Chicago Klumpke’s Palsy Birth Injury Lawyers
When you and your spouse decide to have a child, the excitement and anticipation that accompanies the process are electrifying. You spend months preparing your home, purchasing a crib, diapers, and other items, and choosing the perfect name, all the while envisioning your life and future with a healthy baby boy or girl. Unfortunately, those plans can change in an instant if your child suffers a serious birth injury during delivery due to a negligent doctor or medical professional. One known condition that is most commonly caused by difficulties during the delivery process or improper delivery techniques is Klumpke’s palsy. Klumpke’s palsy involves damage to the nerves in the lower brachial plexus and can cause partial paralysis of a baby’s hand and forearm. This birth injury is usually caused by negligence during labor or delivery. If your baby and family have been affected by Klumpke’s palsy because of improper delivery techniques, the Klumpke’s palsy birth injury attorneys of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC are here to help in your time of need. You do not have to suffer alone.
When a doctor or other medical professional applies too much pressure to the baby’s neck and shoulders during the delivery, the baby could suffer from Klumpke’s palsy. This could result in temporary or permanent damage, depending on the severity of the injury and how much pressure was applied during delivery. While some cases of Klumpke’s palsy are caused by unforeseen circumstances, many instances are the direct result of negligence. Depending on the severity of your child’s injury, he or she may suffer permanent paralysis in the forearm, hand, wrist, and fingers, leaving them in need of physical therapy or surgery.
Doctors are responsible for doing everything in their power to deliver your child safely, and when they act recklessly or make a mistake, you and your child could suffer greatly. Not only could your child have to deal with lifelong disabilities, causing him or her to miss out on their full potential, but it can also cost you tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills. At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our team of Chicago Klumpke’s palsy lawyers can look at your case and help you take legal action to recover the financial compensation you need to pay for damages brought on by a birth injury. To learn more about your rights and options, contact us today at 312-346-8620 and schedule a free consultation.
Why Choose Us?
Medical malpractice and birth injury cases can be incredibly complex and difficult because the burden of proof ultimately falls on the victim. This means that you have to gather as much evidence as possible and effectively argue your case to not only the doctor and his or her attorneys but also the hospital’s legal team as well. The stress of this process on top of dealing with the aftermath of childbirth and caring for your newborn who has a birth injury can be overwhelming. Fortunately, our skilled and experienced legal team has the knowledge and dedication to handle every part of your case so you can focus on taking care of your child. At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our lawyers have over 50 years of experience in this field, and we know the types of tactics doctors and hospitals use to avoid being held responsible. We will not rest until we get the financial compensation you deserve to pay for medical bills and other expenses. Call Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC at 312-346-8620 today and schedule a consultation.
Symptoms of Klumpke’s Palsy
While Klumpke’s Palsy and other brachial-plexus injuries aren’t particularly rampant in the United States—0.2 to 2.5 per 1,000 births—they do still happen when doctors pull on the baby’s neck and shoulders to move them through the birth canal. When acting responsibly, doctors should be aware of how hard they are pulling. If circumstances arise that increase the risk of a birth injury like Klumpke’s Palsy, they should make the proper adjustments to respond accordingly. This includes lengthy deliveries or when the baby is in breech position.
Depending on the seriousness of the injury to the wrist and fingers, symptoms can range from mild (such as tingling and numbness in the fingers) to severe (such as paralysis and a “claw hand”). Some common symptoms of Klumpke’s Palsy include the following:
- Unable to move fingers
- Muscle weakness
- Paralysis in fingers
- Claw grip in one hand
- Severe pain
- Numbness and tenderness in the ulnar nerve
- Numbness in forearm, hand, wrist, and fingers on affected arm
- Inability to properly grip items
- Stiff joints
- Drooping eyelid or decreased pupil size in one eye (Horner’s syndrome)
In a majority of cases, a baby can recover from brachial-plexus injuries in six months to a year, but some more serious cases leave babies with lifelong complications and disabilities in the arm, hand, and fingers. For some victims, full recovery can only be achieved through serious rehabilitation and physical therapy, or in the most severe cases, surgery. Whatever treatment option you pursue, paying for medical bills and other expenses can be impossible without financial compensation.
Contact Us
No amount of preparation in the world can ready you for the bitter reality of your son or daughter suffering a birth injury due to a negligent doctor or nurse’s actions. The months and years following the birth of your child should be filled with happiness and joy, with your son or daughter living up to their full potential. Unfortunately, that may be much more difficult when doctors or hospitals behave negligent in the delivery room. To hold these professionals responsible, you need a team of skilled legal representatives by your side. Get the supportive and knowledgeable legal counsel you need by calling the Chicago Klumpke’s Palsy lawyers at Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC today at 312-346-8620.