Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect it could have a devastating effect on you and your family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file an action to collect compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is crucial to seek legal advice immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals are required to adhere to a certain standard when treating pregnant women or their infants. If a doctor's actions are in violation of this standard and cause an injury or birth defect or injury, they could be held accountable for harms suffered by their patient. A DC lawyer with experience in birth defect lawsuits can determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor can also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or fail to respond appropriately. This could lead to a number serious problems including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and hypoxic encephalopathy such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between birth defects and birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic makeup and injuries are triggered by something occurring during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Injury can include Erb's Palsy which is a condition where the nerves that control the infant's arms and legs are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum - swelling of the scalp. Both can result in a permanent disability, and continued treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is specialized in birth defects will offer a free consultation to look over your case and determine the most appropriate course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to assist parents identify the root of a child's birth injury, or defect. Many birth defects result from the genetics of the baby or other factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defect attorney defects. Certain common medications have a significant effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. These include anti-nausea drugs such as NSAIDs, chemotherapy medicines as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been linked to a higher chance of limb deformities, brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostois.

It is the duty of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medications for women who are pregnant. If doctors fail to adhere to the standards of care required, firms they may be liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies can also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the risks of their medication. Zofran, which is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been found to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancy.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can assist a family in obtaining compensation for medical expenses, loss of income and quality of living. This can include hospital costs physician's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can file a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities that result from the negligence of businesses who expose pregnant women chemicals or drugs that cause birth defects. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the root of the birth defect so that they can bring a lawsuit against companies which expose mothers to teratogens during the time they work or at their home.

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are just a few of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. They are referred to as Teratogens since they interfere with the healthy growth of the fetus causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function, or can cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are used in many different settings, including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include hydrocarbons with aliphatic properties, like dichloroethane or trichloroethylene perchloroethylene. These chemicals have been proven to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, firms in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them during the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of firms that were responsible for the exposure of families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these richmond birth defect attorney defect lawyers have won significant settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects because of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination between medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family is concerned that the birth defect in their child could be the result of medical negligence, prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the situation.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment and then develop birth defects. Teratogens are the term used to describe these substances. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water. Certain of these chemicals are dangerous to pregnant women.

For example, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium from coal that is contaminated may cause various birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers, used in the production of semiconductors, silicon chips and video displays, are known to increase the chance of having birth defects.

LK's skilled birth defect attorneys have filed numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a wide range of birth defects due to unintentional exposure to toxic chemicals and chemicals at workplaces or at home. These lawsuits often involve complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, including toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.