Erb's palsy is a catastrophic New York birth injury that hits many children in our state. Erb's palsy can result in paralysis of a child's arm, which may subside in a matter of months, or in some cases, can persist for the rest of their life.

Erb's palsy happens when children's shoulders get caught on the mother's pelvic bone during birth, causing nerve damage to their spine. This nerve damage is what results in brachial plexus paralysis in their arms.

The heartbreaking aspect of many instances of Erb's palsy is that it can be caused by errors in the delivery of a child. Doctors can contribute to a child's injuries by improperly administering certain drugs, misusing tools such as the vacuum extractor to assist with a difficult delivery, or waiting too long to conduct a C-section.

These injuries, which may last a lifetime, usually cannot be reversed. However, with legal help, the children and families living with Erb's palsy can recover damages from the accident, compensating them for additional medical bills, pain and suffering, and the long term effects of disability.

If your child has been affected by a birth injury that you believe could have been caused by doctor error, contact a New York Erb's palsy lawyer. An experienced attorney can make the rest of your case fall into place, and proceeding without one is inadvisable.

After hiring a lawyer, it is also important that you do not discuss the details of delivery or injury with anyone else, including your closest friends. Insurance investigators are ruthless in tracking down important information, and can use any discrepancies in your story to discredit your integrity.

It is also important that you attend all physical therapy and follow-up doctors appointments with your child. This will not only give your infant the best chance to fully heal from the injury, but will also show a potential jury that your family is committed to finding a solution to the problem, not just looking for a hand-out.

For more information about what to do if your family has been struck by Erb's palsy, contact the New York Erb's palsy lawyers at Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine. We offer a free consultation to all victims of injuries in the New York Metro area, including Manhattan, Long Island, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and more.