Parents who learn that their child has cerebral palsy are immediately thrust into an unfamiliar world of medical jargon, therapy schedules, and lifelong financial questions. We understand that world because our Pasadena cerebral palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor and birth-injury lawyer Kerry Staton have guided families through it for nearly four decades. 

Our firm, Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., has recovered millions for children hurt by preventable medical errors, and we stand ready to do the same for your family. From Glen Burnie to Lake Shore, we offer free, no-pressure consultations at (443) 909-2792 or wherever is convenient for you.

What Is Cerebral Palsy and Could It Have Been Prevented in My Child’s Case?

Cerebral palsy is a group of non-progressive neurological disorders that affects muscle control and posture. In the United States, it appears in roughly three of every 1,000 children.

Brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth, often caused by oxygen deprivation, infection, or physical trauma, interferes with normal motor-control centers. Because the injury does not worsen over time, children generally show the same core limitations throughout life, even though the specific challenges evolve with age.

Some causes of cerebral palsy are truly unpreventable, such as rare prenatal genetic complications. Many others, however, stem from avoidable medical mistakes. When doctors miss signs of fetal distress, delay a C-section, or misuse delivery tools, preventable brain injuries can result. Knowing the difference is critical, and our Pasadena birth-injury attorneys will investigate at no cost to you.

Is Cerebral Palsy a Birth Injury or a Birth Defect?

A birth defect develops before labor and is usually linked to genetics or prenatal factors. A birth injury is physical harm that occurs during labor, delivery, or the immediate neonatal period. When cerebral palsy results from oxygen loss or trauma in the delivery room, it is a birth injury, not a hereditary defect.

Why does this distinction matter? Birth injuries may signal negligence, opening the door to legal compensation, whereas true birth defects typically do not involve malpractice. If a Pasadena hospital’s mistakes deprived your baby of oxygen, you deserve clear answers and accountability.

What Medical Mistakes Can Cause Cerebral Palsy?

Medical professionals train for obstetric emergencies, and most comply with safety protocols. Cerebral palsy often develops when those safeguards break down. Common errors include:

  • Failure to monitor fetal distress-ignoring an abnormal heart-rate strip.
  • Delayed C-section despite warning signs of oxygen deprivation.
  • Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors that injure a newborn’s skull or spine.
  • Untreated maternal infections or preeclampsia that compromise oxygen supply.
  • Medication errors, such as excessive Pitocin causing dangerously strong contractions.

Less-Frequent but Serious Errors

  • Undiagnosed umbilical-cord prolapse cutting off blood flow.
  • Anesthesia complications that trigger severe maternal hypotension.
  • Failure to treat newborn jaundice leading to kernicterus.
  • Neglecting proven cooling therapy after a hypoxic-ischemic event.

Each scenario is avoidable with proper vigilance. When lapses occur, the Pasadena cerebral palsy attorneys at our firm marshal medical experts to pinpoint exactly where the standard of care failed.

How Can I Tell if My Child’s Cerebral Palsy Was Caused by Medical Negligence?

Several red flags suggest malpractice:

  • A long, difficult labor followed by an emergency C-section.
  • Resuscitation, NICU admission, or an HIE diagnosis immediately after birth.
  • Visible bruising or head trauma inconsistent with routine delivery.
  • Hospital staff who avoid or contradict each other’s explanations about what happened.

Parents should not shoulder the investigative burden alone. We obtain full medical records, consult independent neonatologists, and reconstruct the timeline to determine whether negligence occurred. A no-cost review lets your family focus on your child while we focus on the facts.

What Should I Do if I Suspect the Doctor Caused My Baby’s Cerebral Palsy?

  1. Request complete medical records for pregnancy, labor, delivery, and neonatal care.
  2. Write down everything you remember – who said what, how long you waited, any alarms or equipment issues.
  3. Speak with a cerebral palsy birth-injury lawyer right away. An early review preserves evidence and identifies key experts.
  4. Avoid delay. Statutes of limitations can expire quickly, and memories fade.

Our Pasadena birth-injury attorneys handle these steps on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win. Prompt action protects both your legal rights and vital medical evidence.

How Long Do I Have to File a Cerebral Palsy Medical-Malpractice Lawsuit in Maryland?

Maryland generally requires medical malpractice claims to be filed within the earlier of five years from the injury or three years from discovery. For children injured at birth, the clock often starts when the child turns eleven years old. Missing this deadline permanently bars recovery, so contacting counsel as soon as you suspect negligence is essential.

What Compensation Can Our Family Receive in a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit?

Successful claims can secure:

  • Medical expenses-past bills and lifelong care, including surgeries, medications, and adaptive equipment.
  • Therapy costs-physical, occupational, and speech therapy throughout development.
  • Educational support-special-education services and assistive technology.
  • Home modifications and caregiving-wheelchair ramps, in-home nursing, or vehicle adaptations.
  • Pain, suffering, and loss of life enjoyment (non-economic damages, subject to Maryland caps).
  • Lost wages-income a parent forfeits to provide full-time care.

The CDC estimates lifetime care for a person with cerebral palsy approaches $1 million in 2003 dollars, underscoring the financial stakes for families. Our legal team works with economists and life-care planners to demand a settlement or verdict that truly covers every future need.

How Can a Pasadena Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Help My Family?

We lift the legal burden so you can focus on your child. When you hire our firm:

  • We investigate thoroughly, securing records and consulting top neonatologists, neurologists, and obstetric experts.
  • We build a compelling case, drafting claims, conducting depositions, and meeting all procedural requirements.
  • We negotiate aggressively with hospitals and insurers and are always prepared for trial-an approach that often drives higher settlements.
  • We guide and support, explaining every step, connecting you with community resources, and returning calls promptly.

Our attorneys know Maryland medical standards and have held providers from Baltimore-Washington Medical Center to smaller Anne Arundel facilities accountable. Hiring us costs nothing upfront. Our fee comes only from funds we recover for you.

How Long Does a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Take to Resolve?

Timelines vary. Some clear-liability cases settle in months. Complex disputes can take several years, especially if trial is necessary. Factors include:

  • Medical complexity and number of expert witnesses.
  • Defense strategies that may delay proceedings.
  • Court calendars outside any party’s control.

Typical stages are investigation, claim filing, discovery, settlement talks, and trial if needed. We prepare every case as if it will go to verdict, yet many resolve favorably before reaching the courtroom. Throughout, we update you regularly so there are no surprises.

Why Choose Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea for Your Pasadena Cerebral Palsy Case?

Experience and Results. Our birth-injury team, led by Pasadena cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and trial veteran Kerry Staton, has more than 40 years of combined medical-malpractice success and over 90 professional honors. Jurors and insurers alike respect our record of multi-million-dollar recoveries for children harmed by delivery-room negligence.

Take the Next Step. Call (443) 909-2792 or complete our contact form for a free, no-obligation case review. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can pursue the support your child deserves. Your focus belongs on your family. Llet us fight for their future.