Pittsburgh Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyer
Experienced Medical Malpractice Lawyers Help Families throughout Western Pennsylvania Obtain Accountability and Justice When Their Child Suffers a Brachial Plexus Injury
One of the complications that can arise during childbirth is a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves that run from the spinal cord, through the neck and shoulder area, into the arms; these nerves are responsible for sensation and movement in the arms. When these nerves are damaged during delivery, an infant can suffer from complications ranging from numbing and weakness in the hands and arms to severe pain and motor function issues, to paralysis. In some cases, a brachial plexus injury only involves a strain or stretching of the brachial plexus nerves, which will heal over time and leave a child with no permanent consequences. But more serious injuries involving tearing of nerve tissue are permanent and may require a child to undergo surgeries and physical therapy throughout their childhood to try to build up as much function as possible.
Get Advice From An Experienced Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyer. All You Have To Do Is Call 412-960-4711 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
Some brachial plexus injuries occur simply due to natural complications during delivery that impart damaging forces on an infant’s neck and shoulder area. However, many injuries are the result of negligent actions by doctors and other medical providers attending a child’s birth. When a child suffers a debilitating brachial plexus injury due to a healthcare professional’s malpractice, the child and his or her family deserve to seek compensation for the harm the child has suffered and will continue to suffer in the future.
When your family’s child has suffered a brachial plexus injury due to a medical provider’s negligence, reach out to the Pittsburgh brachial plexus injury lawyers of Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC to schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your child’s rights and options for pursuing compensation from those at fault for his or her injury.
How Medical Malpractice Causes Brachial Plexus Injuries
Although there are many different causes of brachial plexus injuries, some cases of injury are due to negligent actions and care delivered by doctors and delivery staff. Some examples of how medical malpractice can cause brachial plexus injuries include:
- Failure to prevent shoulder lodging: In some deliveries, the child’s shoulder may end up lodged against the mother’s pelvic bone; this is a condition known as shoulder dystocia. When this occurs, delivery teams must use appropriate delivery techniques to facilitate the delivery of the child without causing lodging of the shoulder. Obstetricians and delivery staff may use inappropriate delivery techniques that result in a baby’s shoulder being lodged, or fail to recognize when a baby’s shoulder is lodged and quickly act to prevent serious injury.
- Applying excessive pressure to a child’s body: Even if doctors and delivery teams recognize that a child is suffering from shoulder dystocia, they may negligently apply excessive force to the child, which can cause trauma to nerve tissue in the child’s head and shoulders and cause or worsen a brachial plexus injury.
- Improper use of delivery tools: During some deliveries involving improper position of the child or extended labor, doctors and delivery staff may use tools such as vacuums or forceps to help facilitate delivery of the child. However, improper or excessively forceful use of these tools can cause damage to an infant’s delicate body, including causing a brachial plexus injury.
- Failure to identify a breech birth: While most infants will be positioned in the womb to be delivered head first, in rare cases a baby will come through the birth canal feet first, which can place damaging stress on an infant’s head, neck, shoulders, and arms. Doctors should confirm a baby’s positioning before delivery, and if positioned for a breech birth, take steps to ensure a safe delivery of the child.
Compassionate Attorneys Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC Fight to Demand Maximum Compensation for Brachial Plexus Injuries Caused by Malpractice
While some brachial plexus injuries heal with time, more severe injuries can result in lasting conditions such as Erb’s palsy, Klumpke’s disease, or global palsy. These conditions require far more extensive care to restore as much functionality to a child’s arms and upper torso as possible. A brachial plexus injury that is caused by a medical provider’s negligence may entitle your child and your family to compensation for:
- Surgeries to perform nerve reconstruction, reconnections, or grafts
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Numerous checkups with physicians to monitor your child’s progress
- Medical equipment, including splints and other devices to prevent complications and provide relief to your child
- Pain management
- Loss of earning potential due to disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life, due to the inability to participate in normal childhood activities, or embarrassment or humiliation (often inflicted by classmates) due to disabilities or disfigurement
When you choose Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC to represent your family, you can trust that our attorneys will work tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for your family and your child so that you receive the accountability and justice that you deserve.
Schedule a Free Case Review Our Birth Injury Lawyers for Help Throughout Western Pennsylvania
If you believe your child has suffered a brachial plexus injury due to negligent acts by a doctor or other medical provider involved during your child’s delivery, contact the Pittsburgh brachial plexus injury lawyers of Berger Lagnese & Paul, LLC today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your child’s and your family’s legal rights and options and to learn more about how our firm will fight to ensure your child receives the financial compensation he or she needs for his or her treatment and care.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brachial Plexus Injuries in Western Pennsylvania
Generally, a medical malpractice lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date that the injured patient discovers that he or she has suffered harm due to a medical provider’s negligence, and in no event, more than seven years after the allegedly negligent treatment was rendered. However, in Pennsylvania when the injured person is a minor child, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the minor turns 18 years old. Nevertheless, if your child and your family are incurring expenses due to your child’s brachial plexus injury that was caused by a doctor’s or other provider’s negligence, you shouldn’t wait to pursue the compensation your family needs for your child’s recovery and care.
When you choose Berger & Lagnese, LLC to help your family with your child’s brachial plexus injury claim, you owe no fees unless and until we recover compensation for your family through a negotiated settlement or at trial. When your child has suffered a debilitating birth injury, your family shouldn’t have to also worry about the financial pressure of having effective attorneys to fight for your child’s rights.