The families we represent often arrive feeling overwhelmed and heartbroken, unsure how a preventable birth injury will shape their child’s future. Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton have guided Maryland parents through that fear for more than four decades, combining compassionate counsel with courtroom strength. Since 1984, we have fought exclusively for victims of medical malpractice, earning record-setting verdicts, national recognition, and the trust of thousands of clients.
Our Glen Burnie Erb’s palsy attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. understand both the science behind brachial plexus injuries and the practical realities of raising an injured child. Every case we accept is prepared for trial from day one, ensuring insurers know we will not settle for less than a child’s lifelong needs.
Call (410) 234-1000 or click “Free Case Review” to speak with our Glen Burnie Erb’s Palsy attorneys today.
What Is Erb’s Palsy and How Does It Happen During Childbirth?
Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus nerve injury that weakens or paralyzes an infant’s shoulder and arm. The damage usually occurs in a difficult delivery when shoulder dystocia traps the baby’s shoulder behind the mother’s pelvis. If an obstetrician pulls on the baby’s neck or uses forceps or a vacuum extractor incorrectly, nerves can stretch, tear, or detach.
Although only 1–2 of every 1,000 U.S. births result in Erb’s palsy, almost all are preventable with diligent obstetric care. When deliveries at facilities such as UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center are handled properly, babies leave with healthy, functioning arms; when providers rush, children live with avoidable disability.
Could My Doctor Have Prevented My Child’s Erb’s Palsy?
Most Erb’s palsy injuries need not happen. Standard protocols call for repositioning the mother, performing the McRoberts maneuver, or ordering an emergency C-section, never excessive traction on a newborn’s head. Ignoring fetal macrosomia, failing to monitor labor, or persisting with forceps after signs of distress are clear departures from accepted practice.
When those missteps occur, Glen Burnie parents have every right to question whether negligence, not fate, caused their child’s injury. A careful review of delivery records often reveals that a timely C-section or gentler technique would have spared the brachial plexus.
What Are Common vs. Uncommon Erb’s Palsy Claims?
Common Claims
- Shoulder Dystocia Mismanagement – Doctor pulls too hard when the shoulder is stuck.
- Improper Use of Forceps/Vacuum – Traction devices stretch nerves instead of guiding delivery.
- Delayed C-Section – Known risk factors (large baby, prolonged labor) ignored until injury occurs.
Uncommon or Overlooked Claims
- Breech Delivery Nerve Injury – Arms delivered last and mishandled, tearing brachial plexus fibers.
- Excessive Fundal Pressure – Staff press on the uterus so forcefully that nerves are damaged.
- Undiagnosed Maternal Diabetes – Macrosomic baby anticipated but no proactive delivery plan made.
- Rough Post-Birth Handling – Fragile infant lifted by an arm instead of cradled, compounding injury.
Our Glen Burnie birth injury lawyers have litigated each scenario, demonstrating that even rare mechanisms trace back to preventable mistakes.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Erb’s Palsy on My Child?
A brachial plexus injury can leave a child unable to lift, rotate, or fully straighten an arm. Mild cases (neuropraxia) heal within months; severe ruptures or avulsions require nerve grafts, multiple surgeries, and years of physical therapy.
About 10–20 percent of children experience permanent weakness, muscle atrophy, or growth differences between the arms. Beyond mobility, limited reach can delay crawling, self-feeding, and school activities, which in turn affects confidence and social development. Families must budget for therapy, adaptive devices, and possible future surgeries, costs that quickly exceed insurance coverage.
How Do I Know If Medical Negligence Caused My Baby’s Erb’s Palsy?
Several red flags point to malpractice. Prolonged labor with no escalation of care, unexplained bruising or fractures at birth, or missing chart notations about shoulder dystocia suggest substandard treatment. If providers refuse to explain what happened, parents should seek answers elsewhere. Our Glen Burnie Erb’s palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor secures complete medical records, consults renowned perinatologists, and compares each decision to accepted standard-of-care guidelines. When a reasonable obstetrician would have chosen a safer method, we present that deviation as clear evidence of negligence.
