Brachial Plexus Lawyers
Brachial plexus injuries are a startlingly common form of birth injury, with studies indicating rates of injury between .12 and 3.6 cases per 1000 live births and most recent reports putting the number at roughly 1 in 1000. The brachial plexus is a trunk of nerve fibers running outward from the spine, through the shoulder, and into the arm. As the brachial plexus is responsible for the muscular control and cutaneous sensation of the entire upper limb, injuries to the nerve trunk typically result in motor control problems and lack of sensation, and must be corrected quickly through surgical procedures in order to avoid permanent damage to the limb.
While brachial plexus injuries can occur naturally, there are many instances in which the negligence of the doctor in charge of delivering the child directly contributes to or causes these injuries. In these instances, the practitioner may be held liable for the medical expenses and other losses associated with the injury. If your child has suffered a brachial plexus injury because of a medical professional’s negligence, you need to fight for justice. We want to help. To learn more about what we may be able to do for you, call the brachial plexus attorneys of The Driscoll Firm today by calling (800) 900-7704.
How Medical Malpractice Can Lead to Brachial Plexus Injuries
There are a great number of risk factors for brachial plexus injuries including maternal diabetes, a high birth weight, an undue prolonging of the second stage of labor, and older maternal age, but there are other, more direct events, that can cause an injury such as the following:
- The use of forceps
- Excessive stretching of the neck due to poorly performed pulling
- Excessive manipulation of the shoulders
- Failure to perform a caesarian section when appropriate
The most common result of these mistakes is a severing of the C5 or C6 roots, which is generally referred to as Erb’s Palsy, a specific type of brachial plexus injury.
Contact Us
At The Driscoll Firm, our legal team is committed to providing the dedicated and tenacious legal representation your family needs if your child has been born with a birth injury because of a medical professional’s inexcusable negligence. For a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and learn more about what our attorneys are ready to do on behalf of your family, call our brachial plexus lawyers today at (800) 900-7704.
