Has your child suffered from Erb’s palsy? If you believe negligence on the part of doctors or others was responsible, you can find out whether you have a case with the help of a Chicago Erb’s palsy lawyer. The attorneys at Kaveny + Kroll Trial Lawyers have plenty of experience handling birth injury cases, with the ability to hold liable parties responsible for their negligent acts and seek compensation for resulting damages.
How Erb’s Palsy Develops
Erb’s palsy is a specific type of nerve condition that occurs when a cluster of nerves known as the brachial plexus sustains injuries during or shortly after birth. These injuries most often develop when a newborn’s neck stretches or twists during delivery.
While many infants tend to heal from this condition soon after, some can develop permanent paralysis, weakness, stiffness, and numbness in the arm. Infants could also experience developmental delays around this part of the body.
A Chicago Erb’s palsy attorney can determine if a medical professional’s negligence led to this condition and calculate damages resulting from the injury.
When You Can Sue for Erb’s Palsy
In certain cases, Erb’s palsy develops when a doctor applies too much pressure to the neck or shoulder, failing to meet the standard of care placed on medical professionals in these situations.
Medical specialists and facilities are often liable for the following reasons:
- Excessive Force — Pulling hard on the baby’s neck or head during delivery could cause this condition
- Improper Use of Tools — Doctors may also negligently handle extraction tools to deliver the infant
- Incorrect Positioning — Erb’s palsy often develops when the infant is incorrectly positioned during delivery
- Inadequate Prenatal Care — Failing to treat gestational diabetes and other conditions that can increase the risk of Erb’s palsy might constitute negligent care
- Improper Delivery Management — Hospital staff can also fail to properly manage the delivery in other ways, such as ignoring indicators of fetal distress
An Erb’s palsy lawyer in Chicago can help determine if one or more parties are liable for any of these instances of negligence and seek total compensation for related damages.
Proving Liability for Erb’s Palsy
When building a case against liable medical providers, individuals will need to be able to prove liability by taking a number of steps. First, they must show that they had a doctor-patient relationship at the time of the injury. Additionally, they must demonstrate that the professional failed to adhere to the standard of care that people would normally expect in the given situation.
Plaintiffs would then need to prove that this injury resulted in quantifiable damages warranting compensation, including medical expenses for treating Erb’s palsy and lost earning capacity if the child is permanently disabled.
An attorney in Chicago with experience handling Erb’s palsy cases can take the necessary steps to prove liability and recover total compensation.
Consult a Chicago Erb’s Palsy Attorney to Build a Case
In the event of Erb’s palsy developing from negligence, parents can sue for medical malpractice against the liable parties, holding them accountable for their actions. Kaveny + Kroll has a team of highly experienced lawyers who have built long-term relationships with clients in helping them seek compensation for birth injuries. We have a long record of proven success, working closely with our clients to give a personal touch to our services.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a Chicago Erb’s palsy lawyer and find out how we can help.