Blume Forte partner Carol L. Forte obtained a $975,000 settlement on behalf of a young girl who suffers from severe limitations in using one of her arms as the result of negligence on the part of the obstetrician during delivery, which caused a brachial plexus injury.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the brachial plexus is a network of nerves in the neck and shoulder that conducts signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand. A brachial plexus injury is caused when those nerves are damaged and often results in lack of muscle control in the hand, wrist, and/or arm, and may even result in limpness or paralysis of the arm. For newborns, brachial plexus injuries are caused by a physician’s negligence in resolving “shoulder dystocia”.
Shoulder Dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulder becomes lodged behind the birth mother’s pubic bone after the head is delivered. In Ms. Forte’s case, it was proven that the obstetrician negligently exerted an inordinate amount of force onto the baby’s head to free the shoulder, damaging the brachial plexus nerves. The resulting injury required several surgeries and left the child with very limited use of one of her arms, a condition known as Erb’s Palsy.
Unfortunately, medical malpractice can occur during the delivery process, and it may result in significant birth injuries which may require extensive medical treatment. Birth injuries may result in life-long limitations and/or disabilities.
At Blume Forte, our dedicated Erb’s Palsy attorneys in New Jersey are committed to assisting our clients by pursuing their meritorious birth injury matters.
If your child has suffered a birth injury as the result of medical negligence, contact us at 973-845-4421 to discuss your potential claim.