Zayed Law Offices is proud to serve Chicago and communities across Illinois with experienced personal injury representation, including cases involving athetoid cerebral palsy. Athetoid cerebral palsy, also called dyskinetic cerebral palsy, is a specific form of the condition marked by involuntary, uncontrolled movements affecting the arms, legs, face, and sometimes speech. Unlike some other forms of cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy is often linked to very specific types of birth injuries, including severe jaundice and oxygen deprivation.
When this condition results from a preventable error during pregnancy, labor, or delivery at a Chicago-area hospital, families deserve answers and accountability. Zayed Law Offices works with experienced medical and neurological experts to investigate whether medical negligence contributed to a child’s athetoid cerebral palsy diagnosis.
Was your child diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy after a Chicago delivery? Contact Zayed Law Offices for the representation you deserve — no fee unless we win.
What Causes Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
Athetoid cerebral palsy results from damage to a specific area of the brain called the basal ganglia, which controls movement coordination. This type of damage is often linked to particular medical events during pregnancy or delivery, including:
- Kernicterus, a form of brain damage caused by untreated severe jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia)
- Failure to monitor and treat elevated bilirubin levels in newborns
- Oxygen deprivation during labor or delivery
- Failure to recognize and respond to fetal distress
- Delayed emergency cesarean section when warranted
- Complications from a difficult or prolonged delivery
- Infections during pregnancy that go undiagnosed or untreated
- Improper use of delivery instruments such as forceps or vacuum extractors
Because kernicterus is a well-documented and largely preventable cause of athetoid cerebral palsy, cases involving severe newborn jaundice deserve particularly close scrutiny. Hospitals are expected to screen and monitor bilirubin levels closely in the days following birth, and failure to do so can have permanent consequences.
Symptoms and Effects of Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
Children with athetoid cerebral palsy often experience a distinct set of challenges compared to other forms of the condition. Zayed Law Offices regularly assists families whose children experience:
- Involuntary, writhing movements of the arms, legs, hands, or face
- Difficulty maintaining posture while sitting or standing
- Speech difficulties due to involuntary movements affecting the muscles used for talking
- Difficulty controlling facial expressions
- Fluctuating muscle tone, alternating between rigid and floppy
- Hearing loss, particularly in cases linked to kernicterus
- Feeding and swallowing difficulties
- Significant need for long-term physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Because these symptoms often require lifelong care, families frequently face substantial and ongoing costs related to therapy, medical equipment, and daily living assistance.
Proving Medical Negligence in Athetoid Cerebral Palsy Cases
Illinois law requires a family alleging that medical negligence caused a child’s athetoid cerebral palsy to show that a healthcare provider deviated from the accepted standard of care and that this deviation directly caused the injury. In cases involving kernicterus, this often means demonstrating that hospital staff failed to properly screen, monitor, or treat elevated bilirubin levels according to accepted newborn care protocols. In cases involving oxygen deprivation, it typically requires a detailed review of fetal monitoring records and the timeline of interventions during labor.
Illinois law also requires that a medical malpractice lawsuit be supported by an affidavit of merit from a qualified healthcare professional before the case can proceed. Zayed Law Offices works with neonatologists, pediatric neurologists, and other qualified experts to thoroughly evaluate the medical record and determine whether preventable negligence contributed to your child’s diagnosis.
Illinois’ Statute of Limitations for These Claims
Illinois generally requires medical malpractice claims to be filed within two years of discovering the injury, but no later than four years from the date of the negligent act. Because athetoid cerebral palsy involves an injury to a minor, Illinois law provides important exceptions that can extend the filing period well beyond these standard deadlines. Given how fact-specific these rules can be, it is important to consult an attorney to understand exactly how much time your family has to pursue a claim.
Illinois’ Modified Comparative Fault Rule
Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning a family can recover compensation as long as the injured party is found less than 51 percent at fault for the harm suffered. In athetoid cerebral palsy cases, hospital defense teams may argue that the condition resulted from a genetic factor or an unrelated prenatal complication rather than a preventable delivery or newborn care error. Thorough medical record review and strong expert testimony are essential to addressing these defenses.
What to Do If You Suspect Medical Negligence Caused Your Child’s Condition
If your child has been diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy, taking the right steps can help protect your family’s legal rights.
- Request complete copies of prenatal, labor, delivery, and newborn care records, including bilirubin testing results
- Keep detailed records of your child’s diagnoses, therapies, and developmental progress
- Consult with pediatric neurologists or specialists to fully understand your child’s condition
- Keep a written record of conversations with hospital staff regarding your child’s care after birth
- Avoid signing any statements provided by the hospital or its insurer before speaking with an attorney
The sooner Zayed Law Offices becomes involved, the sooner we can begin reviewing medical records and consulting with qualified experts to evaluate your family’s claim.
Why Chicago Families Trust Zayed Law Offices
Zayed Law Offices is a nationally recognized personal injury firm known for handling sensitive, complex birth injury claims with both legal skill and genuine compassion. Led by attorney Adam Zayed, the firm has represented families throughout Cook County, including matters brought before the Cook County Circuit Court at the Richard J. Daley Center, and understands the substantial, lifelong resources a family may need after an athetoid cerebral palsy diagnosis.
These cases require detailed medical knowledge, particularly around bilirubin monitoring protocols and fetal distress response times. Our team works closely with qualified medical experts to build the strongest possible case, allowing families to focus on their child’s care while we pursue the compensation they deserve. Consultations are always free, and there is no fee unless we win your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicago Athetoid Cerebral Palsy Claims
How is athetoid cerebral palsy different from other forms of cerebral palsy? Athetoid cerebral palsy specifically involves involuntary, uncontrolled movements caused by damage to the basal ganglia, often linked to severe newborn jaundice (kernicterus) or oxygen deprivation, whereas other forms may result from different types of brain injury.
Could my child’s jaundice have been properly treated? Severe newborn jaundice is generally treatable when properly monitored and addressed with phototherapy or other interventions. A failure to screen or treat elevated bilirubin levels according to accepted protocols may constitute negligence.
Why does Illinois require an affidavit of merit for these claims? Illinois law requires a qualified healthcare professional to confirm a reasonable basis for the malpractice claim before a lawsuit can proceed, helping ensure claims are supported by credible medical review.
How long do I have to file a claim in Illinois? Because these claims involve an injury to a minor, Illinois law may extend the filing deadline well beyond the standard two- and four-year limits that apply to adult malpractice cases. An attorney can clarify the specific deadlines that apply.
What compensation might be available for athetoid cerebral palsy? Depending on the case, families may pursue compensation for medical expenses, long-term therapy and care costs, assistive equipment, lost future earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
What does it cost to hire Zayed Law Offices? Nothing upfront. Zayed Law Offices handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no cost unless we recover compensation for your family.
Contact Zayed Law Offices Today
Families across Chicago have trusted Zayed Law Offices when they needed a powerful advocate after a preventable birth injury. Don’t wait — important filing deadlines could limit your family’s right to recover. Contact Zayed Law Offices today for your free consultation.
