Erb's Palsy & Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyers

It’s a question that no parent ever wants to ask themselves, but if your child was born with a birth injury, you may be struggling to come to terms with what happened. You may be wondering how this could have happened to your child and what you can do to help them.

If you think a birth injury has affected your child, seek medical help to diagnose the injury and then consult with a team of Chicago Erbs Palsy and Brachial Plexus injury lawyers to know your legal rights.

One of the most common birth injuries is Erb’s palsy, a form of brachial plexus palsy that leads to weakness and possible paralysis of a newborn’s arm. Erb’s palsy results from a stretch injury to your baby’s brachial plexus, a network of nerves near the neck that connects to the nerves of the arm that control movement and feeling in the arms and hands.

If medical negligencehas affected your child, we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Why Choose Walner Law for Your Erb’s Palsy or Brachial Plexus Injury Lawsuit?

Choosing the right attorney to handle your birth injury claim could determine the outcome of your case. At Walner Law, our experienced and caring Chicago Erb’s palsy & brachial plexus injury lawyers have more than 75 years of experience fighting for the rights of injury victims.

We know what it takes to handle your birth injury case and win your claim so that you can move on with the joys of being new parents. Take a look at our client testimonials and see why we are the most trusted brachial plexus injury lawyers in all of Chicago.

Here’s why we’re the right choice:

Established reputation for results

Since 1961, Walner Law has been a trusted advocate for families seeking justice after life-changing injuries. Our team has decades of experience securing fair settlements and verdicts for families impacted by birth injuries, including Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus injuries.

Personalized attention

Every birth injury case is unique, just like every child and family affected by it. At Walner Law, we take the time to understand the details of your child’s injury and how it has impacted your family.

Our team will work with you to create a legal strategy tailored to your specific circumstances. You’ll always feel supported, informed, and confident about the steps we’re taking to fight for you.

Strong advocacy against negligence

Medical providers and their insurance companies may attempt to deny accountability for birth injuries. Our attorneys understand these tactics and know how to build a strong case to challenge them.

We fight tirelessly to negotiate or litigate for the maximum compensation your family deserves, covering medical expenses, therapy costs, and emotional hardship.

Commitment to your child’s future

A birth injury like Erb’s palsy can have lasting effects on your child’s development and quality of life.

At Walner Law, we help you secure your family’s financial and legal resources to move forward. Your child’s health, recovery, and future well-being are our top priorities.

What Is a Brachial Plexus Injury?

The brachial plexus is a series of nerves in the shoulder that control motion and sensory signals from the spinal cord to the arms and hands. Brachial plexus injuries are birth injuries commonly caused by neck trauma and can cause weakness, numbness, and pain in the arm and hand.

There are several ways the brachial plexus nerves can get damaged.

Excessive stretching or tearing of the brachial plexus often causes:

Limpness
Reduced sensation
Paralysis
A lack of muscle control in the upper limb
Decreased movement in the upper extremity

Causes of brachial plexus injury at birth may include the following:

A breech position at birth
Extended or prolonged labor
Fetal macrosomia
Substantial birth weight
Multiple pregnancies (e.g., giving birth to twins)
A history of prior delivery that resulted in brachial plexus birth injuries
Other complications

Your pediatrician should be able to diagnose your brachial plexus by conducting physical examinations and thoroughly examining your medical history.

What Is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy is a condition involving weakness in the arm and loss of movement due to nerve damage. It commonly occurs when a physical injury at birth or traumatic force during delivery pushes the upper arm and shoulder downward, injuring the brachial plexus, and it can affect both infants and adults.

Medical malpracticeis another cause of Erb’s Palsy. This can include excessive pulling on the shoulders during delivery or when your newborn’s head and neck are pulled to the side to allow the baby’s shoulders to pass through your birth canal.

What Is Shoulder Dystocia?

If a difficult birth causes your baby’s shoulder to become stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone, this is called shoulder dystocia and can stretch, tear, or rupture the nerves of the child’s brachial plexus.

A properly trained obstetrician can identify any risks of shoulder dystocia and take the necessary steps to avoid injury during birth.

Increased risks of shoulder dystocia include:

High birth weight
Overweight or obese mothers
A long second stage of labor

Although shoulder dystocia is a serious situation that can result in Erb’s palsy, it does not have to.

Cesarean sections can be an effective way to prevent shoulder dystocia in high-risk mothers. However, if shoulder dystocia does occur during delivery, doctors are equipped with a variety of techniques to free the trapped shoulder and ensure a successful delivery safely.

Calling us today will not cost you a dime. If you live in the Chicago area and your child has suffered a birth injury, please call Walner Law. We work on a contingency basis and offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to contact our office today to learn more.

How Will a Birthing Injury Affect My Baby?

Erb’s palsy usually affects a baby’s upper nerves, which may allow them to move their hand but not their arm. When both the upper and lower nerves are involved, the condition is more severe, known as “global” or total brachial plexus birth palsy.

One or two in every 1,000 babies born suffer from Erb’s palsy, and about one in 10 Erb’s palsy sufferers recover on their own. Most infants with this condition will regain feeling and movement in their injured arm.

As a parent, you must carefully review the recovery process to ensure full functionality.

Signs and Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injuries in Infants

Chicago Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus injury lawyers often stress the importance of recognizing early signs of brachial plexus injuries. These injuries, caused during difficult labor or due to medical negligence, can have lasting consequences for your baby if left untreated.

Here are several signs to watch for in a newborn that may indicate these birth injuries:

Reduced movement in the affected arm

A child suffering from Erb’s palsy or other brachial plexus palsy conditions may show limited movement or an awkward position in the upper arm. If your baby avoids using one arm entirely, this could suggest nerve damage caused by excessive force or a stretch injury during birth.

Weakness or limpness

If the arm feels limp or appears to hang loosely, this might signal an issue with the brachial plexus nerves, often damaged when a baby’s shoulder is stuck on the mother’s pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia).

Grip strength issues

A weak or absent grip in the hand of the affected arm may indicate damage to the upper and lower nerves controlling movement and sensation.

Sensitivity or discomfort

Crying or visible distress when you move your baby’s affected shoulder or arm may be a sign of brachial plexus birth injuries related to nerve injury or scar tissue.

Abnormal reflexes

Delayed or absent reflexes in the baby’s affected arm are common indications of conditions like Klumpke’s palsy or Erb’s palsy caused by improper use of medical devices or excessive pulling on the child’s head or shoulder.

If you recognize any signs of a brachial plexus injury, seek medical care immediately. Your child may require physical therapy, nerve grafts, or even specialized nerve surgery to treat the injury and reduce the risk of a permanent disability.

An experienced lawyer from a trusted law firm experienced in birth injury cases can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, therapy, and long-term care.

Contact our brachial plexus injury attorneys for a free consultation to discuss how we can assist with your case.

Compensation for Birth Injuries in Chicago

When a birth injury occurs, such as Erb’s palsy or a brachial plexus injury, the consequences can be profound, impacting your child’s health and your family’s financial stability.

If negligent delivery practices or hospital negligence contributed to your child’s injury, you may be entitled to seek financial recovery through a birth injury lawsuit.

Families in Chicago often face significant expenses related to neonatal care, future medical costs, and lifelong care for the affected child.

At local renowned institutions, such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital, advanced neonatal care is available to manage birth trauma. However, when delivery complications arise due to medical professionals failing to meet the standard of care, the results can be devastating.

Conditions like brachial plexus injuries often require ongoing rehabilitation, therapy, and, in some cases, surgery. These costs, combined with pain and suffering and potential loss of earning capacity for the child, make pursuing compensation essential for many families.

A legal consultation can also help parents understand the steps to prove how hospital negligence or delivery complications contributed to the injury. This ensures that responsible parties are held accountable for their actions.

If negligent delivery practices have impacted your family, acting quickly is crucial. Compensation can ease the burden of lifelong care and help provide your child with the necessary resources to thrive.

Contact our attorneys today for justice for your family and the accountability you deserve.

How Can a Brachial Plexus Injury Attorney Help You?

Having a reputable brachial plexus injury attorney by your side is essential to receive the monetary compensation you and your family are rightfully entitled to.

Our team of Erb’s palsy and brachial plexus attorneys in Chicago will go above and beyond to ensure you receive the support you need during this difficult time.

A brachial plexus injury lawyer can:

Represent you in court: Medical malpractice matters can be extremely complex. Having a reputable attorney on your side and being able to represent you in court during this difficult time is critical. An experienced brachial plexus injury attorney will have worked with many others facing a similar situation to you and will know exactly how to help settle your case.
Provide you with the support you need: Your attorney can answer all your questions regarding the legality of matters. They will offer informative legal advice to help you with the emotional reassurance you need.
Handle all of the paperwork: A brachial plexus injury attorney will be able to handle all of the paperwork associated with your case. Your attorney will assemble a case for you and ensure the correct paperwork gets to the correct parties at the right time.
Handle negotiations: Once your hospital or doctor is willing to settle your case, your attorney can negotiate for you to receive the full monetary compensation you rightfully deserve.

We take pride in helping parents and their families seek justice after medical malpractices that lead to injuries and disabilities.

Talk to a Chicago Erb’s Palsy and Brachial Plexus Lawyer Today

If your doctor, caregiver, or midwife makes a mistake that led to the child’s brachial plexus injury, contact our Chicago personal injury lawyer today and let us help you.

ERB’S Palsy & Brachial Plexus

Chicago Erb’s Palsy & Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyers