Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity it could have a devastating effect on your family and you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other expenses can quickly increase.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could assist you in filing a claim to recover compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are complicated and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice whenever you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their babies. When a doctor's actions fall below this standard and cause a birth defect or injury and/or death, they may be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits involving birth defects can help you determine if your child's illness could be due to an error made by the medical professional during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail detect fetal distress or are unable to respond in a timely manner. This can lead to a range of serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are a part of a person's genetic makeup however, injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy, or during delivery. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy which occurs when the nerves that control the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another injury is called caput succedaneum. It's an inflammation of the scalp. Both can lead to a permanent disability and ongoing treatment can cost a significant amount of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who specializes in birth defects can offer a free consultation in order to examine your case and determine the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might help parents determine the root of a child's birth injury. While many birth defects are due to genetics and other factors that occur during a mother's pregnancy however, they can also be caused due to medications. Certain common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been linked to a higher risk of limb defects and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to consider these risks when prescribing medications for pregnant women. When doctors fail to meet this standard of care, they could be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not adequately informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a drug used to treat nausea in cancer patients, was found to increase the risk of major defects in the first trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive compensation for current and future medical expenses associated with the injury or disability, and also loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital fees medical expenses, doctor's fees and pharmaceutical costs and other expenses along with assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer may file a lawsuit on behalf of parents of children with congenital disabilities because of the negligence of businesses that expose pregnant women to chemicals and other drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the root of birth defects, so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens at workplace or at home.

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

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been found to cause birth problems, including cardiac defects, in babies born to mothers exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against several firms that were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect law firm defects lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe birth defects due to the toxic chemical exposures on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects are caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family believes the birth defect in their child could result from medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are consumed or taken in by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals can be found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals could be dangerous to pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium in contaminated coal can cause various birth defects and health problems. Industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene, toluene, and benzene (a metal degreaser) are also linked to certain birth defects. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used to make semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed many lawsuits on the name of children who suffered from various birth defects due to accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at their workplace or home. These lawsuits often involve an extensive scientific analysis as well as experts as witnesses, like toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and firms embryologists.