If your newborn was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy at a Rockville hospital, you are likely overwhelmed, frightened, and searching for answers. Our attorneys, Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A., have guided Maryland parents through birth-injury crises for more than 35 years. We combine deep medical malpractice insight with heartfelt compassion so families can focus on their child’s recovery.
Call (410) 234-1000 or fill out the short form below for a free, confidential consultation with Rockville Erb’s palsy attorneys Jonathan Schochor and Kerry Staton. We’ll listen, explain your options, and start fighting for your child’s future today.
What Is Erb’s Palsy and Why Does It Happen?
Erb’s palsy is a brachial-plexus nerve injury that weakens or paralyzes a baby’s shoulder and arm. The condition appears in roughly 1 to 2 of every 1,000 U.S. births. It usually develops when excessive stretching of the infant’s neck or shoulder occurs during delivery, damaging the C5-C6 nerves that control upper-arm movement. Many children regain function with timely therapy, but some face lifelong limitations that require surgeries, adaptive devices, and persistent care.
Can Medical Malpractice Cause Erb’s Palsy in Newborns?
Medical negligence often turns a routine delivery into a preventable injury. Rockville Erb’s palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor routinely uncovers errors such as:
- Excessive traction – pulling too hard on the baby’s head or arm.
- Mishandled shoulder dystocia – failing to use accepted maneuvers when the shoulder is stuck.
- Delayed or refused C-section – ignoring breech presentation or fetal distress.
- Improper forceps or vacuum use – misaligned or prolonged tool pressure.
- Uncommon but serious mistakes – injurious fundal pressure, untrained personnel attempting high-risk deliveries, negligent twin extractions, or unmonitored maternal diabetes increasing fetal size.
When any of these actions violate accepted medical standards, Rockville birth-injury attorneys at our firm work to hold each responsible provider accountable.
What If the Doctor Says the Injury “Just Happened”?
Families deserve the truth, not excuses. Our legal team secures delivery records, fetal monitoring strips, and eyewitness testimony to reconstruct the birth minute-by-minute. Seasoned medical experts then explain whether safer options, such as a prompt C-section or gentler maneuvers, would have prevented the nerve damage. If proper care was absent, Kerry Staton, Rockville Erb’s palsy lawyer, pushes for full accountability.
What Costs and Losses Can an Erb’s Palsy Lawyer Help You Recover?
Financial relief funds the lifelong care your child may need. Recoverable damages include:
- Past and future medical costs for surgeries, therapy, and assistive devices.
- Home or vehicle modifications when limited arm function affects mobility.
- Lost earnings for parents who reduce work to become caregivers.
- Projected loss of future income if permanent weakness limits your child’s career options.
- Pain, suffering, and loss of life enjoyment for both child and family.
