Philadelphia Erb's Palsy Attorneys

When your child is diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, it’s important to get help as soon as you can. If you’re not sure what your next steps should be, reach out to The Beasley Firm. We are happy to advise you on your legal options and help you make a plan to take care of your child and your family. The good news is, most cases of Erb’s palsy are fully treatable so long as your baby receives timely help. While medical care can be expensive, we don’t want that to be a barrier to your child receiving the treatment they need. Our Philadelphia Erb's palsy lawyers have helped many families file successful birth injury claims to recover expenses for medical bills, future medical costs, and pain & suffering, resulting in millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements.

Ask us how we can maximize your settlement—call (215) 866-2424 to schedule a free consultation today.

What is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy is one of the most common birth injuries, occurring in as many as 2.6 of every 1,000 live births. When the brachial plexus (the group of nerves that connect the neck and the arm) is stretched or torn during childbirth, Erb’s palsy is one of the conditions that may result. Thankfully, most cases do not cause permanent disability if the baby receives prompt treatment. However, it’s important to contact your doctor if you notice any of the symptoms of the condition, such as:

• Lack of sensation in one arm
• Paralysis in the upper arm
• Inability to bend the arm at the elbow
• Unusual rotation of the arm so the forearm and palm face outward

Though a doctor can usually diagnose the condition after simply observing the symptoms, an MRI can provide confirmation the brachial plexus was injured.

What Causes Erb's Palsy?

There are a number of factors during pregnancy, labor, and delivery that can increase the risk of a brachial plexus injury. Your doctor should be prepared for the possibility of complications and be ready to act to ensure your health and that of your child. Common risk factors of Erb's palsy include:

• Breech birth
• Gestational diabetes
• Improper delivery
• Large infant size
• Small maternal size/narrow pubic bone
• Long-lasting second-stage labor

Can Erb's Palsy Be Prevented?

Sadly, most cases of Erb's palsy can be prevented, either through proper prenatal care, timely intervention, or advanced planning.

• Proper prenatal care: Mothers who receive quality medical treatment for prenatal conditions like gestational diabetes and infections can greatly reduce the risk of a brachial plexus injury.
• Advanced planning: When doctors identify potential risk factors of Erb's palsy, they can take precautions that prevent or greatly reduce the chance of brachial plexus injuries, such as: scheduling a C-section, having qualified professionals present at the birth, and proper use of birthing tools.
• Timely intervention: During labor and delivery, situations can arise that put the baby at risk for brachial plexus injuries, such as the baby's shoulder getting stuck in the pubic bone. Doctors can prevent such injuries by providing timely intervention such as an emergency C-section or use of birthing tools.

Doctors know the risks of labor and delivery and must act with all necessary care, even when the situation is challenging. When they make poor or rushed decisions that result in injury, they can be held liable for related expenses and hardship to your family. A Philadelphia Erb's palsy attorney from our firm can investigate your child's injury to determine if negligence occured.

Can Erb's Palsy Be Treated?

Your child’s prognosis and needs will depend on the severity of the injury:

• Neuropraxic injury is the least serious and should heal correctly on its own.
• Axonometric injury consists of damage to the axons and myelin sheaths of the nerves. This condition may take months to heal and your baby will likely need treatment including (but not limited to) physiotherapy.
• Neurometric injury is caused when the roots of the nerves tear away from the spinal cord. Your child will likely need treatment including surgery and physiotherapy. Sadly, in some cases, the damage will be permanent, meaning your child may need lifelong help.

If treatment begins within the first 4 weeks of your baby’s life, they are likely to recover within the year. If corrective measures are not taken by the time they reach 18-24 months of age, the injury will be permanent. This means you don’t want to wait to speak to an attorney if your child has been injured. Call us now to see how we can help you.

We Want Your Family to Thrive

As parents ourselves, we know how rewarding it is to raise children—despite the occasional challenges. We want to make sure your family has all the resources necessary to provide the treatment your child needs now so they can flourish later. Our Philadelphia Erb's palsy attorneys can help you create a legal plan and advise you on steps you should take to ensure the best possible outcome for your child. There are multiple treatment methods available for Erb’s palsy, and your child’s care team may consist of multiple specialists across various related disciplines. Keeping track of every detail would be difficult enough even if your baby’s health wasn’t at stake. We work with a team of doctors and nurses to identify your child’s needs so we can account for them in your claim. Then, we follow along with your baby’s care, gathering the evidence to support your case. In fact, we take care of most of the filing process on our own, so you can focus on helping your baby heal. Our experienced team of birth injury lawyers can provide the support you and your family need.

Call us at (215) 866-2424 to schedule a completely free consultation with one of our attorneys. We offer flexible appointments to ensure you have access to our services, no matter what.