Erb's Palsy Lawyers

The legal procedure is complex, but an experienced attorney can make it simpler. Erb's lawyers for children can help clients obtain financial compensation for the future medical needs of their child.

Parents should have peace of mind that their children will be taken care for, even after suffering from a life-changing injury. This isn't easy to attain when medical malpractice is involved.

Preventable Birth Injuries

While there are some birth injuries that occur due to causes beyond the physician's control, such as the size and position of a pelvis or birth canal, most of them are avoidable. Doctors must accurately determine the weight and size of a fetus, and recommend a C-section if they feel that the baby is too large to be delivered vaginally. This helps to prevent injury to both the mother and the baby, and often avoids the need for medically required interventions.

If a doctor does not adhere to this obligation, it may lead to injuries such as Erb's palsy or brachial-plexus injuries. These injuries are caused by nerve damage to the arm or shoulder when a baby is born. These injuries can result in weakness or limited movement in the affected area of the body for the duration of the child's life. Treatments for these conditions can be incredibly expensive.

Families who suffer from these injuries often require financial compensation to pay their expenses. An erb's palsy attorney can fight to ensure that families receive the most amount of compensation possible, which can alleviate their financial burden as well as aid in obtaining an appropriate treatment for their child. A good erb's palsy lawyer will be honest about whether your case is a strong one and will be a tireless advocate on your behalf.

Erb's Palsy - Causes

Erb's Palsy is caused by injury to the upper group of nerves in the arm, called the brachial plexus. These nerves transmit messages to the muscles to allow them to move. If the nerves are damaged, they cannot send signals in a proper manner and the arm can't move well or at all. In the majority of cases, the injury will heal with time. However certain infants may be permanently disabled.

Many cases of erb's paralysis occur when a baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pubic bone at birth, a condition known as shoulder dystocia. The medical professionals who deliver the baby must exert pressure to loosen the shoulder and this can stretch or tear the healthy brachial plexus nerves.

The nerves may be avulsed, meaning they are completely torn from the spinal column or neuroma. This is when the scar tissue presses against the nerve, stopping it from sending signals – or neuropraxia, if the nerves have been stretched, but not ripped. The longer that nerves are damaged, the more difficult it is to heal.

Preventing shoulder dystocias during labor requires communication between the mother-to-be and the obstetrician about the safest position for delivery and the best way to respond in the event of difficulties during the birth. Unfortunately, many cases of Erb's Palsy are the result of medical inattention on the part of nurses and doctors who apply excessive force during the delivery process.

Erb's Palsy Treatment

For babies with Erb's palsy the physical therapy they receive will focus on regaining a range of motion in their arms and fingers. Physical therapy is often combined different treatments like hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is helpful because it lets a baby exercise in an environment that is anti-gravity which can help ease the pain caused by muscle spasms.

Other treatments include medications that reduce pain and swelling. A doctor can also splice, or graft, healthy nerves from elsewhere in the body to replace damaged ones. This can improve flexibility, sensation and support to the arm.

Newborns with Erb's palsy may require surgery to repair a ruptured brachial nerve. A nerve that has ruptured, caused by the tearing of one or more nerves from the spine, is the most severe form of Erb's Palsy. Doctors may opt for surgery to reattach the injured nerves and allow them to heal. This procedure is often successful and allows most children to get back full range of motion in their arms. Certain patients may be permanently disabilities due to the injury.

Erb's Palsy Settlements

While some children who suffer from Erb's palsy can overcome the limitations imposed by the condition by undergoing daily exercise, others will require surgery to repair nerve damage. Medical malpractice lawsuits can help families receive fair compensation for their child’s injuries.

When you file a claim for legal aid Your lawyer will work with experts to determine the amount the treatment will cost. The case value is what we call it. The value of your case will depend on how serious the injury is and the impact it has on your child's future. Your attorney will work to obtain life-care costs and future estimated medical expenses and other damages.

Your lawyer will send a demand letter to the hospital or doctor responsible for your child's injuries. The letter will detail the injuries suffered by your child and explain how they resulted of medical negligence. The letter will also outline the amount of compensation you are seeking.

The doctor responsible will then be able to negotiate a settlement. This is a cheaper alternative to a trial. If your attorney builds a strong case and the medical professional at fault may be willing to settle without courtroom battles with you and your child to avoid the negative publicity that comes with a trial. The funds from a settlement will be deposited in an account to cover medical expenses and other costs of your child.