Erb's Palsy Lawyers
The legal procedure is complex, but an experienced attorney can make it easier. Erb's lawyer palsy attorneys can assist clients to obtain financial compensation for their child's future medical needs.
Parents need to be able have peace of mind knowing that their children will be taken care for, even if they suffer from a life-changing injury. Unfortunately it can be difficult when medical negligence is involved.
Preventable Birth Injuries
Although there are birth injuries that happen due to circumstances beyond a doctor's control such as the size and position of the pelvis or birth canal, many others are easily prevented. Doctors must accurately assess the size and weight of a fetus. They can recommend a C section in the event that they feel the baby is too big to be delivered vaginally. This helps prevent injury to the mother and fetus and in a lot of cases can avoid the need for medically required interventions.
If a physician fails to follow this duty, it may lead to injuries such as
Erb's palsy or brachial and plexus injuries. These injuries occur when nerves in the shoulder or arm are damaged during delivery. These injuries can result in limitation or weakness within the affected area of the body for the duration of the child's life. These conditions can be extremely expensive to treat.
Families affected by these injuries require financial compensation to cover the expenses. An erb's palsy attorney can fight to ensure that a family receives the maximum amount of money that is feasible, which can reduce their financial burden and assist them in obtaining the an appropriate treatment for their child. A good erb's palsy lawyer will be upfront about whether or not your case is strong and will work tirelessly on your behalf.
Erb's Palsy - Causes
Erb's Palsy is caused by damage to the upper group of nerves in the arm, referred to as the brachial plexus. These nerves are responsible for sending messages to the muscles that allow them to move. If the nerves are damaged, they will be unable to conduct signals properly. The arm won't move well at all or at all. In the majority of cases, the injury will heal with time. However, some infants can be permanently disabled.
Shoulder dystocia is a frequent cause of
erb's palsy law firm Psy. It happens when the baby's arm gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone. The medical professionals who deliver the child must exert force to loosen the shoulder and this may cause tearing or stretching of the healthy brachial plexus's nerves.
The nerves can be avulsed - meaning they are completely torn from the spinal column or neuroma, where the scar tissue presses the nerve, stopping it from sending signals – or neuropraxia. This happens when the nerves have been stretched but not ripped. The longer nerves are damaged, the more difficult it becomes to heal.
To prevent shoulder dystocia the mother-to-be and the Obstetrician must be in agreement about the best position to deliver the baby and how to react in the event of a problem during birth. Unfortunately many cases of Erb's Palsy are caused by medical inattention on the part of nurses and doctors who employ too much force in the birthing process.
Erb's Palsy Treatment
For babies with Erb's palsy, their physical therapy will concentrate on regaining their range of motion in their arms and fingers. Physical therapy is often paired with other treatments, such as hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is beneficial since it allows a baby to exercise in an anti-gravity setting which eases the pain caused by muscle spasms.
Other treatments may include medications to lessen swelling and pain. A doctor may also splice, or graft, healthy nerves from elsewhere in the body to replace damaged ones. This can improve the arm's flexibility, feeling and support to the arm.
Newborns with Erb's palsy may require surgery to repair a ruptured brachial-brachial plexus. A ruptured nerve, caused by tearing one or several nerves from the spine is the most severe type of Erb's Palsy. The nerves damaged can be repaired by doctors to allow the nerves to heal. This procedure is typically successful and allows children to return to full range of movement in their arms. However, some patients will have permanent disability because of the injury.
Erb's Palsy Settlements
While some children who suffer from Erb's palsy can overcome the limitations imposed by the condition by undergoing daily physical therapy, a majority will require surgery to repair nerve damage. Fortunately the medical malpractice lawsuit process can help families obtain fair settlement for their child's injuries.
Your lawyer will talk to experts in order to determine the likely cost of treatment. This is known as the value of the case. The value of the case will be based on the extent of the injury and the impact it has on your child's future. Your lawyer will help secure life-care expenses and future medical expenses that are estimated as well as other damages.
Your lawyer will send a demand note to the doctor or hospital responsible for your child's injuries. The letter will explain the injuries suffered by your child and explain how they are the result of medical negligence. The letter will also include the amount of compensation you're seeking.
The doctor who is at fault will then be able to negotiate a settlement. This is a much less costly alternative to a trial. If your lawyer makes an excellent case, the medical professional in question may decide to negotiate a settlement out of court to avoid the negative publicity that can be a result of an appeal. If a settlement agreement is reached the money will be placed into a trust to cover your child's medical treatment and other necessities.