Lawrenceville Erb’s Palsy Lawyer

Skilled Lawrenceville Erb’s Palsy Attorney

Parents trust medical providers to handle labor and delivery with care. When a birth injury like Erb’s palsy occurs, many parents can’t help but wonder if it was preventable. These cases often require a close look at prenatal risks, delivery decisions, and how the medical team responded to issues. Families who suspect that medical negligence played a role may want to speak with a birth injury lawyer in Lawrenceville to better understand their legal options. A Lawrenceville Erb’s palsy lawyer can investigate what happened during birth and pursue compensation if negligence caused your child’s injury.

About The Tolson Firm, LLC

The Tolson Firm, LLC, represents injured patients and families in Georgia medical malpractice cases, including birth injury claims involving Erb’s palsy. As a proud Black attorney, founder Audrey M. Tolson brings more than 30 years of experience to the firm. Because Erb’s palsy symptoms can be delayed, having a knowledgeable attorney on your side is critical. They can quickly investigate the injury and meet the state’s strict statute of limitations.

What Is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy is a birth injury affecting the brachial plexus, a group of nerves in the neck and shoulder that control movement and feeling in the shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand. When they’re stretched, compressed, or torn during delivery, the baby could experience weakness or loss of motion in one arm. Erb’s palsy affects 0.9 to 2.6 live births per 1,000, leaving up to five in 10,000 with severe arm weakness.

Some children with Erb’s palsy fully recover over time with physical therapy. In some cases, the condition spontaneously recovers on its own. When there is severe nerve damage, there could be lasting problems, including a limited range of motion, reduced grip strength, muscle tightness, or uneven arm growth. The condition’s severity depends on how badly the nerves are damaged.

What Compensation Can Victims of Medical Malpractice Recover?

Families may seek compensation for the financial and personal losses caused by a preventable birth injury. In an Erb’s palsy case, economic damages may include:

• Past and future medical care
• Physical therapy
• Surgery
• Doctor visits
• Assistive devices
• Related travel costs

With 14.3% of Erb’s palsy cases resulting in permanent injury, you can also pursue compensation for future care needs and reduced earning capacity.

Non-economic damages are losses like:

• Pain
• Emotional distress
• Physical limitations
• Loss of normal childhood activities
• Reduced quality of life

Parents may also face stress, time away from work, and major changes to family routine. The value of the claim depends on the injury’s severity, the child’s prognosis, and the evidence showing how malpractice contributed to the harm.

How Can a Lawrenceville Erb’s Palsy Attorney Help?

Across the U.S., there are about 12,000 cases of Erb’s palsy each year. An experienced Lawrenceville medical malpractice attorney familiar with Northside Hospital Gwinnett and the other care facilities in the area can be an invaluable asset to your case. Erb’s palsy claims often require a detailed review of prenatal records, labor and delivery notes, and the baby’s diagnosis after birth. An attorney can review these records and work with medical professionals to determine whether doctors and nurses met the standard of care.

An attorney can also calculate the value of your claim. They can review your expenses related to:

• Therapy
• Surgery
• Follow-up care
• Future medical needs
• The effect of permanent arm weakness on the child’s life

Your lawyer in Lawrenceville, Georgia can also meet filing deadlines, handle communications with insurers, and prepare your case for settlement negotiations or court.

FAQs

Will My Child Need Surgery for Erb’s Palsy?

Whether your child will need surgery for Erb’s palsy will depend on the severity of the nerve damage. About 90% of cases resolve over time, especially with therapy. When other methods of treatment are insufficient, your child’s doctor may recommend surgical options such as nerve repair, nerve grafting, or tendon procedures. While nerve grafting has the highest chances of success, it’s important that you understand the chances of failure and the risks of surgery.

Is Erb’s Palsy a Developmental Disability?

No, Erb’s palsy is not considered a developmental disability. It’s a birth injury that affects the brachial plexus nerves, which control movement and feeling in the shoulder, arm, and hand. A child with Erb’s palsy may experience physical limitations, weakness, or reduced range of motion, but the condition doesn’t affect learning or intellectual development. Severe cases may lead to lasting impairment and could qualify for disability benefits, however.

Can Erb’s Palsy Get Better on Its Own?

Yes, Erb’s palsy can get better on its own, especially when nerve damage is mild. While spontaneous recovery is possible, there are numerous treatment options available if that is not the case. Children can receive physical therapy to regain function and sensation, while surgery is an option for more severe cases. It’s important to work with your child’s doctor and other medical practitioners to fully understand the prognosis and what your options are for helping your child.

Is Erb’s Palsy Always Caused by Malpractice?

Erb’s palsy is not always caused by malpractice, as many cases can happen even when doctors and nurses fully meet the standard of care. This is common:

• In difficult deliveries
• When the child has a high birth weight
• If the child’s shoulder gets stuck
• When other complications occur

However, malpractice may be involved when medical providers act negligently by mishandling the delivery or failing to respond to signs of trouble.

Hire an Erb’s Palsy Lawyer

A child’s Erb’s palsy diagnosis can affect the entire family, especially when ongoing therapy, surgery, or future care may be needed. Medical malpractice cases require careful investigation, strong evidence, and testimony from other medical professionals. Hire an Erb’s palsy lawyer to review the records, identify responsible parties, and seek the compensation your child deserves for their injury.

Contact The Tolson Firm, LLC, today to learn about your legal options and how you could benefit from our services. Our team is dedicated to providing families with the legal support they need to hold negligent medical providers accountable for their actions. We can explain your legal options and work with you to create a strategy for recovering your losses.