Determining if You Have an Erb’s Palsy Medical Malpractice Case
Childbirth should be joyous, but poor medical treatment can negatively impact this time period for parents. Many children suffer from birth injuries caused by medical negligence. Erb’s palsy is a common birth injury. With prompt medical attention, Erb’s palsy injuries are usually treatable, but medical care is costly.
Medical professionals who cause birth injuries that result in Erb’s palsy should be held accountable for the resulting physical, emotional, and financial damages. Parents are often unsure if medical malpractice caused a birth injury. Erb’s palsy lawyers at Zucker & Regev, P.C., in Brooklyn, NY, investigate injuries to determine if you have an Erb's palsy medical malpractice case.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy affects the brachial plexus, which consists of the nerves that run along the neck, collarbone, and armpit. Erb’s palsy symptoms vary in severity based on the degree of injuries. Potential symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness
- Underdeveloped nerves or muscles
- Limited range of motion in the arm, neck, or shoulder
- Numbness in the arm, wrist, shoulder, hand, or fingers
- Difficulty or an inability to grasp objects
- Arm paralysis
- Facial paralysis
Types of Medical Malpractice that Can Cause Erb’s Palsy
Erb’s palsy is often the result of preventable birth injuries. Birth injuries caused by the negligent care or omission of a hospital, doctor, or other healthcare professional are defined as medical malpractice. Types of medical malpractice that may result in Erb’s palsy include:
- Pulling too hard on a baby’s shoulders during delivery
- Twisting or pulling the head or neck sideways during delivery
- Pulling too hard on a baby’s feet during a breech delivery
- Misusing forceps or vacuum extractors during delivery
- Placing inappropriate pressure on the abdomen during labor
- Failing to accurately access a baby’s size and weight by the third trimester
- Failing to offer a c-section for deliveries with risk factors
How Do I Know if I Have a Case?
Most parents are not medical experts, so they don’t often realize when medical neglect caused a birth injury. Any parent who suspects that substandard medical treatment was to blame for their child’s injury should contact a medical malpractice lawyer. Erb’s palsy lawyers at our Brooklyn law firm understand the circumstances that can indicate medical malpractice. They work with investigators and medical experts to prove negligence and demonstrate the full extent of injury losses.
How Soon Should I Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Parents should contact a medical malpractice lawyer when they notice symptoms of a birth injury or have received an Erb’s palsy diagnosis. Understandably, a parent’s first priority is caring for their child. However, any legal action needs to be prompt because statutes of limitations set a time limit on medical malpractice claims. According to state law, Brooklyn birth injury victims (or their parents) have 30 months to file a medical malpractice claim.
Contact Zucker & Regev, P.C.
If your child has been diagnosed with Erb’s palsy and you suspect that medical malpractice is to blame, lawyers at Zucker & Regev, P.C. can determine if you have grounds to file an Erb’s palsy medical malpractice claim. To discuss your case in further detail, contact our law firm online or call (718) 624-1211.
