Phoenix Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Lawyer

When the joy of welcoming a new baby into the world is dampened by an unexpected injury to the child during the birthing process, parents often feel bewildered and unsure where to turn. No child’s first hours in their parent’s arms should include pain or trauma, but sadly, around seven out of every 1,000 births end in a child suffering a preventable injury, including a serious brachial plexus injury.

When a child suffers an injury at birth, the implications impact the rest of their life. Families in this situation deserve financial compensation and a sense of justice. The attorneys at Knapp & Roberts understand the fear and frustration of a diagnosis of brachial plexus in a baby. Call our Phoenix birth injury attorneys for a free confidential consultation so we can hear about your child’s injury and begin a strategy for your financial recovery so you can focus on maximizing your child’s physical recovery.

Why Choose Knapp & Roberts for Your Phoenix Birth Injury Attorneys

Babies who are premature, over-sized, or one of twins or triplets face the greatest risk of birth injuries, but any child can suffer a birth injury if a doctor or medical team fails to treat the mother and child at the industry-accepted standard of care. Our experienced team of attorneys dedicates their time to helping victims of medical malpractice and their families recover the compensation they deserve. We offer the following advantages in your child’s brachial plexus birth injury claim:

Experience:

Founding partner, Craig Knapp, has been named a Southwest Super Lawyer and Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for multiple years. He is dedicated to helping clients injured through medical malpractice and negligence. In the decades since a notable $45.5 million jury verdict in 2004, attorney Craig Knapp has earned a reputation for success in recovering millions of dollars for injured clients and their families.

Founding partner, Dana Roberts is an experienced trial lawyer. She’s also an executive member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee. She has dedicated her career to advocating for victims of medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Skilled Litigators

The skilled litigators and legal team at Knapp & Roberts thoroughly investigate all aspects of a birth injury case in Phoenix and prepare for litigation by consulting with the best medical experts and crafting a compelling case. With a well-executed demand package, they use their strategic negotiation skills to seek a large settlement to avoid court, but are more than willing to take disputes to court if the at-fault party’s malpractice insurance fails to offer an acceptable settlement.

Results:

At Knapp & Roberts, we take on every client’s case with the purpose and dedication we’d give to an injured family member of our own. With open and honest communication throughout the process, you remain informed of the progress of your case. We’re ready to get to know your family and witness the full impact of the injury to make a powerful case for your full compensation.

What Is a Brachial Plexus Injury?

The brachial plexus is a critical bundle of nerves running from the cervical spine in the neck and shoulder to the network of nerves below in the arm, wrists, and hands. Each side of the neck and shoulders has a brachial plexus that’s responsible for transferring messages back and forth from the control center through five branches extending to various parts of the arm and hand. When an injury causes damage to this bundle of nerves, it impacts the ability of the arm on that side to function.

These injuries are most commonly caused during a difficult childbirth, by motor-vehicle injuries, and contact sports. When the injury victim’s neck is tilted in one direction at the same time that there is traction (pulling) on the other side, a brachial plexus injury may be the unfortunate result. Childbirth sometimes puts an infant into this high-risk circumstance. Medical professionals must take appropriate measures to prevent harm during the birthing process.

Understanding Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries

When a brachial plexus injury occurs during birth, doctors may diagnose the condition as neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP), obstetrical brachial plexus palsy, or just brachial palsy.

Depending on the location and severity of the damage to this bundle of nerves, a newborn may have one of the following conditions:

• Erbs Palsy: paralysis of the upper arm (the most common brachial plexus injury)
• Klumpke’s Palsy: paralysis of the lower arm, wrist, and hand
• Total Plexus Injury: paralysis of both upper and lower arm

The severity of injury depends on the damage to the brachial plexus, with impacts ranging from short-term paralysis due to stretching of the nerves, neuroma, or an injury that develops scar tissue that interferes with nerve function, rupture, in which a portion of the nerves are torn, or avulsion, in which the entire brachial plexus nerve bundle tears away from the spinal cord, causing total paralysis of the injury victim’s arm, wrist, and hand.

How Does a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury Occur?

Brachial plexus birth injuries occur when a difficulty arises during childbirth and the attending physician fails to properly manage the problem to prevent injury. The main causes of damage to the brachial plexus include:

• Compression during descent down the birth canal, which most commonly occurs in delivering large babies
• If the head and neck become lodged under the mother’s pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia) and a doctor fails to properly correct the infant’s position before delivering or extracting the infant
• A prolonged head-first delivery causes the infant’s dangling head and neck to over-extend
• A breech delivery (feet-first) causes pressure on the infant’s raised arms during birth

When a laboring mother and infant develop a problem during delivery such as shoulder dystocia, it’s the doctor’s duty to quickly diagnose and properly treat the problem to prevent a birth injury.

Recovering Damages for Brachial Plexus Injuries

Children with injuries to the brachial plexus during birth experience a range of problems resulting from partial or total paralysis and loss of sensation in one arm. Long-term impacts range from weakness in the arm to total loss of arm, hand, and finger function on the affected side and sometimes difficulty with balance and coordination. Some children experience a lack of growth in the injured arm or may develop unusual bone growth.

Because infants diagnosed with brachial plexus birth injuries require a range of ongoing medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other special needs, a successful birth injury claim in Phoenix recovers damages such as the following:

• Medical expenses
• Anticipated future medical costs
• Special needs therapies
• Emotional anguish
• Loss of quality of life
• Disability

Although financial compensation does not erase the injury and trauma to the child and family, it does help families obtain the best possible care for the injured child and relieve related financial hardship. It also helps families achieve a sense of justice and accountability.

Call the Birth Injury Lawyers at Knapp & Roberts Today

Don’t wait to file a claim. Medical costs add up quickly. Your attorney from Knapp & Roberts is ready to investigate your case, make a compelling claim, and obtain the compensation you’re due. Reach out to Knapp & Roberts today for a free consultation so we can get started on prompt action in your case.