Ann Arbor Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

Experienced Cerebral Palsy Lawyer in Ann Arbor, MI

Cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that can result from trauma during childbirth. The term cerebral palsy refers to motor development in children — tremors, poor coordination, or weakness or stiffness in the limbs. It is also associated with seizures, cognitive deficits and other developmental disabilities.

There are different types and degrees of cerebral palsy, based on the effects of the child’s motor movement or the part of the brain that was damaged. Cerebral palsy occurs in about 2.5 of every 1,000 live births in the United States.

Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, has held Michigan physicians and hospitals accountable for birth injuries caused by medical malpractice, including cerebral palsy and other forms of infant brain damage.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy often results from a baby being delivered before the brain is fully developed. Babies born prematurely — between 26 and 30 weeks gestational age — have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy than babies born at term. Babies born at 37 weeks gestational age or higher can develop cerebral palsy if there is significant hypoxia or asphyxia associated with the delivery.

Demonstrating causation to medical errors in childbirth requires a careful investigation of the facts to determine if the infant was deprived of oxygen to a dangerous degree, and that the medical professionals could have prevented brain damage. The medical records, including fetal monitor strips, may show indications of fetal distress or complications of labor and delivery that should have prompted a C-section or other intervention.

Contact Our Ann Arbor Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Today

If you believe your child suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of medical error, negligence or malpractice, please contact our office to discuss your claim with an Ann Arbor cerebral palsy attorney.

Serving Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, Michigan

Medical negligence can leave patients and their families facing additional treatment, permanent disabilities, lost income, overwhelming expenses, or the loss of a loved one. Whether the harm resulted from a diagnostic failure, surgical mistake, anesthesia complication, birth injury, hospital infection, or another breakdown in care, determining what happened requires a detailed investigation. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC represents patients and families in Ann Arbor with focused legal guidance and extensive experience handling medical malpractice and serious injury litigation.

The firm investigates claims involving physicians, nurses, surgeons, anesthesiologists, hospitals, emergency departments, and other healthcare providers. Ann Arbor is home to major medical institutions, including University of Michigan Health and Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital, making it an important regional destination for emergency care, surgery, cancer treatment, maternity services, and specialized medicine. Medical malpractice lawsuits arising in the area may proceed through the Washtenaw County Trial Court, located on East Huron Street in downtown Ann Arbor. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC helps clients evaluate medical records, consult appropriate experts, and determine whether the care provided complied with the applicable professional standard.

The firm serves clients throughout Downtown Ann Arbor, Kerrytown, Burns Park, Lower Burns Park, Water Hill, Old West Side, Northside, and surrounding communities such as Ypsilanti, Saline, Dexter, Chelsea, and Pittsfield Township. Whether a case involves a delayed diagnosis, surgical injury, preventable infection, medication mistake, or negligent obstetrical care, experienced representation can make the difference between unanswered questions and a thoroughly investigated claim seeking accountability for preventable harm.

Helping Patients and Families Throughout Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor is a major healthcare and research center serving patients from across Washtenaw County and southeastern Michigan. Families receiving care near the University of Michigan Medical Campus, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, downtown Ann Arbor, and the broader Washtenaw Avenue corridor may face complex questions when treatment results in unexpected harm. Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC helps injured patients and their families understand their legal options and pursue claims involving serious medical negligence.

Ann Arbor, MI Cerebral Palsy Law Additional Resources:

• HIE & Cerebral Palsy: Understanding Causation
• What Is Cerebral Palsy?
• Supporting Parents in Cerebral Palsy-Related Lawsuits
• Understanding the Root of Many Birth Injuries: Hypoxia
• What Happened to Cause Your Baby to Suffer a Brain Injury?