Why You Should Hire a Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child was born with a birth deformity this can be devastating for you and your entire family. The cost of therapy, medical bills and other expenses can add up quickly.

A Hyattsville birth defect lawyer can help you file claim for compensation for the costs of caring for your disabled child. Legal claims for birth defects are complex, so it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can.

Medical Malpractice

Medical professionals must adhere to the highest standards 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 birth defects lawsuits will help you determine whether your child's condition was caused by a medical error during pregnancy or the birth.

A doctor may also be held accountable for birth defect law firm injuries if they fail to recognize fetal distress and fail to respond appropriately. This can lead to a range of serious issues, 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 a part of a person's genetic make-up, while injuries are caused by something occurring during labor, pregnancy or birth. Injuries can result from conditions such as Erb's palsy that occurs when the nerves which energize and control an infant's arms are stretched or damaged during birth as well as caput succedaneum which is an increase in the size of the scalp. Both can result in a lifelong disability, and ongoing treatment will cost a great deal of money. A Washington, DC lawyer who is skilled in birth defects can provide a free consultation to examine your case and decide on the best course for you and your baby.

Prescription Drugs

A birth defect lawyer might be able to assist parents determine the reason for a child's birth injury or defect. Many birth defects are caused by genes or birth Defect Lawyer other factors that occur during pregnancy. However, certain medications can also cause birth defects. A number of commonly used medications can have negative effects on fetuses. This is particularly relevant in the first three months of pregnancy. Anti-nausea medication, NSAIDs and chemotherapy drugs are among the most popular. These drugs have been linked with an increased risk of deformities in the limbs and heart defects, brain deformities and craniosynostosis.

A doctor's duty is to take into consideration these risks when prescribing medication for pregnant women. If doctors fail to meet the requirements of this standard of care, they could be held liable for medical malpractice. Pharma companies may also be held accountable for not adequately informing mothers of 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 in the first trimester pregnancy.

A birth defect lawyer can assist a family receive compensation for future and current medical expenses resulting from the injury or disability, and also loss of income and quality of life. This could include hospital, doctor's, pharmaceutical, and other costs, as well as aidive devices and treatments.

Chemical Exposure

A birth defect attorney defect lawyer can sue families of children who suffer from congenital disabilities as a result due to the negligence of corporations which expose pregnant women and medications that cause birth deformities. These lawyers are specially-trained to identify the cause of birth defects so that they can file a lawsuit against companies that expose pregnant women to teratogens either at workplace or at home.

Some of the exposures to chemicals that lead to birth defects are herbicides, fungicides, metals and other pesticides. These chemicals are known as Teratogens since they interfere with the development of the fetus by making chemical changes that inhibit normal cell function or create organs that are malformed. These chemicals are found in a variety of locations, such as processing of semiconductors and metal cleaning.

Other chemicals that can cause birth defects are the aliphatic hydrocarbons like trichloroethylene perchloroethylene or dichloroethane. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects in the heart in babies born to mothers exposed in the womb.

Parents have filed suit against a number 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 secured substantial settlements on behalf of families who had their children born with severe defects as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals at the base.

Environmental Exposure

Some birth defects can be caused by the combination of medical negligence as well as environmental conditions or chemicals. If a family is concerned that the birth defect of their child may be the result of medical malpractice, prescription drug overdose or exposure to toxic chemicals, they should speak with an DC birth injury lawyer to discuss the matter.

If pregnant women ingest or absorb pollutants from the environment they could develop serious birth defects. These chemicals are referred to as teratogens. Over 4 million chemicals are present in our food, air and water, and some of them can be harmful when they come into contact with pregnant women.

For instance, arsenic in drinking water and cadmium in coal that has been contaminated can trigger various birth defects and health problems. Certain birth defects can also be related to industrial solvents, such as benzene (a metal degreaser), toluene (a solvent for plastics) and trichloroethylene. Glycol ethers that are used in the production of silicon chips, semiconductors and video displays, are known to increase the risk of developing birth defects.

LK's experienced attorneys for birth defects have filed a variety of lawsuits on behalf of children suffering from many birth defects as a result of accidental exposure to toxic chemicals or chemicals at their workplace or home. These lawsuits typically require complicated scientific analysis and expert witnesses, such as toxicologists as well as epidemiologists, geneticists occupational medicine specialists and embryologists.