Erb's Palsy Lawyers

An experienced attorney can help simplify the legal procedure. Erb's palsy lawyers are in a position to assist clients with financial compensation for any future medical requirements.

Parents should have peace of mind knowing that their children will be properly cared for, even after suffering from a life-altering injury. This can be a challenge to achieve when medical malpractice is involved.

Preventable Birth Injuries

Many birth injuries are preventable. While some are caused by factors beyond the medical professionals' control for example, the position and size of a fetus within the pelvis or birth canal, others aren't. Doctors are required to accurately assess the size and weight of a fetus. They can recommend a C section in the event that they feel the baby is too big to be delivered via vaginally. This can prevent injuries to the fetus and mother and, in many cases, Erb's Palsy Attorney will avoid the need for medically required interventions.

If a doctor does not follow this duty then injuries like Erb's brachial and plexus brachial can occur. These injuries occur when nerves in the shoulder or arm are damaged during delivery. Most often, they cause the inability to move or weakness in that area of the body for the rest of the life of the child. Treatments for these conditions can be extremely expensive.

Families that suffer from these injuries require financial compensation to cover the costs. An erb's palsy attorney can fight to ensure that a family receives the most amount of compensation possible, which could ease their financial burden and erb's palsy attorney ensure appropriate treatment for their child. A good lawyer for erb's palsy will be upfront about whether your case is a strong one and work tirelessly on your behalf.

Erb's Palsy Causes

Erb's Palsy is caused by injuries to the upper portion of nerves in the arm, known as the brachial plexus. These nerves send messages to muscles in order for them to move. If the nerves are damaged, they will not be able to conduct signals properly and the arm does not move as well or at all. In many instances, the injury heals with time, however certain infants may be born with permanent disabilities.

Many cases of erb's palsy lawsuits paralysis occur when a baby's shoulders become stuck behind the mother's pubic bone at birth, a condition called shoulder dystocia. The medical professionals who deliver the baby must exert pressure to release the shoulder, and this may cause tearing or stretching of the healthy nerves of the brachial complex.

The nerves can be avulsed meaning they are totally separated from the spinal column or neuroma. In this case, the scar tissue presses on the nerve, stopping it from sending signals – or neuropraxia, if the nerves have been stretched but not ripped. The longer damaged nerves remain and the longer it takes to recover.

To prevent shoulder dystocia, the mother and doctor must discuss the ideal position to deliver the baby and how to respond in the event of a problem during birth. Unfortunately, many cases of Erb's Palsy are caused by medical negligence on the part of nurses and doctors who employ excessive force during the delivery process.

Erb's Palsy Treatment

For children who have Erb's palsy, their physical therapy will focus on regaining range of motion in their arms and fingers. Physical therapy is often paired with other treatments like hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy can help because it allows children to exercise in a gravity-free setting and relieves pain from muscle spasms.

Other treatments include medicines that reduce pain and swelling. A physician may also splice, or graft, healthy nerves from elsewhere in the body to replace damaged ones. This can restore feeling and flexibility as well as provide support to the arm.

Newborns with Erb's palsy may require surgery to repair a strained brachial plexus. A ruptured nerve is the most serious form of Erb's Palsy. It results from one or more nerves being torn from their spine. The injured nerves can be reattached by a doctor so that the nerves can heal. This procedure is generally successful and helps most children get back full range of motion in their arms. However, some children may have permanent disability due to the injury.

Erb's Palsy Settlements

While some children who suffer from Erb's Palsy are able to overcome the limitations created by the condition by undergoing daily physical therapy, a majority will require surgery to repair nerve damage. Medical malpractice lawsuits can help families receive fair compensation for their child’s injuries.

Your lawyer will consult with experts in order to estimate the likely cost of treatment. This is called the value of the case. The value of your case will be based on the severity of the injury and the impact it will have on your child's future. Your attorney will seek to recover costs for life-care, future medical expenses as well as other damages.

Your lawyer will then send an official demand letter to the doctor or hospital responsible for your child’s injuries. The letter will describe the injuries sustained by your child, and the manner in which they were caused by negligence on the part of medical professionals. The letter will include the amount of compensation that you're seeking.

The doctor responsible will then be able to negotiate a settlement. This is a much less costly alternative to a trial. If your attorney builds a convincing case, the at-fault medical professional might be willing to settle out of court with you and your child to get rid of the negative publicity associated with a trial. If a settlement agreement is reached, the funds are put into an trust and used to cover your child's medical care and other needs.