Erb’s palsy can shatter joyful birth plans in an instant. Chillum Erb’s palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and birth-injury attorney Kerry Staton have spent decades turning that heartbreak into hope. We have secured life-changing verdicts and settlements for families facing brachial plexus injuries because we understand both the medical science and the human cost.
Our main office in Baltimore and satellite meeting locations throughout Prince George’s County let us serve parents in Chillum, Hyattsville, Takoma Park, and Silver Spring with ease. We routinely investigate deliveries at Holy Cross Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital, and other local maternity units accessed from Riggs Road and East-West Highway.
If your child was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy after a Chillum-area delivery, reach out now. Call us at (410) 234-1000 or send a secure message for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let our award-winning birth-injury attorneys fight for the future your family deserves.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy, also called brachial plexus palsy, is a nerve injury that weakens or paralyzes a newborn’s shoulder and arm. Roughly one to two of every 1,000 births involve this condition. The injury occurs when the network of nerves between the neck and shoulder stretches, tears, or avulses during delivery. Some infants regain strength with early therapy, but severe cases leave permanent functional limits.
Prince George’s County Erb’s palsy attorney Kerry Staton explains that quick diagnosis and aggressive therapy are crucial because untreated nerve damage worsens over time.
Common Causes
Delivery room errors, not bad luck, cause most brachial plexus injuries. Chillum brachial plexus lawyer Jonathan Schochor has seen the same five scenarios again and again:
- Shoulder dystocia. The baby’s shoulder lodges behind the pubic bone; excessive pulling on the head stretches nerves.
- Delayed C-section. Providers fail to convert a stalled or high-risk labor to surgery in time to prevent traction injuries.
- Vacuum or forceps misuse. Improper instrument placement or force can crush delicate nerve tissue.
- Undiagnosed macrosomia. Large-for-gestational-age babies, often linked to gestational diabetes, face higher dystocia risk if no C-section is planned.
- Breech or abnormal positioning. Feet-first or transverse presentations require arm manipulation that endangers the plexus.
Any of these events may constitute negligence when professionals ignore well-known obstetric “red flags.” Parents deserve candid answers, not excuses, when trusted caregivers deviate from safe protocols.
Symptoms & Impact of Erb’s Palsy
A newborn with Erb’s palsy often has a limp upper arm, weak grasp, and no Moro reflex on the affected side. Swaddling can hide these signs, so vigilant observation in the first days is vital. Long-term, families face years of physical therapy, possible nerve grafting, and adaptive equipment.
Even with care, some children never achieve full range of motion, limiting sports, self-care, and future employment. Our Chillum birth-injury lawyers make sure judges and juries see the daily challenges behind the medical jargon.
