Erb's Palsy Lawyers
The legal process can be complex however an experienced attorney can help make it simpler. Erb's palsy lawyers can also assist clients in obtaining financial compensation for the future medical needs of their child.
Parents should be able to have peace of mind that their children will be properly cared for, even if they suffer from a life-altering injury. Unfortunately it can be difficult when medical negligence is involved.
Birth Injury Prevention
There are birth injuries that are due to factors outside of the control of a doctor like the size and position of a pelvis fetus or birth canal, the majority of birth injuries are easily prevented. Doctors are required to accurately assess the weight and size of a fetus. They may recommend a C-section if they feel that the baby is too large to be delivered via vaginally. This helps prevent injury to both the mother and the baby, and often avoids the need for medically-needed interventions.
If a physician fails to comply with this requirement injuries like Erb's brachial plexus or a brachial palsy could occur. These injuries happen when nerves in the shoulder or arm are damaged during delivery. They often result in limited movement or weakness in the area for the rest of the life of the child. These conditions can be very expensive to treat.
Families struggling with these injuries often require financial compensation to pay the expenses. An erb's palsy attorney can fight to ensure that a family receives the maximum amount of compensation possible, which can reduce their financial burden and help them secure an appropriate treatment for their child. A good lawyer will be upfront about whether or not your case is solid and will do their best on your behalf.
Erb's Palsy - Causes
Erb's Palsy is caused by an injury to the upper section of nerves in the arm, known as the brachial plexus. These nerves transmit messages to muscles to allow them to move. If these nerves become damaged, they are not able to send signals in a proper manner. The arm will not move well at all or at all. In most instances, the injuries will heal over time. However some infants are permanently disabled.
Many cases of erb's spalsy occur when a baby's shoulder gets stuck behind the pubic bone of the mother during birth, a condition called shoulder dystocia. The medical professionals who deliver the child have to exert force to release the shoulder and it can cause strain or tears to the healthy brachial plexus nerves.
The nerves may be avulsed, meaning they are completely separated from the spinal column - or neuroma - where the scar tissue presses on the nerve preventing it from sending signals – or neuropraxia, if the nerves have been stretched, but not ripped. The longer a damaged nerve persists, the harder it is to heal.
To prevent shoulder dystocia, the mother and Obstetrician must be in agreement about the most appropriate position to deliver the baby and how to respond in the event of a complication during birth. Unfortunately many cases of Erb's palsy are caused by medical inattention on the part of nurses and doctors who apply excessive force during the delivery process.
Erb's Palsy Treatment
Physical therapy for babies suffering from Erb's palsy will concentrate on enhancing the range of motion of their arms and fingers. Physical therapy is often integrated with different treatments like hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy helps because it allows babies to exercise in a gravity-free setting which eases pain from muscle spasms.
Other treatments include medications to ease swelling and pain. A doctor may also splice or graft healthy nerves from other parts of the body to replace damaged ones. This could restore sensation, flexibility and support to the arm.
Newborns who suffer from Erb's palsy could require surgery to repair a strained brachial plexus. A ruptured nerve, caused by the tear of one or more nerves from the spine is the most severe form of Erb's palsy. The nerves injured can be repaired by doctors to allow the nerves to heal. This procedure is usually successful and helps most children get back to full motion 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 of the condition through regular physical therapy, a majority will require surgery to repair nerve damage. Medical malpractice lawsuits can help families get the right amount of compensation for their child's injuries.
Your lawyer will confer with experts in order to determine the probable cost of treatment. The case value is what we call it. The value of your case will depend on the severity of the injury and the impact it will have on your child's future. Your lawyer will try to recover life-care costs, future medical expenses as well as other damages.
Your lawyer will send an official demand letter to the doctor or hospital responsible for your child’s injuries. erb's palsy law firm largo will outline the injuries your child sustained and the way they were caused through medical negligence. The letter will also outline the amount of compensation you're seeking.
The doctor responsible can then negotiate an agreement. This is a more affordable alternative to a trial. If your lawyer can present a good case, the medical professional in question may decide to settle out of court to avoid the negative publicity that can be a result of the possibility of a trial. The settlement money will be deposited in an account to cover medical expenses and other costs of your child.