Families dealing with a cerebral palsy diagnosis deserve swift answers and experienced legal help. Potomac cerebral palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and Potomac birth-injury attorney Kerry Staton have advocated for injured children since 1984, recovering over $1 billion for clients. We have filed more medical negligence cases than any other firm in Maryland, and our results include record-setting verdicts for birth injury survivors.
Montgomery County welcomes roughly 11,500 births each year. Although most deliveries are safe, a single preventable mistake can change a child’s life forever. We understand the fear, anger, and uncertainty parents feel, and we are ready to investigate, explain what happened, and fight for the resources your child will need.
Reach out to (410) 234-1000 or complete our brief contact form for a complimentary consultation with no strings attached. We’re available around the clock, can come to your home, and there’s no charge unless we secure a win for you. Let us advocate for the justice and protection your child needs.
What Is Cerebral Palsy and When Does Negligence Play a Role?
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, muscle tone, and posture. The condition stems from damage to a developing brain, often around the time of birth. While genetic or unpreventable factors can cause CP, thousands of cases each year arise because medical professionals ignore warning signs, delay critical interventions, or apply dangerous delivery techniques. When sub-standard medical care is a substantial factor, parents have grounds for a malpractice claim to secure compensation and accountability.
Common Birth Errors That Cause Cerebral Palsy
How Can Lack of Oxygen at Birth Cause Cerebral Palsy?
A baby deprived of oxygen, even for a few minutes, can suffer irreversible brain injury. If an umbilical cord is compressed, a placenta detaches, or fetal heart monitors flag distress, doctors must act immediately. Potomac cerebral palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor has repeatedly proven that delayed emergency C-sections at local hospitals led to hypoxia and permanent disabilities.
What Delivery Mistakes Lead to Cerebral Palsy?
Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors, excessive traction during shoulder dystocia, or rough manipulation in a breech delivery can bruise or bleed a newborn’s brain. Potomac birth-injury lawyer Kerry Staton secures expert testimony to show juries how correct technique would have prevented trauma.
Can an Infection Lead to My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Yes. Maternal infections such as Group B strep or chorioamnionitis, or neonatal infections like meningitis, can inflame brain tissue. When caregivers fail to screen, diagnose, or treat infections promptly, inflammation can destroy healthy cells and cause CP.
Other preventable factors
- Mismanaged prolonged labor
- Umbilical cord around the neck left unaddressed
- Inadequate newborn resuscitation or oxygen after birth=
A competent medical team anticipates these dangers. When they do not, the Potomac cerebral palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea step in to protect families.
Uncommon but Serious Medical Mistakes That Lead to CP
Some tragedies fall outside typical patterns, yet they are equally preventable:
- Delayed emergency C-section despite clear fetal distress.
- Mismanaged high-risk pregnancy untreated preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or multiple gestations.
- Severe untreated jaundice (kernicterus) leading to bilirubin-induced brain injury.
- Medication or anesthesia errors that depress a baby’s oxygen levels.
- Maternal medical emergencies (e.g., stroke) ignored, delaying delivery.
Whatever the scenario, we enlist top obstetric, neonatal, and brain-injury specialists to pinpoint exactly where care failed and when the injury occurred.
