Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect, it can cause a huge impact on you and your family. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other expenses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can assist you in filing an action to collect compensation for the expenses of taking care of your disabled child. A legal claim for birth defects could be complicated, so you should consult with a legal professional as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow the highest standards of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. If the actions of a doctor fall below this standard and result in birth defects or injuries the doctor could be held accountable for the damage suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's health condition may be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can also be held liable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can cause a number of serious problems, including hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup, while injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy or birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is an inflammation of the scalp. Both of these conditions can lead to lifelong disability and require ongoing treatment, resulting in large medical expenses. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to review your case and determine the best course of action for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able to assist parents determine the cause of a child's birth injury, or defect. Many birth defects are caused by genes or other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. Many common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea drugs, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been found to increase the risk of developing limb and brain deformities, heart defects and craniosynostois.

A doctor's responsibility is to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet the requirements of this standard of care, they could be liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies could be held liable as well for not properly warning mothers about the risks associated with their medications. For Birth defect Attorneys example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to significantly increase the risk of major congenital problems in the first trimester of pregnancy.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, income loss and quality of life. This could include doctor's, hospital prescription, pharmaceutical, and other costs, in addition to aidive devices and therapies.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file an action on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defect lawsuit defects. They are trained to determine the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or in their home.

Metals, fungicides herbicides and pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they interfere with the healthy growth of the fetus creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function or cause malformed organs. These chemicals are found in various settings, including manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other harmful chemicals that could cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in 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 the birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements for families who had their children born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family suspects that the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other toxins in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed by or taken in by pregnant women. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our air, food and water Some of them can be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium found in coal that has been contaminated for instance, may cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol ethers that are used in the manufacture of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays are known to increase a woman's chances of having birth defects.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects caused by wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits often involve sophisticated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.