California Medical Malpractice Lawyer

What is a brachial plexus injury?

A brachial plexus injury, known as well as Erb's Palsy, is caused by the stretching of nerves around the shoulder during birth, leading to paralysis or weakness in the arm. In this type of injury, the bundle of nerves which travels from the spine through the shoulder is damaged, either by being stretched or severed. It can be caused by extreme force being applied through the pulling of a newborn's arm or head during birth. In the case of a breech delivery, pressure on raised shoulders can also bring about this birth injury.

As baby's body can be quite resilient and many can recover from a brachial plexus injury, depending on the severity of the original incident. For some, the injury does not recover and surgery is required. In the case of an avulsion or rupture, the body may never be fully repaired. In almost all cases, the cause of a brachial plexus injury was excessive force by the health care provider who delivered the baby. A knowledgeable California birth injury attorney from our firm can provide a free consultation to find out what occurred and discuss what the best legal options are.

Negligence & Birth Injuries

There are known circumstances which are risk factors for this injury and make it possible to avert. If a brachial plexus injury occurred at a prior birth it is likely to occur again. A large baby, a small or misshaped pelvis, shoulder dystocia at an earlier birth, slow dilation or descent and gestational diabetes are all indicators that point towards the possibility that a brachial plexus injury could occur.

If medical malpractice caused the injury to your child, the law provides for fair compensation to be awarded for the damage that resulted. It is urgent that we begin work on your case quickly, so that all required evidence and data can be amassed and analyzed. At Bostwick & Peterson LLP, we know that an injury to your newborn can be devastating and for this reason we are committed to protecting your rights and working hard to secure the financial compensation you deserve.

If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury at birth, medical negligence could have been the cause. To find out more, contact a California birth injury lawyer from our firm.