Erb’s palsy—a condition marked by damage to a series of nerves in the neck and shoulder area known as the brachial plexus—affects approximately one in 1,000 babies. The condition, however, is not always inevitable. In fact, in some cases, Erb’s palsy is 100 percent preventable. Mistakes made by healthcare professionals during a woman’s pregnancy or around the time of delivery can result in birth injuries like Erb’s palsy and other serious harm to the baby.

If you believe your child has medical malpractice-induced Erb’s palsy, please contact the attorneys of Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, Shkolnik & McCartney today for a no-cost consultation with a caring and qualified medical malpractice attorney. You may be entitled to seek damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more.

Medical Malpractice & Erb’s Palsy

Healthcare providers have an obligation to provide patients with a certain level of care. Although not always intentional, medical professionals sometimes fail in this duty. Sadly, mistakes made during a woman’s pregnancy or delivery can have particularly damaging consequences.

Improper use of delivery tools such as forceps and vacuum extraction can result in the tearing or bruising of the brachial plexus nerves and consequently Erb’s palsy. Most malpractice-related Erb’s palsy cases are attributable to this.

In addition to the use of delivery tools, other factors that may increase the risk of Erb’s palsy include:

• Prolonged labor
• Breech position
• Large baby
• Mother has small or abnormally shaped pelvis
• Mother is overweight

Your Legal Rights

Victims of medical malpractice have various legal rights and options. If you suspect that your child’s condition is the result of the malpractice or negligence of a healthcare professional, it is important to consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to ensure your legal rights are protected.

Our attorneys have extensive experience handling a wide range of complex medical malpractice cases and have helped numerous clients obtain compensation for their losses. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation with a skilled and effective medical malpractice attorney who can answer your questions, inform you of your options, and help you plan a course of action so you can get the justice you and your family deserve.