Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could be devastating for you and your family. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the costs of caring for your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects may be complicated, which is why you should consult with a legal professional whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a standard of care when treating pregnant women or their infants. A doctor could be held accountable for any damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits will help you determine whether your child's health issue was caused by a medical mistake during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be responsible for an injury to the fetus if they fail to recognize or properly respond to distress in the fetus. This can cause a number of serious complications, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are caused by an event that occurs during pregnancy, labor, or birth. These injuries can be caused by ailments like Erb's palsy which is caused when the nerves that energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during the birth process and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both of these could result in permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your situation and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents in determining the reason behind the birth injury of a child. Many birth defects result from genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. Certain common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines, certain antibiotics, and more. These medications have been proven to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

A doctor's duty is to be aware of the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held accountable for not properly informing mothers of the risks that come with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can help families receive compensation for current and future medical expenses that result from the injury or disability, as well as loss of earnings and quality of life. This could include hospital fees medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may bring a lawsuit 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 discover the reason for the birth defect to bring a lawsuit against the companies which expose mothers to teratogens when they are at work or Vimeo in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that contribute to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy growth of the fetus producing chemical changes that block normal cell function or lead to organs that are malformed. These chemicals are present in various settings, including semiconductor vimeo manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic hydrocarbons with aliphatic chlorinated chemistry such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been found to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers exposed to them in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to expose companies to liability for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have won substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or Vimeo chemical. If a family believes their child's birth defect may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should talk to an DC pittsburg birth defect lawyer injury lawyer to discuss the issue.

If pregnant women inhale or absorb pollutants from the environment and then develop birth defects. These substances are known as Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water Some of them can be harmful when they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For example, arsenic in drinking water, and cadmium from contaminated coal can cause a variety of birth defects and health issues. Industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol ethers, employed in the manufacturing of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are recognized to increase a woman's risk of developing birth defects too.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a wide range of birth defects due to the wrongful exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.