Cerebral Palsy

Why Choose Walner Law for Your Chicago Cerebral Palsy Case?

For over 60 years, Walner Law has been a pillar of support for Chicago families navigating complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases. We know that filing a cerebral palsy lawsuit is not just about financial compensation. It’s about providing your child with the tools, treatments, and therapies they need to lead their best life. Here’s why families across Chicago choose Walner Law to guide them through this emotional and legal process:

• Proven Results: With decades of experience and millions recovered in settlements and verdicts, we have a track record you can rely on.
• Personalized Attention: We treat every client as part of our family. We listen to your story, understand your child’s unique needs, and build a case tailored to your circumstances.
• Compassionate Guidance: We know how emotionally overwhelming these cases can be. Our team provides not only legal counsel but also steady, caring support throughout the process.
• Community Commitment: From Austin to Chatham, we’ve built strong relationships with the communities we serve. We are your neighbors, advocates, and champions in the fight for justice.

When you work with Walner Law, you’re gaining more than a Chicago cerebral palsy attorney—you’re gaining a partner in your quest to build a better future for your child.

About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition resulting from brain injury causing brain damage that happens before, during, or shortly after birth. This disorder is an extremely tragic occurrence, as children struggle their entire lives to deal with the devastating outcomes of this neurological condition. Among the leading causes of cerebral palsy is a birth injury. While this is not always caused by medical negligence, in many cases, the condition is linked to a lack of proper prenatal care or incidents in the delivery room. 

Cerebral palsy is characterized by diverse conditions that cause different levels of motor skill impairment and mental dysfunction in children. Patients have difficulty with daily tasks, like moving and hearing, because of the damage to their nerves, tendons, muscles, and bones.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy comes in several forms, each affecting movement and muscle tone in different ways. Understanding the type your child has can help identify the support and care they need.

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common type, characterized by stiff muscles and difficulty with movement. It may affect one side of the body (hemiplegia), the legs (diplegia), or all four limbs and the torso (quadriplegia). 
• Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Also called athetoid cerebral palsy, dyskinetic cerebral palsy causes involuntary, uncontrolled movements, making it hard for a child to sit, walk, or hold objects.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Impacts balance and coordination, leading to shaky or imprecise movements.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Combines symptoms from more than one type, often creating complex challenges for children.

Signs of cerebral palsy include:

• Involuntary movements: Abnormal muscle control can result in involuntary or slow movements. This can lead to uncontrollable movements of the extremities and difficulty balancing
• Speech problems: Those who have cerebral palsy often find it challenging to control the muscles in their mouth and tongue. Aside from impacting your speech, this side effect can create difficulty swallowing and problems eating.
• Seizures: This side effect is one of the more potentially dangerous conditions associated with cerebral palsy. Seizures can occur early on or later in your child’s life.
• Learning disabilities: Learning to do certain tasks, such as reading and writing, can be difficult for those suffering from cerebral palsy. Victims of this disorder are at a greater risk of having learning and developmental difficulties.

While the effects of cerebral palsy cannot be reversed, they can often be effectively controlled with medication, therapy, and even surgery. However, cerebral palsy can also lead to a diminished quality of life and long-term, or even life-long, treatment. This need for higher-priced medical care can put family members in a difficult situation.

What Is a Birth Injury?

Unlike a birth defect, which is often genetic, a birth injury occurs when medical professionals fail to provide an acceptable standard of care and allow for a newborn to become injured during labor or delivery. Contributing factors may include:

• Undetected maternal infection
• Failure to determine the proper due date
• Oxygen deprivation during or after delivery
• Failure to respond to fetal distress

No matter what the cause, if your child’s injury was the result of medical negligence, you have a right to seek compensation for medical expenses, loss of income, long-term health care, and more.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy in Infants

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, it is important to know that many cases are preventable. We at Walner Law have dealt with many birth injury cases that have been linked to a child’s cerebral palsy.

The common causes of this type of birth injury include:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Oxygen deprivation (asphyxia) before, during, or shortly after birth
• Intrauterine exposure to drugs or alcohol
• Jaundice
• Hemorrhaging in your child’s brain
• A mother’s infection or illness
• The child suffering a fall, knock, or accident after birth
• The child suffering significant illness after birth

The early warning signs of cerebral palsy are typically apparent by the time your child is 18 months old. One indication is delayed development, such as difficulty swallowing, rolling over, and crawling. Abnormal muscle tone is another indicator. This can be identified by unusual postures, such as a too-relaxed appearance or favoring one side of the body.

How Medical Negligence Can Lead to Cerebral Palsy

The medical professionals involved in your pregnancy and delivery have a duty to provide the highest standard of care. When they fail in this duty, the results can be catastrophic. Medical negligence can include misdiagnosing a maternal health condition, failing to recognize fetal distress, or not performing a timely C-section when the baby’s health is at risk.

For instance, prolonged periods of oxygen deprivation, formally called hypoxia, can cause significant and irreversible damage to a baby’s brain. If this damage occurs before, during, or shortly after birth, it may result in cerebral palsy. Similarly, improper handling during delivery—such as excessive force when using birth-assist devices—can harm a baby’s delicate brain and spinal cord.

An experienced cerebral palsy lawyer from Walner Law can collaborate with medical experts to investigate these cases thoroughly. We analyze detailed medical records, consult specialists, and leave no stone unturned to uncover the truth behind your child’s injury.

Who May Be Held Liable in a Chicago Cerebral Palsy Case?

Determining liability in a cerebral palsy case is often complex. However, several parties may be held responsible, depending on the specifics of your situation. Potential liable parties include:

• Doctors who failed to diagnose risks or respond appropriately during delivery.
• Nurses or medical staff who made errors in monitoring or providing timely care.
• Hospitals that neglected proper staffing, training, or equipment maintenance.
• Specialists, such as anesthesiologists, who made critical mistakes during childbirth that contributed to harm.

Ultimately, our goal is to identify who failed to uphold their duty of care and hold them accountable for their actions.

How Can I Prove Medical Negligence in a Cerebral Palsy Claim?

Proving medical negligence requires establishing that the healthcare providers involved in your care failed to meet the accepted standard of care, directly leading to your child’s injury. To build a strong case, you’ll often need to provide evidence such as:

• Comprehensive Medical Records detailing the events before, during, and after delivery.
• Expert Testimony from medical professionals who can evaluate whether standard procedures were followed.
• Documentation of Damages, capturing the financial, emotional, and physical impact on your child and family.

Our team at Walner Law leverages decades of legal experience and a trusted network of specialists to gather the evidence necessary to prove negligence. A successful claim can give your child access to the resources they need, including therapy, medical devices, and specialized care.

Compensation Available in a Chicago Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

When you pursue a cerebral palsy claim, compensation can cover a wide range of damages to ease the burden on your family. While each case is unique, common types of compensation include:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Costs of physical therapy and rehabilitative care
• Expenses for mobility aids (e.g., wheelchairs)
• Loss of future earning potential
• Pain and suffering
• Modifications to your home or vehicle for accessibility

Our team will fight tirelessly to maximize your compensation, ensuring your child has access to the best available treatments and care.

Contact Our Trusted Chicago Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Today

Every child deserves a chance to thrive, no matter the challenges they face. At Walner Law, our Chicago personal injury lawyers are here to fight for the justice, care, and support your child needs to achieve that brighter future. Filing a cerebral palsy claim isn’t just about compensation—it’s about holding negligent parties accountable, raising the standard of care, and securing the right resources for your family. 

If your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis resulted from medical negligence, time is of the essence. Contact Walner Law today at (312) 410-8496 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. Together, we can work toward a better tomorrow for your child and your family.