The birth of a child should be a joyful moment. When a preventable medical mistake during labor or delivery leaves a baby with Erb’s palsy, families are often left facing uncertainty. Our experienced Elizabeth Erb’s palsy lawyers will help you hold the at-fault party accountable.
Since 2008, O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble has represented families in birth injury matters involving possible medical negligence. Our birth injury lawyers in Elizabeth will help you show how the birth injury impacted your family’s life. Call today for a free consultation.
Elizabeth Erb’s Palsy Attorneys Who Prioritize You
If you decide to hire us, you’ll work with a team that values clear communication. We take the time to answer your questions and keep you informed about your case so you always know what to expect. Our Elizabeth medical malpractice lawyers will help you make informed decisions about your case.
Your family has been through enough, and you deserve to be heard. At O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble, we take the time to get to know your family’s situation, understand your child’s needs, and create a legal strategy that’s built around your goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is a relatively common birth injury involving the brachial plexus, the group of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. These nerves make it possible to move and feel the arm. If they are stretched, compressed, or torn during delivery, a baby may have weakness, limited movement, or even loss of function in the affected arm.
The effects of Erb’s palsy can be very different from one child to another. Some babies have a mild nerve injury and gradually regain strength and movement with physical therapy. Others have more serious damage that requires surgery and months or even years of rehabilitation.
In the most severe cases, where the nerves are badly torn or separated from the spinal cord, a child may not regain full use of the affected arm, even with extensive treatment.
For many families, Erb’s palsy is more than a diagnosis at birth; it can affect a child’s daily life for years to come. As children grow, limited arm movement or strength can make it harder to participate in sports, complete school activities, or handle everyday tasks. Early treatment often helps improve a child’s progress, but some children continue to need therapy and other medical care as they develop.
What Causes Erb’s Palsy During Childbirth?
Erb’s palsy occurs when the brachial plexus nerves are injured during labor or delivery. While not every brachial plexus injury results from medical negligence, many cases happen when healthcare providers fail to respond appropriately to complications or use improper delivery techniques.
Common causes of Erb’s palsy include:
- Shoulder dystocia: This occurs when the baby’s head has been delivered, but one or both shoulders become lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone. This is a medical emergency that requires careful handling.
- Excessive force during delivery: During a difficult birth, doctors should use careful, controlled techniques to help deliver the baby. If too much force is applied to the baby’s head, neck, or shoulders, the brachial plexus nerves can be stretched or torn. This is more likely to happen during complicated vaginal deliveries.
- Improper use of delivery instruments: Forceps and vacuum extractors can help when a delivery isn’t progressing as expected, but they must be used correctly. If these instruments are used improperly or when a cesarean section would have been the safer choice, they can put too much pressure on the baby’s head, neck, and shoulders.
- Failure to recommend a cesarean section: Some pregnancies involve known risk factors that make a vaginal delivery more dangerous. For example, a baby with a high estimated birth weight may face an increased risk of delivery complications.
Learning that your child has Erb’s palsy can leave you with many questions about what happened during labor and delivery. Our Elizabeth Erb’s palsy lawyers can determine the exact cause by carefully reviewing the medical records and the circumstances surrounding the birth.
Who May Be Liable for an Erb’s Palsy Birth Injury?
Determining who is responsible for an Erb’s palsy birth injury requires a careful review of what happened before, during, and immediately after delivery. Our experienced Erb’s palsy lawyers in Elizabeth will identify every party whose negligence contributed to the injury.
In some cases, a single healthcare provider may have made a preventable mistake. In others, multiple medical professionals or the hospital itself may share responsibility.
One or more of the following parties could be liable in your Erb’s palsy birth injury case:
- Obstetricians (OB-GYNs)
- Labor and delivery nurses
- Hospitals
- Medical centers
- Certified nurse-midwives
- Resident physicians
- Physician assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Other healthcare providers involved in labor and delivery
Every case is unique, and liability depends on each provider’s role and whether their actions fell below the accepted standard of care. Our Erb’s palsy attorneys in Elizabeth will use all available evidence to form a clear understanding of what went wrong.
Call Our Compassionate Erb’s Palsy Attorneys in Elizabeth
If your child was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy after birth, you may have legal options. Our experienced Erb’s palsy lawyers in Elizabeth will investigate what happened and determine whether medical negligence played a role.
While nothing can undo what happened, holding negligent healthcare providers accountable may help your family secure the resources needed for your child’s treatment and future care. Call O’Connor, Parsons, Lane & Noble today to get started on your case.