
Tacoma Birth Injury Attorneys Take Action in Cerebral Palsy Cases
HELPING PARENTS RESPOND TO NEGLIGENT HARM TO THEIR BABIES
For expectant parents, a baby’s health is the highest priority. An injury to that child, especially one with lifelong consequences, requires in-depth investigation, and when called for, aggressive legal action to secure compensation. While a personal injury lawsuit cannot heal a child, it can provide financial resources to meet life’s challenges and deliver a sense of closure when a responsible party is held accountable. Since 1952, Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC has fought for injured parties whose cases cry out for justice.
WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY?
Cerebral palsy manifests in complete or partial muscle paralysis when a part of the brain called the cerebrum does not develop completely or sustains damage from disease or trauma. There are different varieties of cerebral palsy:
- Spastic cerebral palsy diminishes strength and induces jerky movements because of muscle stiffness. Symptoms vary according to severity and area of the body affected:
- Spastic hemiplegia affects one side of the body and may cause speech problems and seizures. It rarely impacts a person’s intelligence.
- Spastic diplegia affects the lower limbs, stiffening the legs so walking is awkward and difficult.
- Spastic quadriplegia affects the entire body, often retards intelligence and leads to seizures.
- Ataxic cerebral palsy impacts balance and depth perception, and damages fine motor skills. It usually does not affect intelligence or communication skills.
- Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy renders muscles weak or taut and subjects a patient to random, uncontrolled movement. Though speech is difficult, intelligence is usually unaffected.
- Hypotonic cerebral palsy impacts muscle tone so breathing is labored and a baby’s head flops.
WHAT CAUSES OF CEREBRAL PALSY GIVE RISE TO A LEGAL CAUSE OF ACTION?
Cerebral palsy is always tragic, but is only compensable when someone’s negligence has caused it. Since cerebral palsy often occurs naturally, it’s important to establish that some event disrupted brain development or induced trauma. Such trauma can occur during delivery if:
- A doctor did not treat the mother for pre-eclampsia.
- A doctor allowed the second stage of labor to go on too long before ordering a C-section.
- A doctor misused a vacuum extractor.
- A doctor negligently allowed the baby to experience asphyxia.
- A doctor misjudged a mother’s capacity to deliver vaginally and failed to order a C-section.
- A doctor failed to diagnose an infant’s infection, such as meningitis.
Your legal team at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC carefully investigates the circumstances surrounding your child’s cerebral palsy to determine if a healthcare provider’s failures amount to medical malpractice.
Contact our Tacoma birth injury lawyers for representation in cerebral palsy cases
If you suspect a healthcare provider’s negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy, call the birth injury lawyers of Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC Our experienced malpractice lawyers are prepared to evaluate your case. Call 253-383-5388 or contact our firm online to schedule a free consultation.
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At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC we have the skill and experience to take on a wide range of personal injury cases throughout Washington state. From motor vehicle accidents to workplace injuries – our reputation and success rates keep opposing counsel on edge.

Frequently Asked Questions
We have answers to some of the most common Washington personal injury questions. These are resources for injury victims.
Do I need a lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit?
It is not necessary to retain a lawyer to file your personal injury lawsuit. You should base your decision to involve an attorney on a reasonable assessment of the pros and cons. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC is a highly reputable personal injury law firm that has served Washington since 1959. We deliver value to our clients that far outweighs the fees we collect. But before you retain any attorney, you have to be satisfied that the benefits exceed the costs. We offer these points for your consideration.
What is the statute of limitations in Washington for personal injury?
A statute of limitations is state law; throughout the country, different states set different time limits for identical causes of action. Within each state, different causes of action have different time limits. In Washington, for personal injury lawsuits, the statute of limitations is three years.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?
The great advantage of filing a personal injury lawsuit is that most attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis. That means that rather than charging upfront legal fees or an hourly rate, the attorney works without compensation until the case resolves through a jury verdict or settlement. At that time, the attorney takes a percentage of the award. The contingency fee arrangement helps plaintiffs who could not otherwise afford the costs of civil litigation to pursue just compensation without worrying about expenses. It also means that your ability to retain an excellent lawyer does not depend on your ability to pay, but rather on the attorney’s assessment of the strength of your case, or the importance of delivering justice to someone in your particular circumstances.
How do I file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington state?
At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, we want our clients to have an accurate picture of what a personal injury lawsuit entails. The process is rarely quick and easy; defense counsel and insurance companies often employ delay tactics to wear a plaintiff down. We offer this page as a primer for anyone who has a cause of action and is considering a personal injury lawsuit.
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