Pittsburgh
Cervical Dystonia Lawyer

On This Page

1. What Is Cervical Dystonia?
2. Understanding Cervical Dystonia
3. Medical Malpractice and Cervical Dystonia
4. Recoverable Damages in a Medical Malpractice Claim
5. Begin Your Path to Financial Compensation Now

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

November 11, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

What Is Cervical Dystonia?

Cervical dystonia, also known as spasmodic torticollis, is a disorder that impacts a victim’s neck with involuntary muscle contractions. According to the Mayo Clinic, cervical dystonia can lead to your neck being turned or twisted toward one side of your body.

Cervical dystonia can be caused by a variety of factors, including medical malpractice.

If so, the condition may have developed because of:

• An injury sustained at birth
• Medications that contraindicated with a patient’s medical history
• An error made during a procedure

If you or a loved one is living with cervical dystonia, a Pittsburgh cervical dystonia lawyer from Berger and Green may be able to help you file a claim and receive financial compensation for your damages.

With over 40 years of combined experience serving their community, Berger and Green is committed to helping claimants who have been injured by negligence. We want to help bring you and your family peace of mind while we take on your legal responsibilities. Call Berger and Green today at (412) 661-1400 to get started with a free case review.

Understanding Cervical Dystonia

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), cervical dystonia typically impacts individuals between the ages of 40 and 60, but it can be found in any age group. According to NORD, cervical dystonia can lead to “abnormal movements and postures of the neck and head.”

The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) has also established a list of symptoms that could be an indicator of cervical dystonia.

These symptoms include:

• Twisting or tilting of the neck
• Tipping of the head (toward the front or back of your body)
• Elevation of the shoulder towards the ear
• Abnormal shifting of the neck away from the midline of your body

There is no cure for this painful condition. However, sometimes surgical procedures or medications can ease discomfort.

Medical Malpractice and Cervical Dystonia

As we mentioned before, you or your loved one’s condition could have been the result of a medical professional’s error. If so, you may have the basis of a medical malpractice claim. The time you have to act rests on when the error occurred or when you reasonably should have discovered the error. Your Pittsburgh cervical dystonia lawyer can give you a more specific answer after reviewing the details of your case.

Medical malpractice could have played a role in your cervical dystonia diagnosis in any one of the following situations:

An Error Made at Birth

Sometimes, during an especially arduous birth and labor process, the doctor will use various tools to extract the baby from the birth canal. If excessive force is used, the doctor could inadvertently cause nerve damage, causing the infant to develop cervical dystonia. If this was the case in your situation, our legal team can use your child’s medical records to determine when the error took place. You may be able to recover the cost of their medical expenses, physical therapy costs, and a host of noneconomic damages, such as impaired quality of life.

Medication Errors

Many patients are able to take medications prescribed by their doctors with no complications. However, according to Healthline, some medications can cause a person to develop cervical dystonia. These medications, which block the body’s production of dopamine, can result in this life-altering condition. If a medical professional has prescribed you a medication that caused you to develop cervical dystonia, your legal team can identify who they are and hold them financially accountable.

Errors Made During Procedures

Healthline also notes that an injury to the neck, head, or shoulders could result in a cervical dystonia diagnosis. You or a loved one may have developed this condition during the course of a surgical procedure. For instance, if a medical professional’s error resulted in nerve damage, you could have been injured.

Your Pittsburgh cervical dystonia lawyer is your legal advocate during this challenging time. They can review the evidence already present in your case or investigate your situation to uncover additional pieces of information. To learn more in a free case review, reach out to Berger and Green at (412) 661-1400.

Recoverable Damages in a Medical Malpractice Claim

Cervical dystonia is a lifelong condition. As a result, you may be facing expenses that threaten your financial stability. Whether the disorder was caused by an individual medical professional or a healthcare facility, you may be able to pursue the cost of your associated damages.

These can include:

• Your medical bills as they relate to the condition
• Lost wages, if your illness caused you to miss time from work
• Reduced earning capacity, if your condition caused you to take a job that paid you less than the one prior to your disorder
• Pain and suffering, which refers to the physical pain and emotional stress of cervical dystonia
• Emotional trauma
• Disability, which does not refer to Social Security, but rather, living with a disability

Depending on your situation, you may be able to recover the cost of damages that we have not included here. Your Pittsburgh cervical dystonia lawyer can review each of your losses and assign a monetary value, even to those that relate to pain and suffering. We encourage you to reach out to Berger and Green today.

Begin Your Path to Financial Compensation Now

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed or has suffered from cervical dystonia, you may be entitled to financial compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

We can help you by:

• Determining who is responsible for your condition
• Calculating the cost of your economic and non-economic damages
• Collecting evidence that supports your claim
• Negotiating with the liable party’s insurance company for a fair settlement
• Handling all communications between the involved parties
• Taking your case to court, if necessary

To learn more about your legal options in a free case review, call Berger and Green at (412) 661-1400.