Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the motor control centres of the developing brain and can occur during pregnancy, childbirth or after birth up to about age three. It is an umbrella term for various types of conditions which may cause disability.

The diagnosis of cerebral palsy in a young child is deeply traumatic for parents. They may seek answers about the cause; the level of disability that might become apparent and the help and support they will need.

In many cases the cerebral palsy has no identifiable cause. Occasionally an incident such as asphyxia before or during birth can be identified as a factor. Where there have been clinical failings the family may consider bringing a claim. If successful, the compensation can be substantial and ensure that the child has specialist support and care for life.

If a loved one has received a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and you would like advice about your options, contact a member of our team for a free, no obligation discussion. We are one of the small number of firms who hold a contract for the provision of Clinical Negligence services with the Legal Aid Agency. This means that we can assist clients in securing Legal Aid funding to investigate claims.