Pennsylvania Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

Receiving a cerebral palsy diagnosis for your child is a life-altering moment. For families in Philadelphia, this news brings a wave of complex emotions and urgent questions about the future. Our dedicated Cerebral Palsy lawyers serving Pennsylvania families can provide clarity and help you secure the justice and financial resources your child needs. 

You are likely wondering how this happened and what steps you need to take to ensure your child has every opportunity to thrive. While some cases of cerebral palsy have unknown causes, a devastating number are the direct result of a preventable medical error during birth. 

If you suspect that your child’s condition was caused by a healthcare provider’s mistake, you deserve answers and accountability. At ABC Law Centers, our mission is to be your advocate on this journey to recovering the maximum compensation possible for your child.

Choosing a law firm to handle your child’s cerebral palsy case is one of the most significant decisions you will ever make. These cases demand an exceptional level of medical knowledge and legal experience that goes far beyond the scope of a general practice firm.

At ABC Law Centers (American Baby and Child Law Centers), our practice was built on a single, unwavering principle: to help children and families affected by birth injuries. Cerebral palsy cases are a main focus of our work.

• A Singular Focus: Since 1997, our firm has only practiced birth injury law. This means we have spent decades immersed in the complex medical and legal details of cerebral palsy cases, giving us the in-depth experience necessary to build the most powerful case for your child.
• National Experience, Local Commitment: We represent families across the country, and our lawyers will travel to you. Our team performs the core legal work on every case we accept. We are based in Michigan, but partner with respected local Pennsylvania counsel, ensuring your case benefits from both our firm’s concentrated knowledge and essential local insight.
• Successful Results for Lifetime Care: We have a track record of securing multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. These results provide the financial security families need for a lifetime of medical treatments, therapies, adaptive equipment, and educational support for their children.
• A Compassionate Partnership: We understand the immense emotional and financial strain your family is under. That is why we handle all cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a child’s ability to move, maintain balance, and control their posture. It is caused by damage to the developing brain. The signs of CP can vary greatly from child to child and often become more apparent as a child grows. Recognizing these signs early is a key step in getting your child the support they need.

• Their head lags when you pick them up from lying on their back.
• They feel either very stiff (hypertonia) or very floppy (hypotonia).
• When held, their legs get stiff and cross or scissor.
• When you pick them up, they seem to overextend their back and neck, constantly acting as if they are pushing away from you.

• They do not roll over in either direction.
• They cannot bring their hands together.
• They have difficulty bringing their hands to their mouth.
• They reach out with only one hand while keeping the other in a fist.

• They crawl in a lopsided way, pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite side.
• They scoot around on their buttocks or hop on their knees but do not crawl on all fours.
• They are unable to stand, even when holding onto support.

If you have noticed these or other developmental delays in your child, it is essential to discuss them with a trusted medical professional and to explore the circumstances of their birth with a knowledgeable legal team.

There are many different causes of cerebral palsy. In far too many cases, it is the direct result of a preventable injury that occurred because a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care. This failure is the definition of medical malpractice.

A successful legal claim can provide the financial resources to give your child access to the best care during their life. Proving this link between negligence and your child’s CP is the central focus of a lawsuit.

One of the most common causes of cerebral palsy is a brain injury called hypoxic Ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This occurs when the flow of oxygen and blood to the baby’s brain is restricted or cut off during labor or delivery. This oxygen deprivation can cause permanent damage to the parts of the brain that control motor function.

HIE can be caused by a medical professional’s negligence, such as:

• Failing to properly interpret fetal heart monitor strips and act on clear signs of distress.
• Delaying a necessary emergency C-section.
• Mismanaging complications with the umbilical cord.
• Improperly administering drugs like Pitocin, causing contractions that are too strong or too frequent for the baby to tolerate.

Beyond HIE, other medical errors can result in the brain damage that leads to CP. These include:

• Failing to diagnose and treat maternal infections, like Group B Strep, which can pass to the baby and cause meningitis.
• Failing to treat severe newborn jaundice, which can lead to a type of brain damage called kernicterus.
• Causing direct physical trauma to the baby’s head through the improper or forceful use of forceps or a vacuum extractor during delivery.

Proving that cerebral palsy was the result of a preventable error requires a deep and thorough investigation into every aspect of the mother’s and baby’s medical care. Accountability often extends beyond a single individual to include the very systems and protocols of the healthcare institution itself.

In a cerebral palsy lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania, the responsible parties may include:

• The Obstetrician (OB-GYN): The primary physician can be held liable for critical errors in judgment, such as failing to recognize clear signs of fetal distress, delaying a vital C-section, or mismanaging a known high-risk condition during pregnancy or delivery.
• Labor and Delivery Nurses: Nurses are on the front lines and are responsible for vigilant monitoring. A failure to alert the doctor to concerning changes in the baby’s heart rate or a delay in responding to an emergency can be a direct cause of a brain injury.
• Hospitals and Healthcare Networks: A Pennsylvania hospital system, whether in a major city or a rural community, can be held directly liable for its own corporate negligence. This can include having inadequate staffing levels, failing to properly train its employees on emergency procedures, or not having the right equipment available.
• Other Medical Professionals: Anesthesiologists, pediatricians, or neonatologists may also be found negligent if their actions or inactions contributed to the child’s brain injury.

The legal team at ABC Law Centers collaborates with world-class medical experts to meticulously analyze the evidence and ensure every at-fault party is held responsible.

Every state has a strict law, known as the statute of limitations, that sets a deadline for filing a lawsuit. For medical malpractice cases in Pennsylvania, the general deadline is two years from the date the injury occurred.

However, the law makes an exception for injuries to children. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations is “tolled,” or paused, until the child reaches the age of 18. This means that a family generally has until their child’s 20th birthday to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit.

It is important not to wait. While this window seems long, building the strongest possible case requires prompt action. As time passes, it can become more difficult to secure evidence and witness testimony. Contacting an attorney as soon as you suspect a problem is the best course of action for your family and your child’s future.

Navigating a cerebral palsy diagnosis involves more than just medical care; it requires a strong network of support. We have compiled a list of Pennsylvania-based organizations that can provide valuable information, services, and community for your family.

• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central PA: Offers a wide array of programs, advocacy, and support services for individuals with disabilities, including cerebral palsy, and their families.
• The Arc of Pennsylvania: A leading advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering information, support, and resources across the state.
• PA Elks Home Service Program: A unique service that provides in-home nursing and therapy support to eligible children with developmental disabilities at no cost to the family.
• Pennsylvania’s The Compass: An online portal created by the state to help individuals with disabilities and their families find and access a wide range of services and information.
• Special Kids Network (SKN): A Pennsylvania Department of Health program that can help connect families of children with special health care needs to local resources and support systems.

Educational resources and their availability can vary depending on your child’s age, abilities, and the geographical region in which you reside. If a child is very young (ages 0-3), there are Early Intervention programs available to help your child’s developmental delays and maximize their potential. Families and specialists develop Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) that can outline the child’s needs and develop a plan to help the child transition into a school environment.

After age three,  if a child has diagnosed developmental delays or disabilities, it is their legal right to get support from the public school system through the development and execution of an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP document outlines the child’s needed resources, goals, and a plan for their education.

When students with IEPs transition to adulthood, there are programs in place to help them maximize their independence and learn valuable pre-vocational skills such as adult day programs, community-based programs, and residential communities. These programs exist to increase community integration, life skills development, socialization, and pre-vocational skill training. Some local PA programs include:

• The CADES program (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) provides Early Intervention Services, special education schooling for ages 3-21, adult day programs, residential services, and transportation programs.
• The Allegheny Family Network guides provide county residents with early educational information and services.
• The National Association of Private Special Education Centers has a national listing of private special education groups.
• Federation Early Learning Services (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) provides parent education, early childhood awareness programs, and community information.
• The HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) provides education, therapies, and transition programs for children with cerebral palsy.
• Wayne County Office of Behavioral and Developmental Programs and Early Intervention provides information regarding resources for early intervention in Honesdale and Lake Ariel.

• University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Resuscitation Science provides an interactive, worldwide map of all of the hospitals that house Cooling Centers.
• The MORGAN (Making Opportunities Reality Granting Assistance Nationwide) Project provides resource guides for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
• AAC provides a list of Assistive Technology Lending Libraries listed by state; Pennsylvania has two!
• The Bucks County Special Needs site provides listings of several nonprofit organizations designed to help individuals with disabilities and their families.
• Individuals in Southeastern Pennsylvania can call the Partnership for Community Supports hotline for customized answers to their questions.
• Sesame Place (Philadelphia, PA) is the first U.S. amusement park designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum!

The first step is to contact a law firm that focuses exclusively on birth injury and cerebral palsy cases. Our firm has focused on CP birth injury cases for over 25 years. We provide a free, confidential case evaluation and help you understand whether there was any negligence surrounding your child’s birth.

While we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, the vast majority of cerebral palsy lawsuits are resolved through a negotiated settlement. Our thorough preparation and readiness for trial are what often convince the defendants’ insurance companies to offer a fair settlement to help pay for your child’s lifelong needs. Ultimately, the decision to go to trial will be up to you after working with your legal team.

Yes. A consent form indicates your permission for medical treatment; it does not give a doctor or hospital permission to provide negligent care. If the standard of care was breached and your child was harmed as a result, you still have the right to seek justice.

At ABC Law Centers, there is no financial risk to your family. Everyone deserves access to justice. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we cover all the legal fees and upfront costs of the lawsuit. You only pay our fees if we recover compensation in a settlement or verdict for you. We can explain our fee and cost structure to you in detail during a free, no-obligation consultation.

Your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis is a journey you do not have to face alone. Securing the resources for their future is one of the most powerful things you can do as a parent. The team at ABC Law Centers has the focused experience, the national resources, and the unwavering dedication to fight for the compensation your child deserves.

Let us help you find the answers your family needs to move forward with security and peace of mind. Contact us today for a free, compassionate, and completely confidential case evaluation.