Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent movement disorder that begins during early childhood. It is caused by damage to or the abnormal development of the area of the brain responsible for balance, posture, and movement. Cerebral Palsy can manifest in several different ways, including:

  • Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – a person with ataxic cerebral palsy suffer from poor muscle tone and poor; people with ataxic CP may appear shaky and unsteady
  • Athetoid Cerebral Palsy – with athetoid cerebral palsy, some muscle tone may be too low and some may be too high; people with athetoid CP have a hard time staying in an upright position, and faces, arms, and the upper body can make random, involuntary gestures
  • Spastic Cerebral Palsy – a person with spastic cerebral palsy usually suffers from muscle tone that is too high, resulting in stiff and jerky movements due to the tightness of the muscle tone; people with spastic CP have difficulty in moving to and from different positions or letting go of things in their hand
  • Mixed Cerebral Palsy – occurs when the muscle tone is too low in some areas and too high in others

If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of negligence on the part of another party, do not hesitate to discuss your case with our dedicated, experienced team at The Driscoll Firm. Call us today at (800) 900-7704.


Man with cerebral palsy wins case against Virgin airlines

David Mulligan, a cerebral palsy sufferer, requested to fly with his assistance dog, Willow, but his request was denied by the management of Virgin Australia. When making this request, Mulligan provided paperwork and accreditations from his doctor and a dog training association to further support his request and demonstrate his need for assistance. Unfortunately, Virgin Airlines denied and then approved his request, only to deny it once again in the end.

This forced Mulligan to take buses and trains in order to visit relatives living a long distance away, which could result in 22 total hours of travel. Eventually, his doctor reported that Mulligan was “no longer able to cope” with such long distance road and rail travel.

As a result, Mulligan brought the case to Federal Circuit Court in 2013. Now, after 5 years, Virgin has been ordered to pay him $10,000 in compensation after an appeal overturned the decisions of another judge who ruled in favor of Virgin.

 


Compromised Innervation

Brachial plexus injury refers to any damage to the brachial plexus, or the bundle of nerves running from the neck to the shoulder. The brachial plexus is responsible for supplying the muscles in the upper extremities with the nervous energy that they need, also known as innervation. When the brachial plexus is damaged, innervation might be compromised.

Individuals who suffer from compromised innervation could find that they suffer from one or more of these complications:

  • Decreased stamina and strength
  • Compromised body movement
  • Uneven growth (i.e., the arm with an injured brachial plexus could be smaller and shorter than the other one)
  • Impaired bone growth

Some cases of severe and life-long brachial plexus injury have been a result of either negligent medical care or incompetent medical staff during a child’s birth. If you think your child’s brachial plexus injury is a result of another party’s recklessness in the delivery room, learn about the possibility of obtaining financial compensation through a lawsuit. Consult with our team at the Driscoll Firm by calling (800) 900-7704 today.


John Driscoll Earns Lead Counsel Rating for Second Straight Year

lead counsel John J. Driscoll, lead partner at The Driscoll Firm, has been awarded Lead Counsel Rating in Personal Injury Law – Plaintiff by leadcounsel.org. This rating is in recognition of Mr. Driscoll’s long-standing commitment to meeting the highest standards of legal practice, demonstrated integrity in the field of law, and the widespread regard in which he is held by his peers. It is truly an honor to receive this recognition two years in a row.


Understanding the different techniques in diagnosing cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) generally refers to a set of disorders affecting movement control due to injuries to the developing brain. According to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, 10,000 newborns are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year, and close to 800,000 Americans are living with this condition. Unfortunately, many of these cases are the result of negligence and medical malpractice.

To diagnose cerebral palsy, doctors may perform one or more of these tests:

  • Electroencephalogram – A set of electrodes are attached to the scalp to check for epilepsy, which may indicate cerebral palsy in infants
  • Physical examinations – Vision, hearing, and speech tests help detect impairments that may be associated with CP
  • Brain scans – Cranial ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to check for any brain abnormalities, including CP.

If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by a medical professional’s negligence, a lawyer from The Driscoll Firm can help you file a lawsuit against the responsible party and seek much needed financial compensation. Call us today at (800) 305-9800 to learn more about pursuing such action.


The Driscoll Firm Welcomes Attorney Jeff Schultz to Legal Team

The experienced legal team at The Driscoll Firm is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Jeff Schultz to the firm. Jeff has extensive experience in the legal field, both in private practice and in a public capacity, having clerked for judges in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois as well as helping to secure a $21 million personal injury verdict which, at the time, was the largest in the history of the state of Mississippi.

Jeff is qualified to practice law in a wide range of different practice areas, including consumer fraud, product liability, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and federal civil rights, among others. The range and depth of knowledge that Jeff is sure to bring to his work at The Driscoll Firm is sure to make him a valuable asset to clients who need the representation of a dedicated and experienced legal professional.


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