For many families, caring for a child with cerebral palsy can involve ongoing challenges, including access to therapies, specialist equipment, educational support and, in some cases, lifelong care.
Where cerebral palsy has been caused by avoidable medical errors, compensation may be available to help meet those needs. The purpose of compensation is not simply to place a financial value on an injury. Instead, it aims to ensure that a child has access to the care, support and opportunities they need throughout their life.
Compensation can be used to fund a wide range of support, including:
- Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy
- Specialist equipment and assistive technology
- Adaptations to the family home
- Mobility aids and accessible transport
- Professional care and support workers
- Educational assistance and specialist learning support
- Future accommodation needs
- Therapies, rehabilitation and medical treatment
- Financial security for future care requirements
Every child is different and compensation awards vary significantly depending on the severity of the disability and the support required throughout life.
In some cases, compensation is paid as a single lump sum. In others, the court may order regular tax-free payments, known as periodical payments, which can continue for many years or even throughout an individual's lifetime. Sometimes a settlement includes both a lump sum and annual payments to provide long-term financial stability and certainty for future care needs.
Many families find that compensation provides reassurance that funding will be available to meet their child's changing needs as they grow and develop.