Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth defect this can be devastating for your family as well as you. Medical bills, therapy costs and other losses can quickly accumulate.

A Hyattsville lawyer who specializes in birth defects can help you file for compensation for the costs of taking care of your disabled children. A legal claim for birth defects can be complicated, which is why you should consult a lawyer immediately.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must follow a standard of care when treating pregnant women and their infants. A doctor can be held liable for damages when their actions cause birth defects or injuries. A DC lawyer who has experience in birth defect lawsuits can assist you in determining whether your child's condition could have been caused by an error made by a doctor during pregnancy or the birth defect attorney (additional reading).

A doctor could also be the cause of birth injuries if they fail to identify or respond adequately to distress of the fetus. This could lead to numerous serious issues, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy as well as brain injuries such as cerebral palsy.

Birth injuries differ from birth defects because they are caused by circumstances during pregnancy, delivery, or labor. A possible injury is Erb's spalsy where the nerves that control the infant's limbs and arms are stretched or torn. Another form of injury is caput succedaneum which is a swelling on the scalp. Both can result in lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a lot of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is an expert in birth defects may offer a free consultation to look over your case and decide on the best course for birth Defect Attorney you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer may be able help parents determine the cause for a child's birth defect. While many birth defects are due to genetics and the factors that influence the mother's pregnancy however, they may also occur as a result of medication. A variety of commonly used medications can have a negative impact on foetuses. This is especially relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medicines, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most popular. These drugs have been shown to increase the risk of limb and heart defects, brain deformities, and craniosynostois.

It is the professional responsibility of doctors to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medicines for pregnant women. If doctors do not adhere to this standard of care, they could be held accountable for negligence. Pharma companies may also be held responsible for not properly informing mothers of the risks associated with their medications. Zofran is a medication that is used to treat nausea in cancer patients, has been shown to increase the risk of major defects during the first trimester pregnancy.

An attorney who specializes in birth defects can assist families in getting compensation for medical expenses, income loss and the quality of life. This could include hospital expenses, doctor's fees, pharmaceutical costs and other costs, as well as assistive devices and therapy.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect lawyer can bring a lawsuit on behalf of families of children who have congenital disabilities as a result due to the negligence of corporations which expose pregnant women and Birth Defect attorney drugs that can cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially trained to determine the cause of the birth defects so that they can bring a suit against companies who expose pregnant women to teratogens at work or in their home.

Some of the chemical exposures that can lead to birth defects are the fungicides, metals, herbicides and other pesticides. They are referred to as Teratogens as they interfere with the healthy development of the fetus through causing chemical changes that prevent normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals can be found in diverse settings like manufacturing of semiconductors, cleaning of metals and paint production.

Other dangerous chemicals that may cause birth defects include aliphatic cyaninated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene and dichloroethane. These chemicals have been known to cause birth defects, such as cardiac defects in babies born to mothers exposed to them while in the womb.

Parents have filed lawsuits to make companies accountable for the families of soldiers who live at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to harmful chemicals. Some of these birth defect lawyers have secured substantial settlements for families whose children were born with severe defects due to the exposure to toxic chemicals on the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects could be caused by a combination of medical negligence and environmental factors. If a family suspects the birth defects of a baby could be due to medical negligence or prescription drug overdose or exposure to harmful chemical, they should consult an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss their case.

Chemicals and other contaminants in the environment can cause birth defects of a serious nature if they are ingested or absorbed by pregnant women. These chemicals are called Teratogens. More than 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water and some could be harmful if they come into contact with a woman who is pregnant.

For instance, arsenic found in drinking water as well as cadmium derived from coal that is contaminated can cause numerous birth defects, as well as other health issues. Certain birth defects are also caused by industrial solvents such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol-ethers can increase the chance of birth defects in women. These chemicals are used in the production of semiconductors as well as silicon chip displays and video displays.

The experienced lawyers at LK for birth defects have filed many lawsuits in behalf of children suffering from a variety of birth defects as a result of the wrongful exposure to chemicals or toxic substances at work or at home. These lawsuits often involve complex scientific analysis and experts as witnesses, like toxicologists and epidemiologists, geneticists, occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.