Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with an anomaly in the birth, it can be devastating for you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other losses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville lawyer who is specialized in birth defects can help you claim compensation to cover the costs of caring for your children with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, so you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. If the actions of a doctor are in violation of this standard and cause a birth defect or injury, they can be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who is experienced in lawsuits involving birth defects will help you determine if your child's health condition may have been caused by an error made by the medical professional during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor could also be held responsible for birth injuries if they fail recognize fetal distress and are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic neuropathy and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects in the sense that they are caused by events during pregnancy, delivery or labor. Injuries can be caused by Erb's palsy where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another type of injury is caput succedaneum - an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can offer a no-cost initial consultation to look over your situation 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 birth defects or genetics. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of common medications can have a negative impact on the fetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most commonly used. These drugs have been linked to a higher risk of limb deformities and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

It is the duty of a doctor to consider the potential risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. If doctors do not meet this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical negligence. Pharmaceutical companies can be held liable as well for failing to adequately warn mothers of the risks associated with their drugs. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects in first-trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and the quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's pharmaceutical, and other expenses, as well as assistive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

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

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are metals, fungicides, herbicides and other pesticides. These chemicals are called teratogens due to their impact on the development of the fetus by creating chemical changes that hinder normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in a variety of situations, such as processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause cardiac birth defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed while they were in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to ensure that companies are held accountable for the families of soldiers in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina exposed to harmful chemicals. Some of the birth defect lawyers have obtained substantial settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects because of the toxic chemical exposures at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Certain birth defects may be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child 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 attorney to discuss their case.

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

Arsenic in drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated for instance, can cause birth defects and other health issues. Industrial solvents like trichloroethylene, benzene, and toluene (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 as well.

LK's experienced birth defect attorneys have brought many lawsuits on behalf of children who have suffered from a myriad of birth defects caused by improper exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work or in their homes. These lawsuits are based on complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.