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Cerebral Palsy Lawyer in Calgary
At Yanko Popovic Sidhu, we act for families where a child's cerebral palsy may be linked to events during labour and delivery.
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As your cerebral palsy lawyers
Yanko Popovic Sidhu and its predecessor firms have acted for injured Albertans for more than 40 years, and have represented thousands of clients over that time. Most cerebral palsy is not caused by anything that happened during delivery. Where it may have been, establishing that requires rigorous expert review — and we will be straightforward with you about what the evidence shows.
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Who we act for
We act for:
-Families of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy following a complicated delivery
-Families where signs of fetal distress may not have been acted on
-Families facing a lifetime of care, therapy and equipment costs
-Families who want a qualified opinion on whether anything went wrong
What these claims involve
Distinguishing cause from coincidenceCerebral palsy has many causes, most of which are not related to the management of labour. Establishing an intrapartum cause requires a specific evidentiary picture, and where it is absent a claim will not succeed however difficult the delivery was.Get in touch- Reading the monitoring recordWhere fetal monitoring shows a deteriorating pattern, the questions become when it should have been recognised, what should have been done, and how much earlier delivery would have occurred. These are expert questions.Get in touch
- Lifetime careWhere a claim succeeds, the damages are dominated by the cost of care over a lifetime. That requires life care planning, economic evidence and careful thought about how funds will be managed.Get in touch
More than 40 years acting for injured Albertans
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Do not assume you have until the child turns 18
Limitation periods are suspended while a claimant is a minor. But a potential defendant can start the clock running against a child by serving a notice to proceed on the child's guardian and on the Public Trustee and paying the prescribed fee — after which the ordinary periods begin to run. This is a step a hospital's or physician's insurer can take, and families who assume they have until the child reaches adulthood can find they are out of time years earlier. Separate rules may also continue to suspend time past 18 where the claimant's impairment meets the statutory definition of a disability
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A genetic or other explanation is not the end of the inquiry — nor is it a formality
Providers frequently attribute cerebral palsy to a cause unrelated to delivery, and they are often right. But that is a position that should be tested against the record rather than accepted or dismissed. An independent expert review is the only way to know.
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Diagnosis often comes years after the birth
Cerebral palsy is frequently not diagnosed until well after delivery. That gap matters for limitation purposes, because knowledge of attribution is part of the test — but it does not mean time is not running, and outer limits apply. This should be assessed early.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cerebral Palsy Claims in Alberta
Our child was diagnosed years after the birth. Is it too late?
Not necessarily, but do not assume either way. The limitation period runs from when you knew or ought to have known that the injury occurred, that it was attributable to someone's conduct, and that it warranted a proceeding — which in these cases is often well after birth. Limitation periods are also suspended while the claimant is a minor, though a defendant can act to start them running. Outer limits apply regardless. This needs a proper assessment.
How long do these claims take?
Typically several years. They require the complete record, multiple expert opinions on standard of care and causation, and — where liability is established — life care planning and economic evidence to quantify a lifetime of need. Resolving one quickly usually means resolving it for less than it is worth.
How long do I have to start a claim in Alberta?
In most injury claims the period is two years — but it does not simply run from the date of the incident. It runs from the point at which you knew, or ought reasonably to have known, three things: that you were injured, that the injury was attributable to someone else's conduct, and that it was serious enough to warrant bringing a proceeding. A separate ten-year outer limit runs from when the claim arose, and whichever period expires first governs. Different rules apply to minors and to people under a disability. Because the analysis is fact-specific, the safe course is to ask early rather than assume.
What does it cost to hire a lawyer for this?
We act on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no legal fees unless compensation is recovered. Disbursements — the out-of-pocket costs of running a file, such as medical records, expert reports and court filing fees — and applicable taxes may still apply. We will explain the arrangement in writing before you retain us.
Do you want help with your case?
Calgary, Alberta, T2E 8K4
Fri: 8 AM – 2 PM
Sat – Sun: Closed