If your child has cerebral palsy and you suspect something went wrong during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, you may need a cerebral palsy lawyer.
This is not a decision you want to rush. Cerebral palsy cases are complex medical malpractice cases, often involving hospitals, doctors, nurses, and insurance companies with deep pockets and aggressive legal teams. Choosing the right lawyer can mean the difference between struggling financially for decades or securing the resources your child needs for lifelong care.
At IllinoisLawyers.com, we’ve helped families since 2001 by offering free legal guidance and attorney referrals to the most experienced Illinois cerebral palsy lawyer. Contact Illinois Lawyers anytime, day or night, to get free legal guidance and referral to the best attorneys for your case.
Cerebral Palsy Birth Injuries
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological condition caused by damage to a baby’s developing brain, most often due to oxygen deprivation during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or shortly after birth. It affects muscle movement, tone, posture, and coordination, and is the most common serious birth injury linked to medical malpractice lawsuits.
There are four main types of cerebral palsy:
- Spastic CP (80%+ of cases): Muscle stiffness that limits movement, including diplegia (legs), hemiplegia (one side), and quadriplegia (entire body).
- Dyskinetic CP: Involuntary movements with fluctuating muscle tone, sometimes affecting speech and swallowing.
- Ataxic CP: Poor balance and coordination.
Mixed CP: A combination of two or more types, most commonly spastic-dyskinetic.
Signs and Diagnosis
CP symptoms may not be obvious at birth and are often diagnosed between 10–24 months. Early signs include poor head control, muscle stiffness or floppiness, delayed milestones, involuntary movements, abnormal crawling, and speech or feeding difficulties. Pediatricians may use tools like the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) to assess severity and predict future mobility.
Treatment and Management
Caring for a child with cerebral palsy can be extremely costly. Families may rely on public assistance programs, nonprofit organizations, and legal compensation to cover therapy, medical equipment, and long-term care needs.
Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life and often includes:
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Medications for seizures and muscle spasticity
- Surgical interventions (primarily for spastic CP)
- Assistive devices, orthotics, and rehabilitation therapies
Do You Have a Cerebral Palsy Case?
Contact a cerebral palsy lawyer if your child experienced any of the following:
- Oxygen deprivation before, during, or shortly after birth
- Delayed or missed emergency C-section
- Failure to monitor or respond to fetal distress
- Untreated infections during pregnancy or delivery
- Severe newborn jaundice that was not promptly treated
- Head trauma during delivery (e.g., improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors)
If your child’s CP diagnosis stems from potential medical mistakes during pregnancy or birth, contact IllinoisLawyers.com immediately to get connected with the best birth injury lawyer for your case.
What Makes a Top-Rated Cerebral Palsy Lawyer?
Not every lawyer is qualified to handle these cases. Cerebral palsy lawsuits are among the most difficult medical malpractice cases to prove. A cerebral palsy lawyer handling these cases must be prepared to take on hospital defense teams and insurance carriers that aggressively fight liability. They need to be part of a well funded firm that can spend hundreds of thousands of their own dollars to hire experts, take day in the life videos and show the true harm your child and family has suffered.
The best cerebral palsy lawyer has:
- Extensive experience handling birth injury claims
- A strong background as an attorney for medical malpractice claims in general
- Access to respected medical experts
- A proven track record with serious birth injury results
- The financial resources to take on hospitals and insurers
- Has winning trial experience and is not afraid of hospital defense teams
A top-rated cerebral palsy lawyer also understands the emotional side of these cases. Families are not just seeking compensation—they are seeking answers, accountability, and long-term security.
Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Red Flags to Avoid
Avoid any Illinois or Chicago birth injury lawyer who:
- Guarantees a result
- Does not work at a firm with a lot of other lawyers
- Lacks birth injury experience
- Won’t explain the legal process
- Handles non-injury cases too
The best cerebral palsy lawyers for medical malpractice give honest advice—even when it’s not what families want to hear.
Who a Cerebral Palsy Attorney Identifies as Liable in a Case
In Illinois cerebral palsy cases, a cerebral palsy lawyer may hold the following parties accountable:
- Doctors: Obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, or any physician whose actions (or inactions) during prenatal care, labor, delivery, or post-birth care caused brain damage.
- Nurses & Midwives: Care providers who failed to monitor mother/baby, missed signs of distress, or provided substandard care.
- Hospitals/Facilities: For vicarious liability (staff mistakes) or direct negligence (faulty equipment, inadequate training, history of negligence).
- Other Professionals: Specialists, if a necessary consultation was missed.
A strong cerebral palsy attorney investigates not just the doctor, but the hospital system as a whole.
What Compensation Can a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Win for You
A successful cerebral palsy lawsuit can provide life-changing financial support. Compensation in medical malpractice cases may cover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical, speech, and occupational therapy
- Specialized equipment and home modifications
- Lost income for parents who must stop working
- Pain and suffering
Cerebral Palsy Statute of Limitations in Illinois
In Illinois, medical malpractice claims must generally be filed within two years of the date you knew—or reasonably should have known—that medical negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy. For birth injury cases involving minors, Illinois law provides an extended deadline, allowing claims to be filed up to the child’s eighth birthday. In cases of significant disability the timelines might be extended. They also can be as short as two years if the treatment was at a Federally funded clinic. We highly recommend you not delay having a possible case investigated.
How IllinoisLawyers.com Helps You Find the Best Cerebral Palsy Lawyer
We don’t believe one lawyer is right for every case. That’s why we take the time to understand your specific situation:
- Where the injury occurred
- Which hospital was involved
- The type of negligence suspected
Then we connect you with the best medical malpractice lawyer for your situation—at no cost. If your child has cerebral palsy and you believe medical negligence played a role, you deserve answers.
IllinoisLawyers.com offers free, confidential consultations to help you:
- Understand your legal options
- Determine if malpractice occurred
- Get referred to a proven cerebral palsy lawyer
Call (312) 346-5320 or (800) 517-1614 or request a free case review online—no pressure, no obligation.
There is no single “best” cerebral palsy lawyer for every family—but there is a best lawyer for your case. With the right birth injury lawyer for cerebral palsy, families can secure accountability, justice, and the financial support their child deserves.
FAQs
What is a cerebral palsy lawyer?
A cerebral palsy lawyer represents families whose child developed cerebral palsy due to possible medical negligence. These lawyers focus on birth injury and medical malpractice cases and help families pursue compensation for lifelong medical care and support.
Can cerebral palsy be caused by medical malpractice?
Yes. Cerebral palsy can be caused by medical malpractice if a provider’s mistake leads to a baby’s brain injury before, during, or shortly after birth.
Common causes include delayed C-sections, failure to monitor fetal distress, improper use of delivery tools, and oxygen deprivation at birth.
Can I sue if my child has cerebral palsy?
You may be able to sue if medical negligence during pregnancy, labor, or delivery caused your child’s cerebral palsy. A cerebral palsy lawyer can review your case and explain your legal options.
Who can be sued in a cerebral palsy lawsuit?
A cerebral palsy attorney may file a lawsuit against the hospital, doctor, nurse, or other medical professionals responsible for the negligence that caused the injury.
How much does a cerebral palsy lawyer cost?
Cerebral palsy lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs. Legal fees are only paid if compensation is recovered. Free consultations are typically available.
What is the average cerebral palsy settlement?
There is no average. Many cerebral palsy settlements exceed $10 million, though the amount depends on the severity of the condition and future care needs. A cerebral palsy lawyer can estimate potential compensation based on your case once they have a full understanding of the negligence and your child’s injury.
How long does a cerebral palsy case take?
Every cases is different, but these cases typically take many years. There is a lot of work to be done and it also takes time to have a true understanding of the child’s developmental delays and future medical requirements.
