Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyer

The bundle of nerves that stretches from the spinal cord to the neck is known as the brachial plexus. During a vaginal delivery, complications such as shoulder dystocia can prevent your baby from passing smoothly through your birth canal. When this happens, the twisting of your baby’s head or bending of his neck can lead to damage or even the severing of this bundle of nerves. The end result of this type of birth injury can be partial or total paralysis for your child, but even in instances of minimal damage, surgical and rehabilitative treatment are almost always required.

Preventing Brachial Plexus Injuries

There are several indications of potential birth complications your doctor should look for during your pregnancy. Not all complications can be detected early, but your doctor should carefully monitor signs such as:

  • Maternal weight gain
  • Fetal weight
  • Prolonged labor

Your doctor should pay close attention to these and other risk factors prior to your labor to help determine if potential complications may occur. Failure to properly detect these risk factors, or failure to act accordingly when complications present themselves, makes your doctor liable for any injuries your child incurs during delivery.

The Consequences of Brachial Plexus Injuries

Some infants recover from brachial plexus injuries – including Erb’s palsy – without medical intervention. The ability of your child to bend their arm at the elbow by six months is generally considered a sufficient indicator to determine the extent of the damage. However, even in children who show signs of improvement, surgical intervention may be necessary down the road, and developmental delays can be unavoidable.

Our Philadelphia Malpractice Attorneys

If your child has suffered a brachial plexus injury in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, the experienced birth injury lawyers in Pennsylvania at Wapner Newman can help you pursue the compensation you need to provide for your child’s injuries both now and into the future. Contact today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Our law firm serves clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with offices in Philadelphia, West Conshohocken, Allentown, and Marlton.