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Washington Erb's Palsy Attorneys



Helping Families When Your Child Has Been Harmed in Washington

Childbirth is a beautiful event that brings new life into the world. The process is coordinated by an OB/GYN who leads a highly trained team of medical professionals. There is no room for error in the delivery room, and a mistake could result in serious birth injuries that may impact the child for years to come.

When a baby is mishandled during the birthing process, it may cause a birth injury known as Erb’s palsy, which causes the baby’s arm to hang down in an unnatural manner. Erb’s palsy can result in serious long-term harm. It’s important to correctly diagnose this condition as soon as possible after childbirth and provide the proper treatment.

Birth injuries frequently require a lifetime of medical treatment. If your infant was harmed during childbirth, contact the experienced Washington birth injury lawyers at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. Our firm has won record-breaking settlements for our clients.

Call (877) 433-3906 to learn more today.

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What Is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy is a nerve condition that affects the baby’s shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. It typically occurs on one side of the body. The condition is caused by damage done to the brachial plexus, which is a bundle of nerves that begins in the neck and passes through the upper extremity and down the arm.

The most obvious symptom of Erb’s palsy is that the arm doesn’t extend down naturally. Instead, the baby holds it close to the side. Signs of Erb’s palsy include:

  • Weakness in the arm, hand, and fingers
  • Arm movement is painful
  • Child holds arm bent or against body
  • Difficulty gripping objects
  • Lack of movement in shoulder and arm
  • Loss of sensation
  • Impaired growth
  • Chronic aching
  • Limited range of motion
  • Lack of reflexes

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Erb’s Palsy and Medical Malpractice

Doctors and other medical professionals have a responsibility to uphold the standard of care. That means providing a level of treatment that’s consistent with accepted practices of their profession. Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, midwife, or anyone on the delivery team seriously harms the newborn by deviating from the standard of care.

The most likely cause of Erb’s palsy is mishandling the baby during the delivery process. If the baby’s shoulder gets stuck in the birth canal and the OB/GYN continues to tug at it, this may tear nerves in the brachial plexus.

Improper birthing techniques that cause Erb’s palsy include:

  • Misuse of forceps
  • Misuse of vacuum extraction
  • Failure to order a cesarean birth
  • Using too much force to remove the baby from the birth canal
  • Failure to properly position a breeched baby

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How Your Washington Birth Injury Attorney Can Help

If your newborn is suffering from Erb’s palsy or some other type of birth injury caused by medical malpractice, the Washington medical malpractice attorneys at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. will conduct a thorough investigation. Our team will examine medical records and other internal hospital documents to find out what really happened.

Your child’s injuries may be the result of improper hospital policies such as negligent hiring or insufficient oversight. When our investigation is complete, our attorneys will file a claim against anyone whose negligent actions contributed to your child’s injuries. This may include:

  • Doctors
  • Midwives
  • Nurses
  • Hospital administrators
  • All medical professionals who worked with your child

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Damages for Infants Harmed by Erb’s Palsy

Birth injuries such as Erb’s palsy can seriously impact your child’s life, and it may require extensive medical treatment and other interventions. A medical malpractice claim for Erb’s palsy will include the following types of damages:

  • Medical costs
  • Surgery
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Time missed from work
  • Assisted living care
  • Medical devices
  • Pain and suffering
  • Reduced quality of life

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Getting the Resources You Need to Help Your Child

If your child was harmed by a careless mistake, then the person responsible should have to pay for it. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we help victims of medical malpractice put their lives back together.

Call (877) 433-3906 to schedule a free consultation today.

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