Cerebral Palsy

Dallas Cerebral Palsy Lawyers

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is not a disease, but a neurological disorder caused by damage to a child's brain while it is still developing—usually up until the age of three or five. This condition affects an estimated 764,000 people in the United States, and another 8,000 to 10,000 are diagnosed with this condition every year.

Cerebral palsy can inhibit:

  • Body control
  • Muscular coordination
  • Muscle tone
  • Motor skills
  • Posture
  • Reflexes
  • Balance

young boy with cerebral palsy

Are All Cases of Cerebral Palsy Caused by Medical Negligence?

One of the most common questions we receive as birth injury attorneys is "what causes cerebral palsy?" While in many cases the disorder is caused by a medical mistake or neglect, there are many other cases where that is not the case.

While all cases of cerebral palsy stem from injury or malformation of the brain (such as periventricular leukomalacia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, intraventricular hemorrhage, or cerebral dysgenesis) this doesn't always indicate malpractice. If you are unsure what caused your son or daughter to be born with cerebral palsy, we invite you to contact our Dallas cerebral palsy lawyers for a free review of your case.

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

The symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary depending on the severity of the person’s condition. Some of the more common coordination and movement-related symptoms include:

  • Seizures
  • Difficulty speaking or in speech development
  • Difficulty eating
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Excessive drooling
  • Difficulty walking
  • Favoring one side of the body over the other
  • Delayed development of motor functions
  • Athetosis
  • Involuntary tremors
  • Ataxia
  • Stiff muscle movements
  • Spastic muscle movements
  • Excessively floppy or stiff muscle tone

What are the Long-Term Affects of Cerebral Palsy?

In some cases, cerebral palsy is relatively minor, but in other cases, the condition can severely impact the individual’s life. These symptoms are life-long. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, though therapy and other treatments can help bring some improvements over time.

Depending on the severity of the condition, people diagnosed with cerebral palsy could face any number of development issues, including:

  • Physical disabilities like scoliosis
  • Lack of muscle tone and development
  • Difficulty speaking due to issues with muscle coordination
  • Issues with manual coordination
  • General delays in reaching early childhood milestones like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, etc.
  • Difficulty walking due to tendon and muscle stiffness

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it may be the fault of a doctor or nurse. You need to seek legal help immediately to see if you have a birth injury case on your hands.

Contact Aldous / Walker for a Free Consultation of Your Case

In many cases, cerebral palsy is the result of medical error or negligence. Working closely with an attorney who has experience in these types of cases could prove life changing for both you and your child. Our team at Aldous \ Walker is here to help you. We have years of experience and have tried hundreds of birth injury cases. We know how to take your case the distance—and we’re ready to do so.

Charla Aldous and Brent Walker

Speak with our Dallas cerebral palsy attorneys at your earliest convenience for more information about how our team can help you.

THE ALDOUS \ WALKER DIFFERENCE

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    Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" 2021

    Attorney Charla Aldous has been named the "Lawyer of the Year" by the Best Lawyers in America eight times, in 2009, twice in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

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    Attorney Charla Aldous has been selected to the list of the Best Lawyers in America every year since 2013, attorney Brent Walker has been selected to the list every year since 2018 and attorney Caleb Miller has been selected since 2020.

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    Attorney Charla Aldous has been selected to the list of Super Lawyers every year since 2003 and attorney Brent Walker has been selected to the list every year since 2013.

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    Charla Aldous is an inducted member of D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas Hall of Fame, a distinction reserved for attorneys who been named to the Best Lawyers in Dallas list at least 15 times.

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