Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth, it can be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file a claim to recover reimbursement for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. If the actions of a doctor are not in line with this standard and cause an injury or birth defect, they can be held liable for the damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can help you determine if your child's health condition may be due to an error in medical care during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor could also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to detect fetal distress or don't respond appropriately. This could lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused due to something happening during labor, pregnancy or delivery. These injuries can be caused by conditions like Erb's Palsy that occurs when the nerves that stimulate and control the arms of an infant are stretched or torn during the birth process, and caput succedaneum, an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the best option for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect attorney may be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are due to genetics and other factors that occur during a mother's pregnancy, they can also occur as a result of medication. A variety of common medications can have negative effects on foetuses. This is particularly true in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been proven to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects, and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, they could be held accountable for medical negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers of the risks that come with their medication. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the injury or disability, as well as loss of income and quality of life. This can include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities because of the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of birth defects so they can file a lawsuit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Metals, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the growth of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are found in diverse settings like manufacturing of semiconductors, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are hydrocarbons that are aliphatic, such as dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to make companies accountable for exposing families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured significant settlements for families who have children who were born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects that the birth defect law firm defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and birth defect Attorneys other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. These substances are referred to as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Some of these chemicals could be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic in drinking waters or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, may cause birth defects and other health issues. Certain birth defects are also associated with industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers that are utilized in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are well-known to increase the chances of having birth defects as well.

The experienced birth defect attorneys at LK have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a myriad of birth defects caused by unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.