Birth Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Paediatric Claims
We regularly achieve multi-million-pound settlements for children including those injured at birth, many of whom suffer from cerebral palsy (CP).
These claims can take a long time to reach a conclusion and can be highly complex. Whatever the journey, we aim to make the process as easy as possible. We have been successful in bringing claims on behalf of injured children for over 25 years.
Expert birth injury lawyers
Families frequently contact us when they believe there has been a problem before, during or after the birth of their child which has resulted in injury.
If you are concerned that your child may have been harmed because of medical negligence, please contact us to discuss how we can help.
You might have concerns about your child’s development or questions about the standard of the medical care you and your child have received. Alternatively, you may already be coming to terms with the significant impact of caring for a child with a serious diagnosis or injury.
You may have been told that your child suffered hypoxia (lack of oxygen) at birth or they may have needed therapeutic cooling to lessen the possibility of brain injury. The hospital trust may have carried out an internal review or investigation as part of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework, there may have been a referral to the Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) programme or you may have received a letter relating to the Early Notification Scheme. In any of these instances it is vital to obtain legal advice.
We can provide guidance in all of these situations
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Frequently Asked Questions
How are Cerebral Palsy and other birth injuries identified?
Often brain injury which occurs during birth results from the baby being deprived of oxygen (sometimes described as hypoxia or asphyxia). Brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen may be referred to as hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).
After birth, signals that something’s wrong may include: poor APGAR, poor tone, seizures (or grunting) in the neonatal period, abnormalities on a brain scan, or failure to meet developmental milestones later on.
Is there a time limit for bringing a claim for Cerebral Palsy or other birth injuries?
In England and Wales, if a child is injured by negligence (including negligence that happened prior to or during their birth), they usually have until their 21st birthday to formally begin a claim at Court.
There are exceptions to this rule. If someone does not have ‘mental capacity’ to bring a claim as an adult there is usually no time limit. If they gain mental capacity at some point during adulthood, they will have three years from that point to begin their claim.
In rare cases, it may be possible to argue that the time limit should not be applied for an adult, even if they have mental capacity (although this is unusual).
It takes time to investigate a claim and, therefore, we advise that you contact us at the earliest opportunity; when all of the evidence is still available and the events are fresh in your mind.
However, we also consider older cases and have previously succeeded in claims for adults who were injured during their birth.
Can I bring a claim on behalf of a child or a family member who is not able to do it themselves?
If a child (or an adult who does not have mental capacity) is injured by negligence, a family member or other trusted person can act as a ‘Litigation Friend’ and bring the claim on their behalf.
Usually claims relating birth injury are brought by one of the child’s parents, who take on the role of ‘Litigation Friend’.
What is the process for bringing a claim?
We start by obtaining evidence including medical records, witness statements and expert evidence to prove that the child’s disabilities were caused by medical negligence.
We also calculate the amount of compensation that can be claimed. Typically, this involves instructing experienced experts to advise on all aspects of your child’s needs, in order to maximise the level of compensation. We then try to reach a financial settlement with the Defendant (the organisation or individual legally responsible for the negligent care).
In some cases settlement is agreed at an early stage. In other circumstances, it may be necessary to begin Court proceedings.
Can claims be brought in relation to private and NHS care?
Yes. Where the birth or other negligent medical treatment occurred through the NHS, the claim is generally brought against the responsible NHS organisation (such as the Hospital Trust or Primary Care Trust).
Where the treatment was privately funded, the claim is often brought directly against the private hospital, or the private medical practitioner, that provided the treatment. Hospitals and private practitioners are typically insured or indemnified for negligence claims.
Will the case be decided by the Court?
Probably not. The vast majority of medical negligence claims are not decided by the Court. Successful claims are usually resolved through agreement of a settlement either before or during Court proceedings. Occasionally, the Court will decide a case, if it cannot be resolved any other way.
Where the claim is for a child, or for an adult who does not have mental capacity, the Court will be asked to consider and approve the settlement. This is a safeguard required under the Court rules to ensure that the settlement is in the best interests of the injured person.
What is the benefit of bringing a claim for my child?
If medical negligence was the cause of your child’s disabilities, bringing a claim can secure substantial compensation to meet their needs throughout their lifetime. Having the funds to buy-in additional support can be transformative. Local authorities have limited budgets and many specialist therapies, such as neurophysiotherapy can be denied to children by the NHS.
There are a lot of resources available to empower disabled people and allow them to live life fully. However, this often costs more than for non-disabled people. A claim can secure the funding for life enhancing care, specialist equipment, support with education, adapted accommodation and therapies. It can also provide long-term financial security for someone whose ability to work is affected by their disabilities.
What happens to compensation obtained for a person with the effects of birth injury?
If compensation is obtained for a child who is unlikely to have ‘mental capacity’ to manage their financial affairs as an adult, a professional ‘Deputy’ is usually appointed. The Deputy will manage the compensation, on the child’s behalf, and act in their best interests. They will liaise with the family and release funds to ensure that the child’s needs are met in an appropriate way.
See Kingsley Napley’s Court of Protection and Deputyship page for further details about the role of a professional Deputy.
If the child is likely to have mental capacity as an adult, then the Court will usually hold the funds until the child is 18. Prior to that, funds can be released to meet the child’s needs.
We are struggling with the effects of our child’s disabilities. Will it take a long time before the case is concluded?
Medical negligence claims typically involve detailed investigation and expert evidence. They often take a number of years to resolve.
Our approach is to seek an admission of liability (i.e. confirmation that negligence occurred and caused injury) as early as possible in the process.
When liability is established, the Defendant usually has to pay part of the compensation immediately. This allows your child’s needs to begin to be met from the compensation, while the work to quantify the full amount of compensation continues.
What is the Early Notification Scheme and can I have help from a solicitor with this?
The Early Notification Scheme (ENS) can investigate where a baby suffers an injury at birth. We may be able to help you if your child’s case is being investigated under the ENS and we are experienced with this.
Do you offer ‘no win, no fee’ agreements?
Conditional Fee Agreements (known as ‘no win, no fee’ agreements) are the most common way that the medical negligence claims we undertake are funded. This gives clients the reassurance that they will not (in almost all cases) have to pay any legal costs in the event that they are not successful with a claim. We will explain all possible funding options with prospective clients including Legal Aid (only available in limited circumstances) and insurance policies in addition to ‘no win, no fee’ agreements.
Please see our page on How are claims funded?
How do I access medical records?
Medical records are usually the starting point for our investigation of a claim. With your permission; we request these records directly from the treatment provider(s).
Our clients sometimes wish to obtain copies of their birth notes and their child’s medical records themselves, before deciding whether to begin a claim. Please see our Guide to Accessing Medical Records for further information on how to request records.