Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

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

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file a claim to recover compensation for the costs of taking care of your child with disabilities. A legal claim for birth defects can be complex, so you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a set of guidelines when treating pregnant women and their infants. If a doctor's actions fall below this standard and result in a birth defect or injury, they can be held accountable for damages sustained by their patient. A DC lawyer with expertise in lawsuits for birth defects will help you determine if your child's condition was caused by a medical mistake during pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be accountable for an injury to the fetus if they fail in diagnosing or appropriately respond to fetal distress. This can lead to a range of serious issues, such as hypoxic ischemic disorder (HIE) and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.

The difference between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up and injuries are caused by an event that occurs during labor, pregnancy or the birth. The most common injuries are Erb's Palsy, where the nerves controlling the infant's arms and limbs are stretched or torn. Another injury is caput succedaneum - an inflammation of the scalp. Both of them can cause lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost lots of money. A Washington, DC birth defect lawyer can provide a free initial consultation to analyze your case and determine the best way to proceed for you and your child.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to assist parents identify the root of the child's birth injury or defect. While many birth defects are due to the genetics of a mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medications. Many common medications have a significant impact on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-nausea medications, NSAIDs and chemotherapy medications are among the most frequently used. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of developing limb and brain defects, heart defects and craniosynostosis.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to be aware of these risks when prescribing medicines for women who are pregnant. If doctors do not follow this standard of care, then they could be held accountable for firms negligence. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the risks that come with their medication. For example, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been proven to significantly increase the risk of congenital defects that are major in first trimester pregnancies.

A birth defect lawyer can assist family members receive reimbursement for future and ongoing medical expenses related to the injury or disability, as well as loss of earnings and quality of life. This could include hospital costs, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer could bring a lawsuit for families of children who have congenital disabilities because from the negligence of companies who expose pregnant women to chemicals and drugs that cause birth defect lawsuit deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to determine the root of elizabeth birth defect lawyer defects so they can bring a suit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at work or at home.

Some of the chemical exposures that lead to birth defects include herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or cause organs that are not properly formed. These chemicals are found in a variety of settings, including semiconductor manufacturing and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that may cause birth defects include aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as dichloroethane, trichloroethylene, or perchloroethylene. These chemicals are known to cause heart defects in babies born to mothers who were exposed during their time in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits against a variety of firms that were responsible for exposing the families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune to these harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have gotten significant settlements for 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 that the birth defects of a child could be the result of medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemicals or chemical substances, they should speak with a DC birth injury attorney to discuss their case.

If pregnant women consume or absorb contaminants from the surrounding environment and then develop birth defects. Teratogens is the name given to these substances. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and a few can be harmful when they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

Arsenic from drinking water or cadmium in coal that has been contaminated, for example, can cause birth defects as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers are also known for their ability to increase the risk of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display devices, silicon chip displays and video displays.

The experienced attorneys at LK's firm for birth defects have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from various birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals or toxic substances at their workplace or home. These lawsuits typically require complex scientific analysis and expert witnesses, firms such as toxicologists or epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.