(845) 802-0047Erb’s palsy is a birth injury that often occurs when a baby’s nerves in the neck and shoulder area suffer damage during delivery. Erb’s palsy is a serious health condition that can cause weakness and paralysis in a baby’s hand and arm, and while some cases resolve over time with proper physical therapy and treatment, other babies suffer permanent damage.
If your baby suffers from Erb’s palsy and you believe it occurred due to medical malpractice, you might be able to sue the negligent medical providers for damages. A Newburgh Erb’s palsy lawyer understands how stressed, confused, and overwhelmed you must feel. They would stand by your side and help you seek justice through legal means.
Most Frequent Causes of Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is a kind of brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus, which is located in the shoulder, contains a bundle of nerves that control the sensory signals and movement from the spinal cord to the hands and arms. A brachial plexus injury happens when the nerves in that area are compressed, stretched, or even torn from the spinal cord.
Erb’s palsy can develop as a consequence of a mistake made by a doctor during delivery. For instance, if a physician mishandles a baby by pulling too hard or applying too much pressure, the nerves in the baby’s neck and shoulder area can be too stretched out, resulting in a brachial plexus injury. Erb’s palsy can also occur if a doctor misuses tools, such as a vacuum extractor or forceps, to aid in the delivery.
A doctor’s carelessness during pregnancy can also lead to Erb’s palsy. If the medical practitioners correctly monitor the baby’s size, they could anticipate when a baby is too large to fit through the birth canal, and order a C-section to avoid potential problems during a vaginal birth. Similarly, doctors should check a baby’s position before delivery. Babies in transverse and breech positions are more at risk of being mishandled during delivery.
An experienced Erb’s palsy lawyer in Newburgh could work with medical experts to learn if the doctor’s actions fell below the recognized standard of care and rose to the level of actionable medical malpractice. They could review the medical records to see if the doctor acted appropriately during the pregnancy and delivery.
Common Symptoms and Signs of Erb’s Palsy
While a newborn cannot tell their parents what is bothering them, a child’s parents and doctors should be able to recognize signs of Erb’s palsy in a child. Some of the following signs and symptoms are common:
- Paralysis of a hand or arm
- Weaker grip strength
- Numbness
- Lack of full motor function in an arm or hand
- Problems with a child’s muscular or circulatory development in the affected arm or hand
Prompt identification of these symptoms can lead to a more successful outcome with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery. A skilled Newburgh Erb’s palsy attorney could help a family get the financial compensation they need to pay for their child’s medical treatments.
Contact a Newburgh Erb’s Palsy Attorney for Legal Advice
Although some cases of Erb’s palsy are unavoidable, doctors, midwives, and nurses could prevent many cases from occurring with careful monitoring of a mother and baby during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. If a baby develops Erb’s palsy because their medical practitioners failed to take note of risk factors, those medical practitioners could be legally to blame.
A seasoned Newburgh Erb’s palsy lawyer could help you recover damages for what your baby and your family have lost. Contact our law office today to set up a consultation.