A brachial plexus injury at birth can affect a child’s ability to move their arm or shoulder and may lead to long-term challenges. These injuries often happen during complicated deliveries and, in many cases, could have been prevented with proper medical care. Families in Atlanta, Georgia, deserve answers and accountability when medical negligence may have played a role.
If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury during birth, you may have grounds to pursue a claim. The team at Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers can help. Contact us today at (770) 390-7550 for a free consultation with an Atlanta brachial plexus birth injury lawyer.
How Can Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers Help After a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury in Atlanta, GA?
Families dealing with a brachial plexus birth injury often face uncertainty about their child’s future and the cause of the injury. Legal guidance can help clarify whether proper medical standards were followed during delivery.
An Atlanta birth injury lawyer from Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers can evaluate medical records, explain potential legal options, and guide families through the claims process with clarity and care.
Our firm may assist by taking the following steps:
- Reviewing prenatal, labor, and delivery records
- Consulting with qualified medical experts
- Identifying deviations from accepted standards of care
- Determining current and future medical needs
- Handling negotiations with insurers and defendants
By handling the investigation, documentation, and legal communications, we help reduce the burden placed on your family during an already difficult time. This allows you to focus on your child’s medical care, therapy, and long-term needs while the legal process moves forward.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a trusted Atlanta personal injury lawyer.
What Causes Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries?
Brachial plexus injuries occur when the nerves controlling the arm and shoulder are stretched, compressed, or torn during birth. While some injuries may be unavoidable, others are linked to preventable medical errors.
Common causes include:
- Excessive traction during delivery
- Improper management of shoulder dystocia
- Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors
- Failure to perform a timely cesarean section when risk factors are present
In many cases, these injuries occur when delivery complications are not handled according to accepted medical standards. When providers fail to anticipate risks or use appropriate techniques during a difficult birth, the likelihood of nerve damage increases.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Cases?
The severity of a brachial plexus injury varies depending on the extent of nerve damage. Some children recover with treatment, while others experience permanent impairment.
Injuries commonly seen in these cases include:
- Erb’s palsy affecting shoulder and upper arm movement
- Klumpke’s palsy impacting the hand and wrist
- Partial or complete nerve tears
- Loss of muscle control or sensation
- Long-term functional limitations
While early diagnosis and treatment may improve outcomes, some brachial plexus injuries result in permanent limitations. Ongoing therapy, medical monitoring, or surgical intervention may be required as a child grows.
Who Could Be Liable for a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury?
Liability depends on the actions taken before and during labor and delivery. Multiple parties may be responsible depending on how the injury occurred and whether proper medical decisions were made at critical moments.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- Obstetricians
- Delivery nurses
- Hospitals,
- Other medical providers involved in the birth
Liability may arise from:
- Improper techniques
- Delayed decision-making
- Failure to monitor fetal distress
- Not responding appropriately to known risk factors during delivery
Determining who is legally responsible requires a careful review of medical records and delivery decisions. In some cases, more than one provider or facility may share liability. Identifying all responsible parties is an important step in pursuing accountability and seeking compensation for the harm caused by a preventable birth injury.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Georgia law sets strict deadlines for filing medical malpractice claims. In most cases, a lawsuit must be filed within a specific statute of limitations, although special rules may apply when the injured patient is a minor.
Missing a deadline can prevent recovery entirely, so it is important to seek legal guidance from an Atlanta medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to understand how the law applies to your situation.
Contact an Atlanta Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If your child suffered a brachial plexus injury during birth, you may have legal options worth exploring. Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers helps you pursue compensation for medical care, therapy, and long-term needs caused by preventable birth injuries.
Taking action can help clarify what went wrong during delivery and whether medical standards were followed. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Atlanta brachial plexus birth injury attorney.