Ensure a brighter future for your child. Secure the Cerebral Palsy compensation you deserve to cover the cost of ongoing professional care.
If your child has Cerebral Palsy caused by medical negligence, we can offer free advice and legal support – get in touch or call 0191 5666 500 to discuss your case.
Caring for a child with Cerebral Palsy requires significant time, patience and emotional energy.
Even daily tasks like mobility assistance, medical appointments and accessing education can feel overwhelming for parents and carers. Navigating a complex healthcare system and accessing appropriate professional care and support can often further compound these difficulties.
We understand the emotional toll that witnessing a child’s struggles can have on you, as well as the financial uncertainty surrounding their future. To overcome these challenges and make life less demanding, our solicitors can help you claim the Cerebral Palsy compensation you deserve.
We can offer Legal Aid funding or pursue cases on a No Win, No Fee basis. To win your case, and secure substantial damages, we would need to prove that the medical professionals assigned to look after you and your child failed in their duty of care.
If we are able to secure an admission of liability, we will try to secure Cerebral Palsy compensation that can provide the life-long financial support needed to treat and care for your child, including when you are no longer able to provide this.
To arrange a free consultation with our Birth Injury Solicitors, please get in touch or call 0191 5666500 for an informal discussion. There is no obligation to start a claim and any information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Did these Cerebral Palsy causes happen to you?
Seeing a child face daily challenges because of Cerebral Palsy can evoke feelings of helplessness and uncertainty, especially surrounding their long-term future.
While not every instance of Cerebral Palsy stems from the negligent actions of medical professionals, there are various ways in which the condition can result from lapses in care.
- Neglected to deliver baby early enough or by Caesarean
- Failed to properly monitor baby’s heartbeat correctly
- Did not respond to umbilical cord wrapped around baby’s neck
- Failed to provide adequate oxygen to asphyxiated baby at birth
- Delayed the delivery of baby, resulting in oxygen deprivation
- Failed to monitor oxygen and provide respiratory treatment following birth
- Neglected to properly treat a baby suffering trauma
- Failed to perform a timely caesarean section because of foetal distress
- Delayed diagnosis or treatment of serious conditions such as meningitis
- Failed to diagnose or treat low blood sugar – hypoglycaemia
- Failed to diagnose and treat low sodium levels – hyponatraemia
If any of the above scenarios sound familiar to you, we would recommend that you get in touch as you may have a strong case for compensation.
Comprehensive compensation for treatment & care
According to the Cerebral Palsy UK charity, there could be as many as 1,800 babies affected by the condition every year. We believe one case of substandard care is one too many.
If your child suffers from serious and ongoing complications, our solicitors will aim to secure enough compensation to make daily life easier for you and your family.
Cerebral Palsy compensation can be used to pay for real and practical changes.
- Professional care
- Rehabilitation
- Home adaptations
- Equipment & aids
- Medication
We can connect you with medical practitioners, support specialists and rehabilitation coordinators so they can produce a long-term care plan.
To support your child and ensure their future is financially secure, we will also aim to agree a compensation package that will allow them to be cared for in later life.
Our solicitors have an excellent record of securing damages – including some significant Cerebral Palsy Compensation settlements.
- £5.8million in compensation recovered against East Kent University Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust
- £3.8million in compensation recovered against University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire
- £7.2million in compensation recovered against Sunderland Hospitals.
No Win, No Fee Cerebral Palsy Claims Explained
We are proud to be part of an exclusive group of law firms with ability to provide Legal Aid for cerebral palsy claims. This means you’ll receive comprehensive funding throughout the investigation and specialist legal representation.
If you cannot access Legal Aid, which is means tested, we can often pursue your case on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis – providing affordable access to justice.
Often known as a Conditional Fee Agreement or CFA, a ‘No Win, No Fee’ agreement means you won’t pay a penny if you lose your case. This means you do not have to weigh up whether a Cerebral Palsy claim is a risk worth taking.
If you win, your opponent will usually need to cover most of your legal costs, although you will need to pay a success fee from the compensation.
If your case is not successful, you won’t pay a penny. In effect, it means we share the risk with you, as we only get paid if you win.
This isn’t the only way to fund a case and all other funding methods will be explained before you decide whether to pursue a claim.
To arrange a free consultation, call 0191 5666500 and chat to our Cerebral Palsy Solicitors in confidence.
Our approach to Cerebral Palsy Compensations Claims
When a child is diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, we know this can lead to heightened emotions among parents and carers because of the profound impact it has on all of their lives.
During this sensitive time, we adopt a hand-holding approach and compassionately guide you through the Cerebral Palsy compensation process, explaining all of the available options.
- A free no-obligation case discussion with our Cerebral Palsy Solicitors
- Analyse case details and work out if you have a strong claim
- Explain ways to fund case – including No Win, No Fee option and Legal Aid
- Gather evidence & ensure case is as strong as possible
- Review medical records, witness statements & medical experts
- Give you the best chance to secure maximum compensation
- Negotiate and try to agree a settlement outside of court
Seeing a child face daily challenges can evoke feelings of helplessness and deep empathy. We understand this and are always on hand to offer support and guidance throughout the duration of your case.
Based in Sunderland – trusted across the North East & UK
If you’d like to utilise the experience and expertise of our clinical negligence solicitors, we would love to fight for the support and rehabilitation you deserve.
From our head office in central Sunderland (just a stone’s throw from the train station), we can quickly travel to anywhere in the North East. We also represent people from across the UK, many of whom have been referred by previously successful clients.
Even if you’re not sure whether a claim is possible, get in touch for a no-obligation and confidential discussion either in person or via video call.
Arrange a free consultation with our specialist Cerebral Palsy solicitors – get in touch or call 0191 5666500 today!
Cerebral Palsy FAQS
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a medical term which is used to describe a wide range of neurological conditions that affect a child’s movement because they have suffered brain damage or complications that have led to abnormal brain development.
Cerebral Palsy is often the result of complications caused in child birth, either before, during or soon after delivery.
Sometimes, the specific cause cannot be identified but there are several complications that can lead to Cerebral Palsy.
- Hypoglycaemia during pregnancy
- Mother catches an infection
- Brain deprived of oxygen
- A bleed on the brain
Cerebral Palsy can also develop if a child suffers a head injury during their early formative years or from an infection such as meningitis.
There is no cure available for Cerebral Palsy, as all of the potential causes are related to brain development. But an evidence-based care plan can help children and their parents or carers to cope with the effects of the condition.
What are the most common Cerebral Palsy symptoms?
Cerebral Palsy symptoms are not usually obvious when a baby is born, but they do become noticeable during the first few years of a child’s development.
According to the current NHS Cerebral Palsy guidance, symptoms can vary in severity and may include:
- Move stiffly or are too floppy
- Cannot control movements
- Walking on tip-toes
- Weak limbs
- Difficulty swallowing
- Speech and vision issues
- Learning difficulties
- Behavioural problems
If you have any concerns about your child’s health or they are delayed in reaching development milestones, such as not walking by 18 months old, speak to your health visitor or a GP.
What are the different types of cerebral palsy?
Doctors often refer to particular types of Cerebral Palsy, based on the symptoms a child displays, and there are four main types.
Spastic cerebral palsy: Because of increased muscle tone, muscles are tight and stiff so it is difficult to move them.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy: Uncontrolled body movements or spasms occur because the muscle tone quickly changes from too tight to too loose.
Ataxic cerebral palsy: Balance and co-ordination is a struggle, which can result in shaky or clumsy movements.
Mixed cerebral palsy: When symptoms from more than one type are displayed, most commonly the spastic-dyskinetic combination.
What terminology is used to describe areas affected by cerebral palsy?
- Hemiplegia – one side of the body is affected.
- Diplegia – two limbs are affected.
- Monoplegia – one limb is affected.
- Quadriplegia – all four limbs are affected.
How do I make a Cerebral Palsy medical negligence claim?
If you’re unsure whether you can make a Cerebral Palsy claim, it’s probably worth speaking to our legal experts to discuss your circumstances.
We understand that each case is unique and very different from the next. We take the time to listen to your situation and can offer advice based upon the care you received and the strength of your case.
Once the details about making a claim have been fully explained, you can make an informed decision about whether to progress. If you do, we will outline all of the costs involved and draw up a Conditional Fee arrangement, as most Cerebral Palsy claims are made on a no win, no fee basis.
We will also start to gather evidence, analyse your medical records and, where possible, give you an estimate of the compensation you could expect to receive.
Benefit from free, no-obligation legal advice – call 0191 5666 500 and discuss your situation with our medical negligence solicitors.
How much Cerebral Palsy compensation could I receive?
As you would expect, each Cerebral Palsy claim is vastly different from the next, so the amount of compensation varies on a case-by-case basis.
As a general rule of thumb, the more severe your child’s cerebral palsy, the more you will receive. But this obviously depends on many different factors.
Fundamentally, we will try to obtain as much money as possible to help fund an appropriate treatment and care plan for your child. This may include home adaptations, occupational therapy or long-term care costs.
We have successfully secured millions of pounds for families affected by Cerebral Palsy. The reason we seek such large compensation is because we know that a lifetime of professional care and treatment will be required.
We also understand that the condition impacts upon most parents and carers for the rest of their lives, and can cause them to suffer from financial hardship. If his has happened to you, perhaps because you were forced to give up work, we can seek compensation for your loss of income.
How long do Cerebral Palsy claims take?
Cerebral Palsy claims are highly complex and can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years to be settled. During this time, we will try to obtain an admission that the duty of care has been breached so that we can secure an interim sum to cover ongoing care costs and any loss of future earnings.
Cases of this nature often require medical experts to assess a child’s level of disability up until the age of 7, so the time taken to secure compensation does vary massively from case to case.
Once the long-term needs of the child have been carefully assessed by independent experts, along with input from you, we can try to work out a suitable level of compensation. This aims to ensure the child has suitable care and treatment for the rest of their lives, including when their parents are no longer able to provide this.
Who do I make my claim against?
If you wish to pursue a claim, do not need to worry about diverting much-needed funds away from the NHS because, under UK law, each Trust is required to have adequate cover in place to pay any Cerebral Palsy claims.
In our experience, most claims are made against the hospital where the birth took place. In some cases, action might be taken against the private medical practitioners responsible for the substandard care.
Should your claim be successful, the compensation would be paid by the NHS Resolution on behalf of the Trust the claim is against.
You are entitled to claim compensation if you received care from the NHS, or a private hospital or healthcare facility, including home births.
Will my case end up going to court?
For most parents who have had to deal with the impact of Cerebral Palsy, the thought of going to court is overwhelming. We fully respect and understand this position.
To avoid the stress of a potential hearing, we try to negotiate an out-of-court settlement in the majority of birth injury claims. This can often speed up the process of securing compensation and help to keep your legal costs lower.
In the rare instances where a settlement cannot be agreed and court proceedings are required, we will provide robust representation and personal support to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible for you. If a claim is settled for a child, then it is still necessary to attend Court for a brief hearing so the settlement can be approved.
Are there time limits for making a Cerebral Palsy compensation claim?
A parent or guardian can start a claim on behalf of a child at any time before their 18th birthday.
Once the child is over 18, the time limit for making a cerebral palsy claim depends on their level of mental capacity. No time limit applies if the injured party has no mental capacity. If you have cerebral palsy and the mental capacity to make a claim yourself, you have until the age of 21 to start the claim.
Should you have any questions about the time limits for making a claim, please call 0191 5666500 and chat to our Cerebral Palsy in confidence.
