Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child is born with a birth defect it could cause a lot of grief for your family as well as you. Medical bills, therapy expenses and other expenses can quickly add up.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer could help you file claim for compensation for the costs of caring for your child with disabilities. Legal claims for birth defects are a bit nebulous and therefore it is vital to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow an appropriate standard of care when treating pregnant women and their babies. A doctor can be held accountable for damages if their actions result in birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in lawsuits for birth defects can help you determine if your child's condition may be the result of an error in medical care during the pregnancy or delivery.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth injuries if they fail diagnose fetal distress or do not respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious complications, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain injuries, such as cerebral palsy.

The distinction between a birth defect and a birth injury is that defects are part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused by something that happens during labor, pregnancy or the birth. The causes of injuries include conditions like Erb's Palsy which is caused when the nerves that energize and control the arms of a newborn are stretched or torn during birth, and caput succedaneum, a swelling of the scalp. Both of these can cause permanent disability and require ongoing treatment, which can result in hefty medical costs. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may offer a free consultation in order to examine your case and determine the best course of action for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer could be able to help parents determine the reason for the child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by genetics or factors during pregnancy. However, medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications have a profound effect on fetuses, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy. They include anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs, chemotherapy medications as well as certain antibiotics, and more. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and brain deformities, heart defects, and craniosynostois.

It is the responsibility of a doctor to take into consideration the risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to follow this standard of care, they may be held liable for negligence. Pharma companies could also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers about the risks associated with their medication. For instance, Zofran, a medication used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been proven to significantly increase the risk of major congenital defects in the first trimester of a pregnancy.

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

Chemical Exposure

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

Metals, fungicides and herbicides as well as pesticides are some of the chemicals that can cause birth defects. These chemicals are called Teratogens as they interfere with the development of the fetus producing chemical changes that block normal cell function, or can cause organs that are malformed. These chemicals can be found in a variety of settings including semiconductor manufacturing, metal cleaning and paint production.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons such as perchloroethylene (trichloroethylene), trichloroethylene ( dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth problems, including cardiac disorders, in babies born to mothers who were exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits in order to ensure that companies are held accountable for exposing families of soldiers at Camp Lejeune, birth defect lawyers North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defects lawyers have won substantial settlements for families who had children born with severe defects resulting from the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental conditions. If a family suspects the birth defects of a child may be the result of medical negligence, birth defect lawyers 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 pollutants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature when they are inhaled or absorbed by pregnant women. Teratogens are the names given to these chemicals. More than 4 million chemicals are found in our food, air and water and a few could be harmful if they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic from drinking water, and cadmium from coal that has been contaminated can trigger numerous birth defects as well as other health problems. Certain birth defects are linked to industrial solvents like benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers also increase the likelihood of birth defects occurring in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors display panels, silicon chip displays, and video displays.

LK's highly experienced birth defect lawyers have brought numerous lawsuits on behalf of children who suffered from a range of birth defect lawsuits defects resulting from wrongful toxic and chemical exposure at workplaces or in their homes. These lawsuits involve complex scientific analyses and expert witnesses such as toxicologists and epidemiologists.