Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth deformity it could be devastating for your family and you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the cost of taking care of your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complex and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. When a doctor's actions are not in line with this standard and cause a birth defect or injury the doctor could be held accountable for damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defects lawsuits can assist you in determining if your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail to identify fetal distress, or fail to respond appropriately. This could lead to a variety of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery or labor. Injury can include Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is the caput succedaneum, swelling of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability, and continued treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to look over your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may help parents determine the reason behind an infant's birth injury. While many birth defects are caused by genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medication. A variety of common medications can have a significant impact on fetuses and babies, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea medications and NSAIDs as well as chemotherapy medications, certain antibiotics, and many more. These medications have been linked to an increased chance of limb deformities, brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to be aware of the risks when prescribing medication for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they may be held liable for malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the dangers associated with their medication. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of serious congenital defects during first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families get compensation for current and future medical expenses resulting from the disability or injury in addition to loss of income and quality of life. This can include hospital costs, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs, and other expenses, along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring an action on behalf of families of children with congenital disabilities resulting from the negligence of businesses who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause midway birth defect lawsuit defects. They are trained to identify the reason for the birth defect to file a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens while they work or Vimeo at their homes.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects include the use of fungicides and metals as well as herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as teratogens due to their impact on the development of the fetus by making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals are used in a variety of settings, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and cleaning of metals.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, vimeo like dichloroethane and trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against various companies involved in the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families whose children were born with serious defects as a result of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a child may be due to medical negligence, prescription drug overdose, or exposure to harmful chemical and/or environmental factors, they should talk to a DC youngstown birth defect lawsuit injury attorney to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other substances in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens is the name given to these substances. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our air, food and water. Certain of these chemicals can be harmful to pregnant women.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects and other health problems. Certain birth defects are also related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser) as well as toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers also increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used for the manufacture of semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffer from a wide range of birth defects caused by improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complicated scientific analyses and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.