Clinical Negligence
Cerebral Palsy and Birth Injury Cases
Wolferstans are regarded as leading specialists in conducting cerebral palsy cases, particularly those where a child has developed cerebral palsy as a result of negligent medical treatment at the time of birth.
Simon Parford, the Partner in charge of the Clinical Negligence Department, has over 15 years' experience of investigating claims for children and young adults who have cerebral palsy. He has recently negotiated what is believed to be the highest award of damages ever recovered for a young adult with cerebral palsy whose claim was settled for the sum of £5,705,000.
Wolferstans have recovered many millions of pounds in damages for our clients which has helped to ensure an improved quality of life and lifetime benefits which provide financial security for both our clients and their families.
Cerebral palsy claims are extremely complex and require very detailed analysis and the assistance of independent medical experts to establish that there was negligence at the time of birth (or during the antenatal and/or neonatal period) and that the negligence caused the brain injury which has resulted in the development of cerebral palsy. Not infrequently, a client's parents cannot remember very much, if anything, about what happened during the labour and delivery but that need not matter as it is usually apparent to our specialist team, from an analysis of the medical records, the CTG traces and any scans available, the time when things started to go wrong, what was or was not done by the medical staff and when the injury occurred.
If your child has cerebral palsy and you have ever been concerned that this may have resulted from inadequate or inappropriate medical treatment, contact us for an initial discussion to establish whether or not your child might be entitled to pursue a claim for damages.
Time limits are not usually a problem with cerebral palsy cases because the statutory limitation period is unlikely to have started. It is only in cases where your child is 21 years or older and has the mental capacity to understand the legal process and manage his or her own affairs that the limitation period may have started. Even in cases such as these, it may still not be too late to investigate a claim.
Funding is not usually a problem with cerebral palsy cases because the vast majority of children or young adults with cerebral palsy are financially eligible for Community Legal Funding (Legal Aid).
For a free initial discussion, without any obligation, contact Simon Parford by telephone on 01752 663295 or email.