Birth Defect Lawyers

When a child is born with a serious medical condition parents may end up burdened with medical expenses. If your child is suffering from a birth defect that was caused by medical negligence or exposure to certain drugs, you may be entitled to compensation.

A Hudson, NY birth defects lawyer can assist you in pursuing justice.

Causes of Birth Defects

Some birth defects happen because of changes in genes or the chromosomes. These issues can be passed down from parents with these conditions or may result from new mutations that occur in a fertilized egg. These problems can affect how the body develops or how the body functions. These genetic issues could be severe or minor.

There are also birth defects caused by things in the environment during the fetal stage. Chemicals and toxins, like the ones found in industrial solvents (such as benzene) as well as trichloroethylene that is used in dry cleaning, and perchloroethylene (used in metal degreasing and painting) can cause birth defects. This could include exposure to heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and lead that are used in power and manufacturing plants. These harmful chemicals, also called teratogens cause serious harm to a developing baby.

A medical professional could cause a birth defect because of negligence, such as not diagnosing or treating the mother's health issue during pregnancy or after the child is born. A doctor could be negligent when they prescribe medication that can cause birth defects or administer the medication in a way that is not correct. A medical malpractice case may be filed against the doctor who committed the error. A birth injury lawsuit could also be brought against a business that places pregnant workers in a position where they are exposed to toxic substances.

Medical Malpractice

Birth defects are changes in the structure of the body that have an adverse impact on the way it functions or appears. These conditions can be severe and can affect any area of the body, according to the CDC.

When a child is born with a birth defect, parents are often interested in knowing what caused the condition. The most commonly cited causes of these conditions are medical negligence or exposure to teratogen chemicals. A birth defect lawyer who has experience can help families investigate the causes of birth defects, and file a suit against the responsible parties.

Birth injuries usually have a statute of limitations that is only one year. This means that parents have to act quickly once they have identified an anomaly in the birth and linking it to the underlying cause of the injury. This means gathering bills and receipts, payments made to credit cards as well as other evidence to support the claim for compensation.

While it's nice to have more time for dealing with the shock of discovering that a child is born with an injury or defect that was caused by birth it is not an option to consider when filing a legal case. This is why it is crucial to work with a knowledgeable birth defect lawyer and a birth injury lawyer who can manage all the previous steps in a timely manner.

Product Liability

Modern medical technology and medicine have significantly reduced the risk of childbirth. However birth accidents and birth defects are possible. If your child suffered an injury as a result of the negligence or carelessness of an medical professional during labor, pregnancy or birth, you could be legally entitled to financial compensation to help cover your loss.

A birth defect lawyer at Levy Konigsberg, LLP can assist you in determining whether you have a valid reason to bring a suit against the doctor, hospital, or other parties responsible. Our team has the experience and resources required to protect your rights, including the services of specially trained medical and scientific experts to discover and connect your child's condition with chemical exposure or other environmental factors.

Birth defects can vary in severity and impact the appearance of a child's face, quality of life, and expected lifespan. If your child's illness was a result of medical negligence, or by exposure to prescription medication, toxic chemicals, or environmental factors, our firm will provide you with expert insight and advice on the merits of a lawsuit. Contact us today to begin the process of obtaining compensation for your losses. We will review your case for free of cost and without any obligation. We only earn money if we win your case or settle it.

Toxic Exposure

Many people are exposed chemicals and toxic substances on a regular basis due to their work or surroundings. Unfortunately some of these chemicals are known to cause birth defect (teratogens) and harm babies. Parents who believe that their child's birth defect is a result of exposure to chemicals may be qualified for compensation.

Exposure to chemicals during pregnancy is among the top causes of birth defects. Some of these substances including toxic solvents used in the semiconductor industry are known to cause birth defects in babies born without. Our firm has handled cases involving some of the largest companies in this field, and won billions in settlement agreements.

It is well-known that in utero exposures to organic solvents such as trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and toluene (TCE) and the exposure to benzene and Vinyl chloride at Camp Lejeune can increase the chance of developing cancers in children, including hematopoietic cancer, and birth defects. SSRIs and other prescription medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have also been linked to various birth defects.

Victoria Phillips is a partner at Phillips & Paolicelli, focusing on the complex litigation involving product liability and birth defect lawsuits against corporate defendants who cause pain and suffering of families who have suffered through their negligence. She graduated as a magna cum laude from Williams College and Columbia Law School and is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey.