Erb's Palsy Lawyers

The legal process can be complicated however an experienced attorney can make the process easier. Erb's lawyers are also able to help clients receive financial compensation for any future medical requirements.

Parents should have the peace of mind that their children are taken well regardless of an accident that can change their lives. This isn't easy to attain when medical malpractice is involved.

Preventable Birth Injuries

Although there are birth injuries due to causes beyond the control of a doctor for example, the size and position of a pelvis or birth canal, the majority of birth injuries are avoidable. Doctors have a responsibility to accurately assess the size and weight of a fetus and to suggest a C-section delivery when 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 needed interventions.

If a doctor doesn't adhere to this rule and fails to follow the rules, injuries such as Erb's palsy and brachial plexus can occur. These injuries result from nerve damage to the arm or shoulder during the birth. These injuries can result in weakness or limited movement in the affected part of the body throughout the life of the child. These conditions can be very expensive to treat.

Families who suffer from these injuries often require financial compensation to pay the expenses. An erb's palsy attorney can fight to ensure that a family receives the highest amount of compensation possible, which could alleviate their financial burden as well as ensure appropriate treatment for their child. A good erb's palsy lawyer will be upfront about whether or not your case is a strong one and work tirelessly on your behalf.

Erb's Palsy - Causes

Erb's palsy occurs when the upper part of nerves in your arm, also known as the brachialplexus, is damaged. These nerves send messages to muscles in order that allow them to move. If the nerves are damaged, they are unable to properly conduct signals. The arm won't move well at all or at all. In most cases, the damage will heal with time. However some infants are 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 release the shoulder and this may cause tearing or stretching of the healthy brachial plexus nerves.

The nerves can be avulsed meaning they are completely torn from the spinal column or neuroma. In this case, the scar tissue presses on the nerve, preventing it from sending signals or neuropraxia, if the nerves have been stretched but not cut. The longer the nerve is damaged the more difficult it will be to heal.

To avoid shoulder dystocia, the pregnant mother and the Obstetrician must be in agreement about the ideal position to deliver the baby and how to respond in the case of a problem at birth. Unfortunately many cases of Erb's Palsy are the result of medical carelessness on the part nurses and doctors who use too much force in the birthing process.

Erb's Palsy Treatment

Physical therapy for infants with Erb's palsy will concentrate on enhancing the range of motion in their arms and fingers. Physical therapy is often combined with other treatments, like hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is helpful because it allows babies to exercise in an environment that is anti-gravity, which helps relieve the pain caused by muscle spasms.

Other treatments include medications which reduce swelling and pain. A doctor may also splice, or graft, healthy nerves from elsewhere in the body to replace damaged ones. This can help restore feeling and flexibility as well as provide support to the arm.

A ruptured brachial-plexus might be necessary to fix Erb's Palsy that occurs in newborns. A ruptured nerve, caused by tearing one or several nerves from the spine, is the most severe type of Erb's Palsy. Doctors may opt for surgery to reconnect the nerves that have been injured, allowing them to heal. This procedure is generally effective and Erb's Palsy Lawyer allows most children to regain full range of movement in their arms. However, some patients will have permanent disability because of the injury.

erb's palsy lawyer Palsy Settlements

While some children who suffer from Erb's paralysis can overcome the limitations imposed by the condition with regular physical therapy, many require surgery to repair nerve damage. Medical malpractice lawsuits can assist families get an appropriate amount of compensation for their child's injuries.

Your lawyer will confer with experts in order to determine the probable cost of treatment. This is known as the value of the case. The value of the case will be based on the severity of the injury and how it affects your child's future. Your attorney will try to obtain life-care costs and future estimated medical expenses as well as other damages.

Your lawyer will then send an official demand letter to the hospital or doctor responsible for your child’s injuries. The letter will outline the child's injuries and explain the way they resulted of medical negligence. The letter will contain the amount of compensation you are seeking.

The doctor at fault is then able to negotiate an agreement. This is a cheaper alternative to going to trial. If your lawyer has an argument that is strong and the medical professional at fault might be willing to settle without courtroom battles with you and your child to avoid the negative publicity that comes with a trial. If a settlement is reached, the funds will be deposited into a trust and used to pay for your child's medical care and other needs.