• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
(914) 220-1086

Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC

Just another WordPress site

  • Home
  • About
    • Attorney Profiles
      • Daniel F. Gallivan
      • Thomas L. Gallivan
      • James C. Freeman
      • Andrew J. Gilbride
    • Testimonials
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse
    • Criminal/DWI Defense
    • Medical Malpractice
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Notable Cases
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • Attorney Profiles
      • Daniel F. Gallivan
      • Thomas L. Gallivan
      • James C. Freeman
      • Andrew J. Gilbride
    • Testimonials
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse
    • Criminal/DWI Defense
    • Medical Malpractice
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Notable Cases
  • Contact Us
Call
Contact
Blog
Home  /  Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a brain disorder that affects a person’s motor skills, muscle tone and movement. CP is usually caused by brain damage before or during a child’s birth. The disorder can also occur within the first three to five years of a child’s life. Because cerebral palsy is the result of brain damage, people with CP may also have vision and hearing problems, speech problems, as well as learning disabilities. Approximately 500,000 children and adults in the United States have CP, which is one of the most common disorders to occur before or immediately after birth.

There are three types of cerebral palsy. Spastic cerebral palsy results in stiffness and difficulties with movement. Athetoid cerebral palsy is associated with involuntary or uncontrollable movements. Finally, ataxic cerebral palsy causes problems with a person’s balance and depth perception.

While there is no cure for CP, it does not get worse over time. However, because the condition affects muscle control and movement, people with CP have difficulty standing still. In addition, they may also experience issues with bladder and bowel control, breathing and eating. People with CP may also have learning difficulties.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

The exact cause of CP is unknown. However, most cases of CP result from problems during pregnancy in which the baby’s brain is damaged or doesn’t develop properly. Infections, maternal health problems and genetic disorders are contributing factors that can cause CP. In some rare cases, CP can result due to problems during labor and delivery. Babies weighing less than 3.3 pounds, as well as twins and triplets, are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with the condition.

CP can also develop during early childhood as a result of brain damage. Such brain damage can be caused by bacterial meningitis, lead poisoning, shaken baby syndrome, and malnutrition. Infants not properly restrained during an automobile accident may also suffer from brain damage that can lead to CP.

How can Cerebral Palsy be Prevented?

Because the exact cause of CP is unknown, there is no single way to prevent the disorder. There are, however, certain actions parents can take to reduce their child’s risk of being diagnosed with CP. For example, mothers can eat a healthy diet during pregnancy and avoid drinking alcohol and taking illegal drugs. Mothers with diabetes, anemia, seizure disorders and high blood pressure should control these medical conditions by seeking medical care during pregnancy. Finally, mothers should take prenatal vitamins and discuss any medications they are taking with their doctors to prevent possible birth defects.

As the child gets older, parents should never shake their child, which can cause brain damage. Moreover, parents should use an infant car seat to protect their child from possible injuries during a car accident. In addition, parents should protect their child from lead exposure, and they should make sure their children are immunized to protect them against serious infections that can lead to brain damage that can cause CP.

How Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC can Help if Your Child was Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy

If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, our firm may be able to help. In some cases, medical professionals may not have acted to prevent certain risks that can lead to cerebral palsy. As a result, we will thoroughly investigate your child’s medical history, including all medical records that may indicate that malpractice caused your child’s condition. We will also consult with pediatric specialists about your child’s CP to attempt to identify when and how the condition was caused. Finally, we will recover compensation from those responsible for your child’s cerebral palsy. Contact us for more information.

Primary Sidebar

Get In Touch

Practice Areas

Personal Injury

  • Wrongful Death
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Trucking Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Construction Accidents
  • Scaffolding Accidents
  • Slip, Trip & Falls (Premises Liability)
  • Negligent Supervision at a School or Day Care
  • Sidewalk Falls
  • Elevator Accidents
  • Train and Subway Accidents

Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse

  • Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
  • Falls & Fractures
  • Malnutrition and Dehydration
  • Physical and Sexual Abuse
  • Wandering & Elopement
  • Unexplained Bruises and Cuts
  • Infection
  • Choking Incidents
  • Medication Errors
  • Group Homes
  • Assisted Living Facilities

Criminal/DWI Defense

  • DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)
  • Criminal Defense
  • Traffic Violations
  • DMV Refusal Hearings
  • Sex Crimes
  • Shoplifting & Larceny
  • Assault & Vehicular Assault
  • Drug Possession
  • Drug Sales
  • Weapons Charges
  • Domestic Violence
  • How is a DWI Defined in New York?
  • Is the Driver’s License Confiscated Immediately Upon a DWI Arrest?

Medical Malpractice

  • Failure to Diagnose Cancer
  • Birth Injuries (Gynecological, Obstetrical)
  • Medication Errors
  • Surgical Errors
  • Gastric Bypass Surgery Errors
  • Emergency Room Errors
  • Failure to Diagnose Heart Attack or Stroke
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Erbs Palsy Birth Injury

Trusts + Estates

  • Wills & Trusts
  • Divorce, Child Support, Custody Issues
  • Elder Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Guardianships
  • Medicaid-Planning
  • Power of Attorney / Health Care Proxy
  • Probate and Estate Administration
  • Surrogate Court Litigation
  • Real Estate
  • Business Formation
  • Wills
  • Will Contests

View All Practice Areas

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

" Last year I was injured in an accident, and for the first time, needed the advice of an attorney regarding how to proceed. I was referred to Thomas Gallivan through a family member who is a lawyer in Massachusetts. I am beyond pleased with how Thomas handled my case. He was knowledgeable, professional, and although the case was not as straightforward as some, he used every resource to ensure a positive outcome. Thomas communicated with me regularly and I felt completely informed and confident in his ability. He expertly negotiated a fair settlement that I was very happy with. The entire experience was extremely positive, during a stressful time for me. Thank you Thomas. "

Melanie

" Attorney Thomas Gallivan is a wonderful attorney!! I particularly liked his professionalism, consistency, always kept us updated on the case, and available upon request. He worked extremely hard and was persistent on getting the best settlement in a timely matter. I truly appreciated his prompt responsiveness to emails and phone calls. The office staff was very pleasant and made sure to get messages to him asap. Glad we chose this law firm, would highly recommend and in the event that we ever need an attorney again, Gallivan & Gallivan would be my primary choice. "

Katherine R.

" I was a passenger on a motorcycle and ended up falling off the back of the bike due to the driver acting like an idiot. I fell off at a high rate of speed and was very banged up. Fractured wrist and road rash down my back and elbows. I am lucky I didnt die. Not knowing what to do I contacted Thomas and he could not have been anymore helpful!! He went out of his way to meet with me. He actually came to my house for the initial consultation. I know nothing about law or what my options even were. He took me through everything step by step. "

Colin W.

View All Testimonials

245 Main St Suite 450 White Plains, NY 10601

Phone:
(914) 220-1086

Fax:
(516) 394-4229

555 5th Ave 14th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Toll Free:
(855) 228-7369

(By Appointment Only)

1370 RXR Plaza
Uniondale, NY 11556

Toll Free:
(855) 228-7369

Fax:
(516) 394-4229

12 1st St
Riverhead, NY 11901

Toll Free:
(855) 228-7369

Fax:
(516) 394-4229

Footer

  • Home
  • About
  • Practice Areas
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact Us

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING

Copyright © 2022, Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC