Cerebral Palsy is a brain injury that can occur during child birth and impacts an infant's muscle control. Research has found a 25 percent increase in the number of newborn cases during the past decade - with as many as 10,000 cases diagnosed each year, or 2.5 of every 1,000 births, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation.

The New York birth injury attorneys and medical malpractice lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool are experienced in helping families determine whether a child's Cerebral Palsy resulted from inadequate medical care during pregnancy or negligence during the birthing process.

If your child has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, it is important to find a personal injury trial attorney in New York who is experienced in birth injuries. The cost to a child who suffers from Cerebral Palsy has been estimated at $921,000 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which include additional medical bills, child care and lost wages.

There are four types of Cerebral Palsy:

• Spastic: The most common diagnosis, characterized by spastic muscles that are rigid and jerky. Types include Spastic dilegia (tight leg and hip muscles, which make it difficult to walk, resulting in a kind of movement characterized as crossed legs at the knees often called scissoring); Spastic hemiplegia (stiffness on one side of the body, which can affect development of limbs); spastic quadriplegia (the severest spastic diagnosis affecting all limbs and sometimes characterized by seizures and mental retardation).
• Athetoid Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Is the second most commonly diagnosed form of Cerebral Palsy, characterized by muscle problems throughout the body. While normal in intelligence, child can have trouble sitting, walking, speaking and/or controlling facial muscles.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Rarest diagnosed form of Cerebral Palsy, affects fine motor skills.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy: It is common doctors will diagnose a child as having mixed Cerebral Palsy, or some combination of the above forms or symptoms.

Research estimates more than 80 percent of Cerebral Palsy cases occur during pregnancy or at birth. Cerebral Palsy is caused by a brain injury that can result from an infection, such as meningitis, a lack of oxygen to the brain, or bleeding into the brain.

Many of these cares are the result of medical mistakes. Dealing with a serious diagnosis like Cerebral Palsy takes the strength of a family and the experience and knowledge of a team of medical and legal professionals.

The New York birth injury lawyers and medical malpractice attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool offer parents free appointments to discuss your rights.

Our experienced personal injury lawyers can assemble a team of professionals experienced in birth injuries and the diagnosis, treatment and long-term care of infants diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

If an infant diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy is affecting your family, don't go it alone. It's time to find professional help to stand by your side and fight to ensure that your child has every legal and medical benefit available.

Call the law office of Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool today for a free appointment to discuss your rights. 212-406-1700.