Erb’s Palsy Attorney
Trusted Birth Injury Representation in Maryland & Nationwide
Erb’s Palsy is a debilitating condition that can permanently alter your child’s quality of life. If your child has been diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, medical negligencemay be to blame. The Erb’s palsy lawyers at the Law Firm of Michael H. Berestonhave decades of experience representing mothers and infants who have been injured during pregnancy, labor, and delivery in Maryland and throughout the United States*.
If you would like to pursue justice for your child, contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation of your case. We have helped recover millions of dollars for our clients in various birth injury lawsuits.
Understanding Erb’s Palsy and Its Impact
Erb's palsy, also known as Erb-Duchenne palsy or brachial plexus birth palsy, is a condition that affects the nerves in the shoulder and arm. It is typically caused by an injury to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that originate from the spinal cord in the neck and control the movement and sensation in the upper extremities.
Identifying the Causes of Erb’s Palsy
Erb's palsy commonly occurs during childbirth, often as a result of shoulder dystocia, a complication where the baby's shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone during delivery. This can put excessive pressure or strain on the brachial plexus, leading to nerve damage in the arm and shoulder.
Recognizing Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy can vary in severityranging from mild cases with temporary weakness or limited range of motion to more severe cases with complete paralysis of the affected arm.
Common symptoms of Erb's palsy include:
- Weakness or inability to move the arm or shoulder
- Loss of sensation or numbness in the arm or hand
- Arm held in a bent position and pressed against the body
- Lack of muscle control or coordination in the arm
Exploring Treatment Options for Erb’s Palsy
Treatment for Erb’s palsydepends on the severity of the condition and may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and in some cases, surgery. The goal of treatment is to improve muscle strength, restore range of motion, and promote functional use of the affected arm.
It's important to consult with a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of Erb's palsy.
Medical Malpractice and Erb’s Palsy: What You Need to Know
Erb’s palsy can occur in infants simply because of the way that the baby was positioned in the uterus at the time labor began. However, the majority of Erb’s palsy cases are caused because the attending physician did not deliver the baby properly.
There are numerous ways that a doctor may be responsible for your baby’s Erb’s palsy, including:
- Using too much force when the baby’s shoulder is stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone, such as pulling or twisting the neck
- Failing to recommend a C-section if the baby is showing signs of distress (such as shoulder dystocia)
- Failing to inform the mother/parents of possible complications that might occur due to narrow hips or an overly large infant
Ultimately, medical malpracticeis judged by the standard of care that the doctor provided during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and whether or not a similar doctor would have provided the same level of care in that situation.
Seeking Justice: Filing a Birth Injury Lawsuit for Erb’s Palsy
If you believe your doctor negligently handled your labor and delivery, which resulted in your infant being diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, you should contact an experienced birth injury attorney as soon as possible. The Law Firm of Michael H. Bereston, Inc. can investigate your baby’s brachial plexus injury to determine if the doctor mishandled the birthand should be held accountable. We can file a birth injury lawsuit on your behalf to recover the compensation that you will need to provide a wholesome life for your injured child.
Get Expert Legal Help for Erb’s Palsy in Maryland - Call Us Today!(410) 220-6581. We also handle birth injury cases nationwide*!
Our goal in each case we handle is to obtain the maximum compensation for our clients, which is why we only take on a limited number of cases each year.