Brachial Plexus Injury Attorney in Washington D.C.
Call (202) 888-0872 If Your Infant was Diagnosed with Erb's Palsy
Brachial plexus injury refers to weakness or inability to of move the arm, caused by damage to the collection of nerves in the shoulder area during birth. Brachial plexus injuries usually affect the upper arm, but other forms may affect different areas. Erb’s palsy affects the upper and lower arm, and Klumpke paralysis affects the hand.
If your baby was diagnosed with a brachial plexus birth injury, we encourage you to contact our firm as soon as possible to explore your options for legal recourse. Our experienced and award-winning team may be able to help you pursue maximum compensation for your child’s life-altering injury. You should not have to suffer for another’s negligence, especially when it comes to medical care.
Contact a DC brachial plexus injury lawyer from our firm to schedule a free consultation!
What Causes Brachial Plexus Injuries?
In some cases, brachial plexus injuries can be attributed to doctor negligence, and depending on the circumstances, may be grounds for a medical malpractice case.
Brachial plexus birth injuries can result from:
- A pulling toward one side of the head and neck as the infant moves through the birth canal
- Pressure on the infant’s raised arms during a feet-first (breech) delivery
- Pulling on the infant’s shoulders during head-first delivery
- Failure to order a necessary cesarean section
- Improper use of forceps or vacuums
- Application of pressure to the mother’s abdomen during birth
Breech deliveries, larger-than-average newborns, and doctor errors increase the risk of brachial plexus injury. Our team attorneys can investigate your case to determine if any of the following doctor mistakes occurred at birth
Signs & Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injury
Symptoms of this type of injury will show soon after birth. If you notice any of the following signs, your child may have suffered a birth-related brachial plexus injury:
- The arm is bent at the elbow and is held against the body
- The baby has a decreased grip on the injured side
- The infant is not able to move his or her hand or lower arm
- Absence of Moro reflex (involuntary response to stimulation) on the affected side
To set up a free consultation with our nationally recognized firm, please call the DC birth injury lawyers at Simeone & Miller, LLP at (202) 888-0872.