Common Birth Injuries and Errors Leading to Cerebral Palsy
Families often see their own story in the mistakes below. Each is preventable with reasonable care.
- Delayed Cesarean section – ignoring fetal distress and leaving a baby in the birth canal too long can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
- Failure to monitor fetal heart tones – missed signs of oxygen deprivation increase brain-injury risk.
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors – excessive traction fractures skull bones and injures brain tissue.
- Extended or exhausting labor without intervention – prolonged compression reduces blood flow to the brain.
- Umbilical-cord prolapse or nuchal cord not corrected – cord pressure cuts off oxygen.
- Untreated maternal infection such as chorioamnionitis – infection-driven inflammation damages fetal brain cells.
- Uncommon but serious errors we also investigate: untreated newborn jaundice leading to kernicterus, placental abruption handled too slowly, uterine rupture, breech birth mismanagement, and undiagnosed fetal stroke.
Whether your child arrived at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring or another Maryland facility, these errors should never happen.
Can I Sue the Doctor or Hospital for My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
Yes, when evidence shows that substandard medical care caused the brain injury. Our Silver Spring cerebral palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor and our investigative team obtain complete medical records, fetal monitor strips, and expert testimony to prove what went wrong. We pursue claims against any negligent party – OB-GYNs, nurses, anesthesiologists, hospital corporations, or medical-device manufacturers.
Maryland requires a Certificate of Qualified Expert before a malpractice suit proceeds; we secure that affidavit and manage every procedural step so you can focus on your child.
What Compensation Can a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Recover?
Raising a child with CP can cost more than $1 million over a lifetime. A lawsuit can provide funding for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, and home modifications
- Special-education services and individualized teaching aides
- In-home or institutional caregiving
- Lost income for parents who alter work schedules
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life enjoyment
Maryland caps non-economic damages, but there is no cap on economic damages such as medical and care costs. Our Maryland cerebral palsy lawyers document every projected need to demand the full value of your child’s future.
How Long Do I Have to File a Cerebral Palsy Malpractice Lawsuit in Maryland?
Under Maryland law, a medical-malpractice claim must be filed the earlier of five years from the negligent act or three years from the date it was discovered. For injuries to a minor at birth, the statute is generally tolled until the child’s 11th birthday. Evidence fades quickly, so contacting us now protects your rights and strengthens the case.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer for a Cerebral Palsy Case?
Cerebral palsy litigation is among the most complex personal-injury work:
- Hospitals deploy large legal teams; we match and exceed their resources.
- Expert neonatologists, obstetricians, economists, and life-care planners prove negligence and lifelong cost; we retain the best nationwide.
- Maryland’s pre-suit screening and arbitration rules demand meticulous compliance; our Silver Spring birth-injury attorneys handle them daily.
- Calculating future care across decades requires sophisticated economic modeling; we present clear, jury-ready projections.
In short, the right lawyer ensures your child’s needs are valued accurately and fought for relentlessly. Our fee comes only from a successful recovery.
Why Choose Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea for Your Cerebral Palsy Case?
Parents choose us because:
- Proven experience: For 40 years our Silver Spring cerebral palsy attorney Kerry Staton has delivered record verdicts and settlements for birth-injury clients.
- Resources that rival any hospital: in-house medical staff, litigation technology, and a war-chest for expert witnesses.
- Compassionate service: families praise the personal attention they receive from our attorneys and support team from first call to final resolution.
- Local mastery: we routinely litigate in Montgomery County Circuit Court and understand juror expectations here. Distance from our Baltimore headquarters never limits personal meetings – we drive to Silver Spring homes, set up secure virtual conferences, or meet at locations convenient for medically fragile children.
Jonathan Schochor
Jonathan Schochor co-founded Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. in 1984 and has led the firm to achieve more medical-negligence filings than any other lawyer or firm in Maryland. A three-time “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” he is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and holds Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating. Jonathan’s leadership has helped clients recover over one billion dollars, including Maryland’s largest class-action settlement, while the firm has received over 90 national and regional awards for excellence and ethics.
Kerry D. Staton
Co-founder Kerry Staton has received “Lawyer of the Year” honors from Best Lawyers in America (Baltimore) and Top 100 Lawyers, as well as a “Trial Lawyer of the Year” title from Top 100 Lawyers for his work in complex birth-injury and medical-malpractice cases. Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, Kerry has led high-stakes cases that have resulted in billion-dollar recoveries. His strategic insight, along with a dedicated team of medical investigators and experts, secures life-changing verdicts and settlements for injured patients and their families.
Our dedication, skill, and empathy make the difference when your child’s future is on the line.
Get Help from a Compassionate Silver Spring Birth-Injury Lawyer Today
If you suspect a delivery-room error caused your child’s cerebral palsy, time may be running out. Call (410) 234-1000 for a free, confidential consultation with our Silver Spring cerebral palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. We answer phones 24/7, meet virtually or in person, and advance every cost of litigation.
We will investigate, explain why the injury happened, and fight to secure the funds your child deserves. Your focus should be loving and supporting your child; our focus is holding negligent providers accountable.
When you are ready for answers and action, our Silver Spring cerebral palsy lawyer team is ready to help.
