Was your child diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy after birth in Chicago, Illinois? If so, the doctor and the hospital might be responsible. Our Chicago Erb’s Palsy lawyers can help you seek justice for your child and compensation for the economic and non-economic damages caused by medical negligence.
Our top-rated Illinois birth injury lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys have extensive experience handling birth injury claims. We have dedicated our law practice to helping injured victims and their families recover compensation for the pain, suffering, and damages they sustained because of the negligence of another party. Our legal team has recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
With decades of trial experience, our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers win 99% of the time. We use our substantial resources, skills, and legal knowledge to fight for our clients to get the remedy they deserve for their injury claims.
Contact our Chicago office online or call (312) 726-1616 to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Chicago Erb’s Palsy attorneys.
How Our Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyers Can Help if Your Child Sustained a Birth Injury
Erb’s Palsy is a common birth injury that occurs in about two of every 1,000 births. It is often caused when a medical professional fails to respond to signs of a difficult delivery quickly or correctly. If your child sustained Erb’s Palsy because of errors or negligence during labor and delivery, you and your child could be entitled to compensation.
Our Chicago birth injury attorneys will work with you to hold the negligent parties accountable for their mistakes.
Our nationally recognized medical malpractice lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys are highly skilled negotiators and mediators. We are also seasoned, aggressive trial lawyers. Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and the National Trial Lawyers recognize our attorneys for their experience and legal services.
When you hire Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys, you can expect us to:
- Investigate the cause of your child’s birth injury
- Gather evidence to hold negligent medical professionals accountable for their mistakes
- Work with leading medical specialists and other expert witnesses to strengthen your claim
- File insurance claims and medical malpractice claims
- Determine how much your claim is worth by documenting the extent of your child’s injury and damages
- Negotiate a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit and go to trial if that is necessary to protect your and your child’s rights
If you believe your child’s Erb’s Palsy was caused by medical malpractice, contact our experienced birth injury lawyers in Chicago, Illinois for a free case evaluation.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s Palsy is a form of brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is the five nerves that connect the hand and arm to the spine. A difficult delivery can cause the brachial plexus to stretch or tear.
Infants can experience different types of brachial plexus injuries.
Your child could be diagnosed with:
- Avulsion – The nerve rips away from the spine.
- Neuroma – The nerve tears and heals, but there is scar tissue.
- Rupture – The nerve is torn but does not separate from the spine.
- Neurapraxia – The nerve is stretched but is not torn.
Some infants recover fully from Erb’s Palsy when it is treated early. However, many infants continue to have some weakness in the fingers, hand, and/or arm. Some children suffer from lifelong impairments and disabilities because of Erb’s Palsy.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Erb’s Palsy?
The signs and symptoms of Erb’s Palsy depend on the severity and type of injury.
However, common symptoms include:
- A newborn’s arm is extended straight at the elbow and held against the body
- No movement in a newborn’s upper or lower arm or hand
- A newborn has a decreased grip on the affected side
- Loss of feeling in the arm
- Weakness in the arm, including partial or total paralysis of the arm
Typically, a pediatrician diagnoses Erb’s Palsy based on weakness or paralysis in the infant’s arm. They might order an ultrasound, X-ray, and other tests to determine the specific type of injury and the extent of the injury. Treatment often includes physical therapy, but some injuries may require surgical treatment.
Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim for Erb’s Palsy in Chicago, IL
Unfortunately, many medical providers underestimate the amount of force applied to the baby’s neck and head during childbirth, especially during a difficult delivery. Excessive force can cause significant damage to the brachial plexus.
Specific procedures and maneuvers exist to deliver a baby safely when shoulder dystocia occurs. The procedures are designed to avoid excessive forces on the baby’s head, which can result in Erb’s Palsy.
A doctor or other medical provider could be responsible if their error or negligence caused Erb’s Palsy.
Errors during prenatal care, labor, and delivery can contribute to or cause Erb’s Palsy, including:
- Failing to recognize the risk factors during prenatal care that could increase the risk of a difficult delivery
- Misuse of vacuum extractors or forceps during delivery
- Forcefully pulling the baby’s head during delivery
- Failing to order a C-section during a complicated delivery
Additionally, failing to diagnose and begin treatment for Erb’s Palsy could be negligent conduct.
Proving that your doctor is responsible for Erb’s Palsy can be challenging. If you suspect your baby’s injury was caused by medical negligence, speaking with an experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyer is in your and your child’s best interest.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Chicago Erb’s Palsy Lawyers
The time to file a medical malpractice claim for Erb’s Palsy is limited by the Illinois statute of limitations. Therefore, we encourage you to contact our law firm as soon as possible to discuss your child’s injury with one of our lawyers. Call Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys to request your free case evaluation with an experienced Chicago Erb’s Palsy attorney.
