Albuquerque Erb’s Palsy Lawyer

Erb’s Palsy is a type of injury that can occur at birth and specifically affects a baby’s brachial plexus nerves in the upper arm. A difficult or abnormal childbirth is a common cause of this condition, but sometimes these Albuquerque birth injuries result from medical negligence. 

Albuquerque Erb’s Palsy Attorney

If you believe a medical professional’s actions, or their failure to act, caused your newborn’s Erb’s palsy, contact the Branch Law Firm. We offer free consultations and will help you seek justice. 

Why Choose Our Erb’s Palsy Lawyer? 

• We have more than 50 years of experience advocating for injury victims in New Mexico, including those harmed by medical negligence.
• We are highly skilled negotiators who will fight for fair compensation.  
• We have helped clients recover millions of dollars in compensation.

What is Erb’s Palsy?

Erb’s palsy is named for an area of the neck known as Erb’s point, which falls between the fifth and sixth cranial nerves. When a medical professional damages these cranial nerves during delivery, it can lead to paralysis or weakness in a baby’s shoulder and upper arm area. In some cases of Erb’s palsy, victims cannot straighten their arm to the point where it can be used purposefully, their shoulder cannot move, and they suffer a loss of movement in some or all fingers. Many babies are successfully treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy, but severe Erb’s palsy may require nerve grafts, nerve decompression, or other surgical interventions. 

What Causes Erb’s Palsy?

Several situations can cause Erb’s palsy, but the most common is shoulder dystocia. It is an obstetric complication where the baby passes through the birth canal at an awkward angle, causing the shoulder to get stuck on the mother’s pelvis. To overcome this complication, a medical professional may use various maneuvers, including excessive twisting and/or lateral force, which can cause damage to the upper brachial plexus nerves in the neck or shoulder area of a baby. 

Shoulder dystocia isn’t always preventable during active labor. However, healthcare providers who deliver babies are trained in identifying risk factors of the condition. If the medical professional did not recognize one or more of these risk factors or failed to act appropriately after identifying the problem, it may be considered medical malpractice. Other situations, such as face-first delivery (cephalic presentation) and breech delivery, can also result in obstetric maneuvers being used that can cause Erb’s palsy. 

Why You Need an Albuquerque Erb’s Palsy Lawyer

Taking legal action against a medical provider and the major insurance corporation they are represented by can be intimidating. It is essential to have a trusted lawyer on your side who understands the highly specialized field of medical malpractice. They will ensure you obtain the justice and compensation your child deserves. Recovery may be a long road, with extensive physical rehabilitation and surgeries. With so much on the line, you don’t want to risk settling for an amount lower than what you need to pay off medical bills, your lost income, for your child and family’s pain and suffering, and more. 

Contact the Branch Law Firm

Our Albuquerque medical malpractice lawyers understand Erb’s palsy and the pain your family has endured. We can help you determine if you have a medical malpractice case and guide you through the legal process to help you secure the maximum amount of compensation possible. Message us online or call (800) 828-4529 today for your free consultation.