Cerebral Palsy Attorney Near You in New Jersey

Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Near You in New Jersey

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), you may be uncertain about how to tackle the new challenges your family is facing. Cerebral palsy can sometimes be caused by complications during labor and delivery. If medical negligence played a role in your child’s cerebral palsy, you deserve answers and the opportunity to hold responsible parties accountable.

Our medical malpractice team at Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC, by Paul M. da Costa, can investigate your case, determine if medical malpractice occurred, and fight for the resources your child needs for the best possible quality of life. Paul and his team provide compassionate, tenacious legal support and have recovered substantial settlements and verdicts for victims of medical negligence in New Jersey.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that can affect muscle tone, movement, and coordination. It is often caused by brain damage that occurs due to lack of oxygen or a birth injury sustained before, during, or shortly after childbirth.

The effects of cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe and may require a lifetime of medical treatment. Common symptoms of cerebral palsy include difficulty walking or being unable to walk, speech problems, seizures, learning disabilities, and more. Although cerebral palsy is incurable, the condition is non-degenerative and does not become worse as the years progress.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Although cerebral palsy is sometimes caused by genetic factors or abnormal brain development, it is also linked to disruption to oxygen supply during pregnancy or preventable medical errors. Common causes include:

Failure to monitor fetal distress during labor and delivery
Umbilical cord prolapse
Hemorrhaging
Complicated and prolonged labor and delivery
Delayed C-section when the baby shows signs of oxygen deprivation
Improper use of delivery tools such as forceps or vacuum extractors
Shoulder dystocia that causes the baby to get stuck in the birth canal
The baby is in breech position
Placental abruption
Failure to diagnose and treat maternal infections during pregnancy
Mismanagement of premature birth or low birth weight risks

When mistakes like these occur, they can lead to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), brain injury, and ultimately cerebral palsy. Though the causes of cerebral palsy can be influenced by a wide range of factors, the role of healthcare professionals cannot be overstated. Timely and correct diagnosis of health risks and prompt action in accordance with standardized medical procedures can prevent irreparable harm to your child.

If you suspect your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice, an experienced birth injury attorney can evaluate your case and advise you of your options for recovering compensation.

How an Experienced Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help

Accurate Valuation of Your Cerebral Palsy Claim

Our birth injury lawyers know that caring for a child with cerebral palsy requires time, energy, and financial resources. Depending on the severity of the condition, a child may need:

Ongoing physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Specialized medical care and surgeries
Mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers
Assistive technology for communication and learning
Home modifications to improve accessibility

It can be easy to underestimate the physical, emotional, and financial costs of a birth injury – these expenses can reach into the millions of dollars over a lifetime. Our medical malpractice attorneys work closely with medical and financial experts to accurately value your claim and ensure all your child’s expenses are covered for the long haul.

New Jersey Medical Malpractice Laws are Complex

Generally, New Jersey’s statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is two years from the date of injury. However, there are several exceptions to this rule.

In many cases, cerebral palsy cannot be diagnosed until after a child grows past infancy, as their development becomes easier to measure during the toddler stage. If a birth injury like cerebral palsy isn’t discovered right away, the clock won’t start ticking on the statute of limitations until the injury is discovered.

Additionally, if a minor child wants to file a medical malpractice lawsuit due to a birth injury he or she sustained, the claim may be delayed until the child’s 13th birthday.

Our cerebral palsy lawyers have successfully recovered compensation for clients in all types of birth injury cases. We fully understand the medical aspects of the condition and the strict procedural rules for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in New Jersey.

Compassionate Legal Representation You Can Trust

If you suspect that medical negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy, we are here to listen, guide you through your legal options, and stand by your side every step of the way.

Paul and members of his team are experienced certified civil trial attorneys who have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as Tier 1 Personal Injury – Plaintiffs and Tier 1 Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs law firm in New Jersey for 2022 and 2024. This highly respected peer-review publication named Paul Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Medical Malpractice – Plaintiffs for 2025.

The National Law Journal selected Paul and his Medical Malpractice team as recipients of its prestigious 2022 Elite Trial Lawyers Awards in the medical malpractice category. In 2022, Paul was a finalist for New Jersey Law Journal Attorney of the Year.

In 2023, he was selected for the National Law Journal Trailblazers Plaintiff Lawyers. In 2024, he was included on the NJBIZ Law Power 50 list, which recognizes the most influential men and women leading New Jersey’s legal profession. Paul was also chosen for the New Jersey Super Lawyers Top 100 list from 2020 – 2024.

Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC was selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms Regional Tier 1 – New Jersey, in the areas of:

Our cerebral palsy attorneys believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. We can help you pursue the resources you need to provide your child with care and support for years to come.

Contact a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Near You in New Jersey

At Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri Webb LLC, we’re dedicated to making things right for victims of birth injuries and their families. Contact us or call 973-274-5200 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Paul M. da Costa today. Our cerebral palsy lawyers near you in New Jersey offer several convenient locations in Roseland, Bridgewater, Hackensack, Morristown, and Eatontown.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cerebral Palsy Cases

How Do I Know If Medical Negligence Caused my Child’s Cerebral Palsy?

To determine whether medical negligence was involved, it’s critical to have experienced malpractice attorneys and medical professionals investigate your case. Your cerebral palsy lawyer will review medical records and consult with experts to find answers.

How Long Does a Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Take?

Timelines for medical malpractice lawsuits vary depending on the complexity of the case, whether it is settled or goes to trial, and other factors. Some medical malpractice claims are resolved in months while others may take several years.

How Much Does a Cerebral Palsy Attorney Cost?

Our cerebral palsy lawyers take birth injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t incur any up-front costs or pay attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you. Fees are deducted from any settlement or verdict you receive when your case is successfully completed.