We fight for children hurt at birth. Severna Park Erb’s Palsy lawyer Jonathan Schochor and seasoned Erb’s Palsy attorney Kerry Staton have spent decades holding hospitals accountable. Our first goal is to give answers. Our second is the financial security your child will need for life.
Our Baltimore office on St. Paul Street is thirty minutes from Severna Park via MD-2. We also meet by phone, video, or in your home at no cost. There is never a fee unless we recover for you.
Call (410) 234-1000 to speak directly with Severna Park Erb’s Palsy attorneys Jonathan Schochor or Kerry Staton. Your consultation is free, and you owe no fee unless we win.
What Is Erb’s Palsy?
Erb’s palsy is a brachial plexus nerve injury that limits shoulder and arm movement. The condition affects about 1 in 1,000 newborns. The injury happens most often when a baby’s shoulder becomes trapped behind the mother’s pelvic bone and the delivering provider applies excessive traction.
An infant with Erb’s palsy may present the classic “waiter’s tip” arm, weak grip, or limited elbow flexion. Mild cases improve with therapy, but severe tears can leave permanent paralysis. Early, accurate diagnosis guides treatment and your legal strategy.
Common Medical Errors That Cause Erb’s Palsy
Delivery mistakes are preventable. Our Severna Park birth injury attorneys at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A. routinely see these errors:
- Shoulder dystocia mishandled. A trapped shoulder requires skilled maneuvers, not forceful pulling.
- Excessive traction on a large baby. Macrosomic infants often need a planned C-section.
- Forceps or vacuum misuse. Improper angle or pressure can tear delicate nerves.
- Prolonged second stage. Exhausted staff may tug in frustration rather than reposition or proceed to surgery.
- Breech extraction mistakes. Pulling on feet or arms in a rush can stretch the plexus bundle.
We examine prenatal charts, delivery notes, and fetal monitor strips to prove where the standard of care failed.
Unusual Circumstances We Investigate
Less obvious factors can also create liability. Severna Park Erb’s Palsy attorney Jonathan Schochor digs into:
- Sudden emergency extractions after ignored fetal distress warnings.
- Inadequate nursing response times when shoulder dystocia alarms were triggered.
- Improper shoulder traction by a resident or midwife without senior supervision.
- Vacuum cup placement directly over the brachial plexus region.
- Extended use of Pitocin causing hyper-stimulation and rushed deliveries.
Each scenario demands expert review. Our network of OB/GYNs and neonatologists pinpoints precisely how the injury occurred.
Signs and Long-Term Impact on Your Child
A limp arm is only the start. Children may experience muscle atrophy, joint contractures, and diminished fine motor skills. School activities, sports, and eventual employment can all be limited. Studies show lifetime care for significant brachial plexus injuries can cost $1 million – $3 million.
Our Severna Park brachial plexus injury team at Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A. collaborates with pediatric surgeons and therapists to document future needs so nothing is overlooked in settlement negotiations.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Diagnosis
Prompt action protects both health and legal rights:
- Schedule specialist evaluations. A pediatric neurologist and orthopedist should assess nerve function within weeks.
- Collect every record. Ask for prenatal scans, delivery summaries, and NICU notes before they disappear.
- Journal symptoms. Record therapy milestones, missed workdays, and daily challenges.
- Decline quick settlements. Hospitals may offer small payments that waive future claims.
- Call us early. We can secure experts and preserve evidence before it fades.
How Our Lawyers Build a Winning Case
We shoulder the burden so you can focus on your child. Birth injury lawyer Kerry Staton leads a systematic process:
- Deep investigation. We reconstruct the minute-by-minute delivery timeline and interview every provider.
- Qualified expert certificate. Maryland law demands one within 90 days of filing; we secure it quickly.
- Economic analysis. Vocational and life-care planners project decades of therapy, surgery, and attendant care.
- Negotiation leverage. Our trial record, including multiple seven-figure verdicts for brachial plexus injuries. Pushes insurers to pay full value.
- Trial readiness. If a fair number is not offered, we present a clear, parent-focused story to the jury.
