A large population-based study in Sweden published in the scientific journal PLOS One in March 2018 found that children with brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) had a higher risk of developing mental health issues as teenagers. The study identified 1,587 BPI victims in a group of 641,151 children born to native parents in Sweden between 1987 and 1993.
The study found that compared to their peers, teenagers who suffered a BPI at birth were at higher risk of suffering poor mental health during adolescence. The study also found increased risks for females as compared to males and multitude of economic impacts.
If your child suffered a BPI as the result of a medical professional’s negligence in North Carolina, it is in your best interest to quickly retain legal counsel. The Nye Law Group represents birth injury victims in communities all over the greater Charlotte area. Call 855-636-9277 to schedule a free consultation.
Brachial Plexus Injuries in North Carolina
The brachial plexus is the collection of nerves in the neck region of a person’s spinal cord. Nerves in the brachial plexus control movement of wrists, hands, and arms.
Specific types of BPIs include:
- Avulsion
- Neuropraxia
- Rupture
- Neuroma
- Brachial plexitis (also known as Parsonage-Turner syndrome)
One group of people particularly vulnerable to BPIs are babies during childbirth. A BPI-related birth injury is more commonly known as Erb’s palsy.
Erb’s palsy can be the result of any one of many possible causes. Some cases involve excessive pulling on a child’s shoulders, while others involve children who were stretched awkwardly during delivery, as newborns who were larger than birth canals during labor are particularly susceptible to Erb’s palsy.
Legal claims relating to Erb’s palsy can be extremely difficult to prove. Medical malpractice actions are frequently subject to strict scrutiny and often require very compelling evidence in order to prove negligence by a preponderance of the evidence.
Parents of children born with Erb’s palsy or other BPIs or birth injuries should contact an experienced personal injury attorney for assistance with conducting an independent investigation into your child’s injury.
An Erb’s palsy claim could provide various forms of compensation. Depending on the victim’s particular situation, he or she may be entitled to such economic damages as medical bills, therapy costs, and lost wages. Noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life could also be awarded.
State law in North Carolina limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases to $500,000. This damage cap is adjusted annually for inflation and does not apply when a victim suffers disfigurement or permanent injury or when the defendant acted with recklessness, malicious intent, or gross negligence.
Find a Birth Injury Lawyer in North Carolina
Did your child suffer Erb’s palsy or another birth injury because of a medical professional’s negligence? You will want to contact the Nye Law Group as soon as possible.
Our firm represents clients throughout the Tar Heel State. Our Charlotte personal injury attorney will fight to get you full and fair compensation. Call 855-636-9277 or contact us online to have our lawyer review your case and discuss all of your legal options during a free consultation.