all the backing to pursue it to conclusion.
Contact us today to find a cerebral palsy lawyer near you and speak directly with a lawyer about your case.
The decision of whether to hire a cerebral palsy lawyer and pursue legal action against medical caregivers is a deeply personal one for families. Some things to consider:
A cerebral palsy diagnosis changes the course of a family’s life. When medical negligence is suspected, parents deserve answers and the opportunity to seek justice. Cerebral palsy lawyers combine legal skill with medical insight to investigate what happened, hold responsible parties accountable, and secure resources for a child’s future.
For families, the right lawyer can make all the difference—transforming fear and uncertainty into hope and the confidence that their child’s needs will always come first.
A cerebral palsy lawyer is a type of birth injury lawyer who focuses specifically on cases involving children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. While all birth injury lawyers handle medical mistakes that harm newborns—such as brain injuries, shoulder dystocia, or oxygen deprivation—cerebral palsy lawyers bring particular expertise in proving how medical negligence led to this lifelong condition.
Families benefit from choosing a lawyer with direct experience in CP cases, as they understand the medical, financial, and long-term care issues unique to these claims.
Yes. If a child’s cerebral palsy is linked to preventable medical errors—such as failure to monitor fetal distress, delayed C-sections, or improper use of delivery tools—families may pursue a lawsuit.
The goal of a cerebral palsy lawsuit is not punishment but accountability. Legal action helps secure financial compensation for therapies, medical care, and adaptive equipment while encouraging safer practices in hospitals and delivery rooms. An experienced attorney can determine if your case meets the standards for medical negligence.
Most cerebral palsy lawyers, and all of those in the Cerebral Palsy Center network, work on a contingency fee basis. This means families do not pay upfront legal fees or hourly costs. Instead, the lawyer only collects a fee if they successfully win or settle the case.
The percentage is agreed upon in advance and is typically deducted from the settlement or award. This approach ensures that families can pursue justice without taking on additional financial strain during an already difficult time.
Cerebral palsy cases are complex and often take several months to several years to resolve. Timelines vary depending on factors such as:
While settlements can resolve more quickly, cases that proceed all the way to trial require extensive preparation. A dedicated attorney will provide regular updates so families know what to expect as the case progresses.
A fair settlement should cover not only current medical bills but also the lifetime costs associated with cerebral palsy. Signs of a strong offer include:
Families should always review settlement offers with an experienced attorney to ensure the compensation truly meets the child’s lifelong needs.
Yes, many cerebral palsy lawsuits are resolved through settlements before reaching trial. Hospitals and insurance companies often prefer settlements to avoid lengthy court battles and negative publicity.
However, not all offers are fair. A lawyer’s role is to negotiate aggressively, ensuring families receive compensation that reflects the full scope of their child’s medical and financial needs. If negotiations fail, skilled attorneys are fully prepared to present the case in court.
