Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file an action to collect compensation for the expenses of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause birth defect or injury, they can be held responsible for damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects will help you determine if your child's illness could be due to a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or during delivery. Injuries can result from ailments like Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that energize and control the arms of an infant are stretched or torn during birth and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both of these can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may provide a free consultation to analyze your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the cause of the child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects result from birth defect law firms defects or genetics. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of common medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is particularly evident in the initial three months of pregnancy. This includes anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs, chemotherapy drugs including certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been linked to a higher chance of limb deformities, heart defects, brain defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's job is to be aware of these risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for malpractice. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the dangers associated with their products. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been demonstrated to significantly increase the risk of major congenital defects in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses associated with the disability or injury, as well as loss of earnings and the quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of the families of children suffering from congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of companies that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. They are trained to identify the cause of birth defects, so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens since they interfere with the development of the fetus through causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or create organs to be malformed. These chemicals are present in a variety environments, including metal cleaning and semiconductor manufacturing.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of companies who were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects are caused by the combination of medical negligence and birth defect law firms environmental conditions or chemical. If a family is concerned that their child's birth defect may result from medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should contact a DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment they could develop serious birth defects. These substances are known as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water, and some of them could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water and cadmium in contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects as well as other health problems. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (a metal degreaser) are also associated with certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are employed in the manufacturing of silicon chips, semiconductors and birth Defect law firms video displays, are known to increase the risk of developing birth defects too.

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 wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.