Erb's Palsy Lawyers

The legal process can be complex, but an experienced attorney can make the process easier. Erb's palsy lawyers are able to assist clients in obtaining financial compensation for their child's future medical requirements.

Parents need peace of mind that their children are being taken care of even if they are involved in an event that will change their life. Unfortunately it can be difficult when medical negligence is involved.

Birth Injury Prevention

While there are some birth injuries that happen due to causes beyond the doctor's control such as the size and position of the fetus in the pelvis or birth canal, many others are easily prevented. Doctors have a duty to accurately determine the weight and size of a baby's fetus and suggest a C section delivery if they believe that the baby will be difficult to deliver vaginally. This can prevent injuries to the fetus and the mother and often will avoid the need for medically required interventions.

When a doctor fails to follow this duty it could result in injuries such as Erb's Palsy or brachial plexus injury. These injuries result from nerve damage in the shoulder or arm during delivery. Most often, they cause the inability to move or weakness in that area of the body for the remainder of the life of the child. These conditions can be extremely expensive to treat.

Families afflicted with these injuries typically require financial compensation to cover their costs. An erb's palsy attorney can fight to ensure that a family receives the highest amount of compensation possible, which could ease their financial burden and assist them in obtaining the an appropriate treatment for their child. A reputable lawyer will be honest about whether or not your case is solid 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, called the brachial plexus. These nerves are responsible for transmitting messages to the muscles that allow them to move. If these nerves are damaged, they will not be able to conduct signals properly and the arm cannot move well or at all. In the majority of cases, the injury will heal with time. However some infants could be permanently disabled.

Many cases of erb's paralysis occur when a baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pubic bone during birth, a condition called shoulder dystocia. The medical experts who deliver the baby must exert pressure to release the shoulder, which may stretch or tear healthy nerves in the brachialplexus.

The nerves may be avulsed, meaning they are totally separated from the spinal column - or neuroma. This is when the scar tissue presses the nerve preventing it from sending signals or neuropraxia, if nerves are stretched but not torn. The longer a damaged nerve is in its damaged state, the more difficult it is to heal.

Preventing shoulder dystocias during labor requires communication between mother-to-be and the obstetrician about the safest position for delivery and the best way to respond in the event of a problem during the 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 birthing process.

Erb's Palsy Treatment

Physical therapy for babies suffering from Erb's syndrome will focus on enhancing the range of motion of their fingers and arms. Physical therapy is often paired with other treatments, including hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is beneficial as it allows babies to exercise in an environment that is anti-gravity that helps ease the pain caused by muscle spasms.

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

Newborns who suffer from Erb's palsy could need surgery to repair a ruptured brachial nerve. A ruptured nerve, caused by tearing one or several nerves in the spine, is the most severe form of Erb's Palsy. Doctors can perform surgery to reconnect the injured nerves which allows them to heal. The procedure is generally successful and allows most children to regain their full range of motion in their arms. However, some patients may suffer permanent disabilities as a result of the injury.

Erb's Palsy Settlements

A few children with Erb's-Pallsy are able to overcome the limitations imposed by the condition through daily physical therapy. Some will require surgery to repair the nerve damage. Medical malpractice lawsuits can assist families receive fair compensation for their child’s injuries.

Your lawyer will talk to experts in order to determine the 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 lawyer will help get life-care costs and medical expenses that are estimated as well as other damages.

Your lawyer will send a demand notice to the doctor or hospital responsible for the injuries your child sustained. The letter will outline the injuries suffered by your child and the ways in which they were triggered by medical negligence. The letter will mention the amount of compensation you are seeking.

The doctor at fault will be able to negotiate a settlement. This is a less expensive alternative to going to trial. If your lawyer makes an excellent case that the medical professional who is in question may decide to make a deal outside of court in order to avoid the negative publicity that comes with the possibility of a trial. After a settlement has been reached, the funds are put into a trust and used to cover your child's medical treatment as well as other expenses.