Erb’s palsy is a nerve injury that affects the shoulder and arm, often caused during delivery. This bundle of nerves can be stretched, pulled, or torn when a baby’s shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone. While some risk factors like high birth weight or multiple births increase the likelihood, the condition is often preventable with proper medical care.

Common preventable causes can include:
Improper handling of shoulder dystocia
Delayed decision to perform a C-section
Misuse of forceps or vacuum extraction
Failure to recognize or respond to fetal distress
Mishandling a breech delivery

If your doctor failed to meet the accepted standard of care during pregnancy or delivery, and that failure contributed to your child’s Erb’s palsy, you may have a birth injury claim. An experienced Erb’s palsy lawyer can help determine whether malpractice occurred and pursue the compensation your family deserves.