Negligent medical practitioners can injure newborn children before, during, and after delivery in a variety of ways. Sometimes these errors lead to permanent injury. Erb’s palsy is a condition some infants may suffer due to the negligence of someone on their medical team.
If your child suffered a birth injury like Erb’s palsy in Gilbert, the Birth Injury Lawyers Group can help. Call one of our Gilbert birth injury lawyers at (800) 222-9529. A doctor, nurse, or hospital staff member’s actions or inaction may have changed the course of your child’s life.
What You Need to Know About Brachial Plexus Injuries Like Erb’s Palsy
According to MedlinePlus, the primary cause of brachial plexus injuries like Erb’s palsy is compression of the nerve in the birth canal. Compression of this kind can occur when the baby is larger than average, breech, or when medical providers attempt to extract the baby using methods that are not medically safe or recommended for the mother and baby.
Erb’s palsy occurs in the neck region responsible for mobility in the shoulders and arms.
The symptoms that your child may experience depend on the region of the brachial plexus in which the injuries are sustained and how severe they are. According to Cedars-Sinai, these symptoms may include:
- Lack of sensation in the hand or arm
- Lack of control in the arm, hand, or wrist
- An arm that is motionless
To diagnose Erb’s palsy, a health care provider will examine your child. The examiner will test how your child’s arm moves and feels to the touch. An Erb’s palsy diagnosis may be based on the findings of an imaging scan, such as MRI, CT scan or X-ray. A diagnosis may also be revealed via tests for nerve function and electrical activity, such as a nerve conduction study or EMG.
Cedars-Sinai states that depending on how badly your child’s brachial plexus is damaged, their injury may be classified differently. Mild cases can be defined by mild overstretching (neurapraxia) to severe, in which the nerves have been completely severed from the spinal cord (avulsion). The effects of Erb’s palsy can be physical and psychological. Thus, Erb’s palsy is a complex injury that can take some time to treat.
The likelihood that your child will regain full mobility in his or her arm will vary depending on the severity of their injury. However, Mayo Clinic reports that physical therapy, surgery, and pain management can each aid healing. Cedars-Sinai recommends regular checkups to monitor the progress and healing of your baby’s injuries. Treatment for an infant can take up to two years.
If health care providers were negligent in the delivery room and your child developed Erb’s palsy, you should not be paying for your child’s medical treatment out of pocket. We are helping families in Gilbert pick up the pieces after their children have been injured during negligent deliveries.
When birth injuries occur, a Gilbert Erb’s palsy lawyer from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group is available to assist with recovering compensation for medical treatment and related financial expenses. We can be reached at (800) 222-9529.
"If your child was born with a birth injury, or cerebral palsy, we can help."
Potentially Recoverable Damages in a Gilbert Birth Injury Case
Medical malpractice liability may be attributed to one or more parties. After a birth injury occurs, we assess the prospective liability of each party involved in your child’s delivery.
At the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, we are familiar with any tactics insurance companies may try to employ to avoid paying fair compensation. If your claim qualifies, you may be able to recover compensation for one or more the following types of losses:
- Retroactive and future costs of medical treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
- Loss of consortium
- Intentional misconduct, if any
In an effort to make attorney representation accessible, we provide representation to Erb’s palsy clients in Gilbert at no cost. We charge fees only if we reach an adequate settlement or win your case in court. If you would like more information about our practice, call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group now at (800) 222-9529, for a complimentary case evaluation.
Gilbert Erbs Palsy Lawyer Near Me (800) 222-9529
Keep in Mind That You May Have a Limited Time to Act
There is a statute of limitations in Arizona that may affect how long you have to take legal action. Under AZ 12-542, you may have two years to file a lawsuit against the negligent party or parties whose action or inaction caused or contributed to your child’s injury. Do not wait.
While there may be an exception that could allow you to toll the statute of limitations (as your child was an infant or fetus when they suffered their injury), this is not a guarantee.
"We know first-hand what you are going through."
Our Gilbert Erb’s Palsy Lawyers Can Fight for Your Family
Supporting families in Gilbert whose children are victims of medical malpractice is our focus. When we represent you, we work to maximize the chances that your claim will succeed by:
- Gathering and analyzing all available evidence, such as medical records, insurance correspondence, and receipts
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Offering you legal guidance and answering your questions
- Representing you in court, if the need arises
- Calling you to update you on the status of your case throughout the process
- Protecting your and your infant’s rights
Medical malpractice claims may expire if they are not promptly initiated. For this reason, we recommend that you reach out to us right away after a birth injury occurs. A Gilbert Erb’s palsy lawyer from the Birth Injury Lawyers Group is standing by to discuss your claim at (800) 222-9529.
We are ready to get started today on your case. We want to help you fight for justice and fair compensation for your child’s injuries.
"We are committed to helping families who have suffered medical negligence."